We’re building a stadium district worthy of women’s sports – one that’s not set apart, but woven into the daily rhythm of the city. NWSL Denver will be a place where excellence and inspiration are ever-present, not just on game days but every day. Civitas is redefining what it means for women’s sports to take center stage in Colorado – placing them at the heart of Denver’s civic and cultural life.
Elevating the Landscape of Women’s Sports Through a Vital, Inclusive Public Realm
NWSL StadiumDenver, CO—USA
Denver’s Santa Fe Yards is being transformed into Colorado’s first purpose-built sports and entertainment district for professional women’s sports, anchored by a new 14,500-seat stadium for the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) team the Denver Summit. This unprecedented private investment reimagines a dormant industrial site into a walkable, multi-use community destination, where professional soccer, public recreation, and economic revitalization intersect. Civitas is helping to bring this bold vision to life through public realm planning and place-based design that connects fans, families, and future generations of athletes.
Year
In Implementation
Client
Civitas
Services
Urban Design, Landscape Architecture
Project type/category
Community Planning & Development, Mixed Use, Parks & Recreation, Public Realm, Urban District
The NWSL Denver Stadium at Santa Fe Yards marks a historic milestone for both women’s sports and Denver’s urban development. Set on a long-underutilized 14-acre site at the confluence of Broadway and I-25, is the largest-ever investment in a professional women’s sports team. With this bold move, Denver NWSL is not just building a stadium – it’s launching a vibrant new district dedicated to inclusion, inspiration, and civic pride.
Following a landmark $70 million infrastructure grant from the Denver City Council, the team behind the project – including ownership group IMA Financial Group and civic-minded partners such as Mellody Hobson and Mikaela Shiffrin- has committed to creating a stadium designed for and with the Denver community. Unlike retrofitted venues used by many women’s teams, this purpose-built stadium stands as a beacon for a new era in women’s sports – one that emphasizes visionary leadership.
Civitas is shaping the public realm of this ambitious undertaking, working alongside stadium architect Populous to create a district that doesn’t just serve athletes and fans, but invites the entire city in. Central to the plan is a 3.5-acre public park and outdoor entertainment space that reimagines what a stadium can be: an open, walkable civic heart that encourages year-round use and multigenerational connection.
This design-forward approach reclaims an industrial corridor that has historically been used as a rail yard, along a barrier between the working-class Athmar Park neighborhood and the more affluent West Wash Park community. Now, with a major light rail and bus rapid transit station adjacent to the site, the stadium has the potential to connect previously disconnected communities and serve as a vital link to downtown Denver and the broader metro region.
More than a venue, Santa Fe Yards is a new kind of civic commons:
- 14,500-seat stadium with capacity for future expansion
- 3.5-acre public park integrated with stadium promenades
- 4-acre preserved city park, reimagined as part of the entertainment district
- Future-ready mixed-use development potential
- Direct access to transit, bikeways, and pedestrian trails
- Community-first programming, including youth sports partnerships
Civitas will lead the effort to engage neighborhoods and stakeholders early and often, hosting public meetings, guiding zoning and entitlement processes, and ensuring that community input informs every layer of design. That collaborative model reflects the values of women’s sports: openness, equity, and shared ownership.
This vision is already generating momentum, season ticket deposits have surpassed league records, and public buzz continues to build. The 14,500-seat scale is intentional, right-sized for energy and impact, with flexibility to grow alongside the fan base.
This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create something bigger than soccer: a new public realm where inspiration is visible, community is at the center, and the future of sport is inclusive by design.