The site of the new Denver’s women’s soccer stadium will be located along an active rail corridor historically used for industrial purposes. For generations, this corridor has acted as a barrier—separating a stable working-class neighborhood to the west from an older, established community to the east. With a major light rail/bus station adjacent to the site, there’s an opportunity to transform the area into a vital connector—not just between these neighborhoods, but to the entire transit network and downtown.
NWSL/Populous
In an exciting development for women’s sports in Denver, Colorado, the city council recently approved a $70 million infrastructure grant to purchase and ready a site for construction of a new stadium dedicated to a new National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) team. This initiative marks a significant milestone not only for women’s soccer but also for the community at large, as it aims to empower women’s sports and create a vibrant hub for activities revolving around them. The majority owner is IMA Financial Group, led by CEO Robert Cohen, a local philanthropist and hometown hero, and including investors Mellody Hobson, Ariel Investments co-CEO, through her subsidiary Project Level, and Mikaela Shiffrin, a two-time Olympic gold medalist. This project promises to alter the landscape of local sports by establishing a standalone venue dedicated solely to women’s athletics.
Civitas, a prominent landscape and urban design firm founded by Mark Johnson, is working with architects from Populous, a global design firm, on this groundbreaking project. Their teams are working diligently to transform a site near the Santa Fe train yards into a state-of-the-art stadium that meets the needs of the new NWSL team and integrates public spaces to enrich the surrounding community. This approach reflects a commitment to creating a lasting legacy for women’s sports in Denver.
The planned venue, designed to seat 14,500 fans, is expected to open in time for the its inaugural season in 2028. Unlike many women’s sports teams that often play in facilities designed for men and share resources, the establishment of a dedicated stadium signifies a profound shift in how women’s sports are perceived and supported. Johnson emphasizes the importance of community engagement and collaboration as they navigate the complex planning processes, aiming to ensure that the stadium and its surrounding areas foster a thriving environment for youth sports and community events.
After the city council’s historic vote, Urban Land sat down with Johnson and with Matthew Breest, principal and design director of Populous, during the ULI 2025 Spring Meeting in Denver.
Urban Land: So, how fast can you get this done?
Mark Johnson: The team already has a temporary setup in Centennial—a suburb about 10 miles south of Denver—with a training facility and a pop-up stadium built on school district fields. [The team has] partnered with Cherry Creek School District so the facility will also support high school tournaments, which is just a great story: a pro team and a school district teaming up for something bigger than both. That temporary venue will open for games next spring.
The permanent stadium is just a couple miles from downtown, at the old Santa Fe Yards. The city council voted last night to approve infrastructure funding to support that site.
Funnily enough, we actually did a district plan for that same area about 10 years ago. Not much came of it at the time—some environmental cleanup, a bit of infrastructure—but now, with the team purchasing the land, it’s a whole new ballgame. Literally.
The site also includes a four-acre [1.6 ha] triangle that’s technically a public park. And in Denver, you can’t touch park boundaries without a public vote. But now, that space is being reimagined as part of an outdoor entertainment area connected to the stadium.
We’re hitting the ground running now. It’s exciting—and a bit of a sprint.
UL: How will you meet such an accelerated timeline?
Johnson: You start by throwing a lot of talented people at it—and then someone’s got to steer the ship. For the stadium, that’s Matthew Breest from Populous. For the district, it’s my partner Chris Parezo at Civitas.
A critical path is to start talking to people, making sure that everybody understands what’s coming. That means public meetings, engaging with the community, and being transparent about what’s next and how it will impact the city. We’re hoping it’ll take about nine months to get the district and zoning plans approved. Then comes the infrastructure master plan, where we’ll be designing and entitling in tandem—basically building the runway as the plane comes in. We want to be ready to cut the ribbon when the team arrives.
UL: What are design challenges for an all-female sports stadium? Women’s sports doesn’t have as large an audience as men’s sports, so is the venue smaller?
Johnson: We’re planning for 14,500 seats, but the scale fits the vibe. Women’s soccer in Denver isn’t just a spectator sport; it’s community-driven. Denver—the Front Range—is a hotbed of youth sports. There are big soccer connections here—more than football on a per capita basis; many more kids [participate locally] in soccer than [in] football or basketball.
There are two homegrown pro women’s players from this area. Mikaela Shiffrin—who, by the way, is the most decorated ski racer ever—is now a part-owner of the team. Women’s sports are already a big deal here.
And the ownership group wants this stadium and district to feel like it’s for the community—not just another commercial venture. This is about access, pride, and place.
UL: How many professional sports teams does Denver have now?
Johnson: We now have six professional sports teams, which very few cities have. We’ve got the Denver Broncos, football; the Denver Nuggets, basketball; the Avalanche, hockey; the Colorado Rockies, baseball; the Colorado Rapids, men’s soccer—and now, this new women’s soccer team. That’s a pretty elite club. Not many cities can say the same.
On one side of the new stadium, there’s a stable upper-middle-class neighborhood, Wash Park West; On the other, a working-class neighborhood called Athmar Park. In between, there is an industrial corridor including old train lines and warehouses. The rail line connects the southern and western suburbs. The bus rapid transit comes all the way in from Boulder.
NWSL/Populous
UL: Where does the new women’s team stand? Is it moving to Denver, or is it a brand-new team being created?
Johnson: It’s a brand-new team. Right now, they’re finalizing ownership and governance, which is a league requirement. There’s even a social media poll asking fans to weigh in on the team name—it’s generating a ton of buzz and excitement. And get this: Season ticket sales have already surpassed those of other NWSL teams, exceeding expectations.
UL: What’s next in your timeline?
Johnson: We’re heading back to city council in October with the full district and stadium plan. The 11–1 vote we got was contingent on presenting that next level of detail. So, we’re full speed ahead.
UL: Can you talk about the site?
Johnson: Honestly, no one expected the stadium to end up where it did. When I got the call on January 3, I turned to my partner and said, “This is going to be fun—women’s soccer! But I bet it’ll be somewhere out in the suburbs, right?” Nope. It’s right in the heart of the city—which is the best possible outcome for Denver. The economic momentum that comes with a stadium and the development around it will be a huge boost for the south side.
On one side, there’s a stable upper-middle-class neighborhood, Wash Park West; On the other, a working-class neighborhood called Athmar Park. In between, you’ve got the industrial corridor—old train lines, warehouses. But the infrastructure’s there. The rail line connects the southern and western suburbs. The BRT [Bus Rapid Transit] comes all the way in from Boulder. It’s super-accessible.
We did the master plan here 10 years ago. Cleanup happened, but nothing really took off. That’s what makes this moment so exciting. This project could be the key to stitching together neighborhoods that have been disconnected for decades—connecting communities, industries, and cultures with the power of sport.
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UL: What is your overarching vision for the design of the new stadium, and how does it reflect the values and aspirations of women’s sports in Denver?
Matthew Breest: Our vision is to create a stadium that transcends the boundaries of traditional sports architecture—one that is not only home to elite women’s soccer but also a vital, inclusive part of Denver’s public realm. The design reflects the values of women’s sports by prioritizing openness, accessibility, and connection to community. Rather than isolating the stadium from its surroundings, we’re embedding it into the everyday experience of the city. It’s a space where inspiration and excellence are on full display, not just on match days but every day—redefining what it means for women’s sports to be fully integrated into the civic and cultural life of Denver.
UL: How will collaboration among the various stakeholders influence the design process?
Breest: From the start, [NWSL] commissioner Jessica Berman challenged us to think differently. She made it clear this couldn’t be a stadium tucked away behind gates or surrounded by a sea of parking. It had to connect—physically and emotionally—with the neighborhood and introduce the broader community to the power and passion of the women’s game. That vision set the tone for a deeply collaborative process.
This project has brought together an extraordinary mix of voices—city leaders, developers, athletes, fans, neighbors, and design professionals—all unified by the belief that the stadium should be a true civic asset. The design reflects that input, from the walkable, park-connected layout to the inviting public spaces that welcome people year-round. Collaboration has been essential in making sure the stadium doesn’t just serve one audience or one function—it’s designed to be a shared space that reflects the values, hopes, and culture of Denver itself.
From the earliest stages, community voices have helped shape everything from pedestrian connectivity to how the stadium interacts with the adjacent park. That collaboration ensures the stadium isn’t just designed for the community, but with it.
UL: What innovative design elements are you incorporating
Breest: The stadium’s distinctive open-ended stadium configuration opens to the south, ensuring that the public realm blends seamlessly with the soccer field. Metaphorically, they tie together, creating a natural visual corridor that connects the playing field directly to the adjacent city park and frames breathtaking views of the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies. This intentional openness transforms the spectator experience, allowing fans to feel simultaneously immersed in both the excitement of professional competition and the natural beauty of Colorado’s landscape. The design encourages year-round activity, with the stadium’s surrounding promenades and green spaces flowing seamlessly into public recreation areas, where community members can gather, play, and connect, regardless of game-day schedules.
UL: What are some of the unique challenges you’ve encountered in designing a stadium specifically for women’s soccer, particularly in terms of audience size and community integration?
Breest: Designing a stadium specifically for women’s soccer meant confronting—and ultimately rejecting—the legacy of retrofitted or secondhand venues. Too often, women’s teams are asked to perform in spaces that were never designed with them in mind. We set out to flip that script. This project takes a purpose-built approach from the start: every square foot of the stadium is designed to elevate the women’s game, from athlete facilities to fan experience.
One challenge was redefining what scale means—not downsizing expectations, but right-sizing for impact, flexibility, and future growth. Another was ensuring [that] the stadium seamlessly integrates with the surrounding community, both physically and culturally. That meant rethinking everything from traffic flow and transportation to creating shared green spaces and pathways that invite daily use by residents. In the end, the challenge became the opportunity: to build something entirely new that reflects the rightful place of women’s sports at the center of civic life.
UL: Looking forward, how do you envision the stadium impacting the local community and women’s sports culture in Denver over the coming years? What legacy do you hope this project will leave?
Breest: We hope the stadium becomes a national model for what’s possible when a city unapologetically invests in women’s sports—not as a side story but as a central force for community and economic growth. Beyond creating a space for elite competition, this venue will showcase the tangible returns of investing in women athletes—from growing fan bases and increased tourism to revitalized neighborhoods and year-round public space activation.
This stadium isn’t just a home for a team; it’s a case study in why capital and business leaders should see women’s sports as a smart, future-facing investment. It challenges outdated narratives about profitability and replaces them with proof of concept—highlighting that when infrastructure matches the ambition of women athletes, the results benefit everyone.
The lasting legacy will be a stadium that proves women’s sports aren’t just deserving of equal facilities—they are worthy of visionary ones. It’s about setting a new standard for how we value, support, and celebrate women’s contributions on the field and in society.
By anchoring elite athletics within a walkable, nature-forward public realm, we’re reinforcing the message that women’s sports deserve visibility, investment, and celebration. The lasting legacy will be a new standard—not just for stadium design but [also] for how public spaces can bring people together and elevate community pride through sport.
