Denver Mayor Hancock Pushes for Construction of New Arena

Denver could see the construction of a 10,000-seat arena, if city voters are willing to support a bond for its funding.

Mayor Michael Hancock has said that he would like to see the new facility built on the campus of the National Western Center.

The Mayor said the new facility could be used for any number of purposes, including concerts and traveling shows.

“Building a new state-of-the-art arena, and the new events it will attract, will create year-around jobs and provide funding for community programs and projects important to the well-being of the surrounding neighborhoods,” Hancock said.

He likened the new arena to the McNichols Sports Arena and the Coliseum and said it would fill a gap that currently exists in the city in terms of stadium offerings.

The 16,000-seat McNichols arena, located at 1635 Bryant Street, was built in 1975, but demolished in 2000 in order to make way for parking space at the nearby Empower Field at Mile High.

The indoor Denver Coliseum, with a seating capacity of just over 10,000, was completed in 1951. Located at 4500 Humboldt Street, the facility is said to be in need of an upgrading.

Funding for the arena is being packaged into a $450 million bond proposal. That proposal must first win the approval of the Denver City Council, before appearing on the November ballot.
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City officials have long talked of building a new arena at the National Western Center site, although the project was not listed among those that have already secured funding for that campus.

​By Garry Boulard

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