Denver is a Final Four finalist. The mayor tied the bid to a Broncos stadium that is still being planned

The NCAA on Tuesday named Denver one of seven finalist cities to host the men's basketball Final Four in one of the years from 2032 to 2036, Denver7 reported. The other finalists are Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Nashville and New Orleans.

Denver has hosted the Final Four once, in 1990, at McNichols Sports Arena. Today's Final Four is played in football stadiums. Mayor Mike Johnston linked the bid to the Denver Broncos' proposed new stadium, which would have a retractable roof and seat more than 50,000, Denver7 reported. "We've been working on this for years," Johnston said in a statement posted on social media.

Why it matters: the bid is another sign of how much the city's plans are riding on the stadium at Burnham Yard, the old rail yard next to the La Alma/Lincoln Park neighborhood. Several big decisions about that site will come through City Hall.

Where the stadium stands

• The site: Burnham Yard is the Broncos' preferred site. The Colorado Department of Transportation reached a sale agreement with the team for the land, the Denver Gazette reported in March.
• The timeline: The team is still aiming to open in 2031, the Gazette reported in August.
• The community benefits agreement: A coalition called Burnham Yard Community Action formed in May to negotiate a legally binding agreement with the team, Axios Denver reported. The coalition has said it is still waiting for substantive answers to its questions, Denver7 reported. We found no report of a signed agreement.
• The decision: NCAA committees will visit finalists, and each city will present in July 2027 before hosts are announced, according to Denver7.

What our records add

The Council has already paid for planning. In January 2025, the Council adopted 24-1801, a five-year, $15 million on-call contract with HDR Engineering for "Burnham Yard Planning and Infrastructure Projects" in Council Districts 3 and 7. It passed 12-0, with Council President Diana Romero Campbell abstaining (roll call).

A neighborhood plan is underway. In August, Council Member Jamie Torres, whose district includes the site, invited residents to an open house on the Burnham Yard small area plan. She said the plan includes the Broncos' proposed development but covers a much bigger area, out to the South Platte River and Colfax Avenue (video at 9:49).

A member warned against pressure on the benefits talks. At the Aug. 11 Mayor-Council meeting, Council Member Paul Kashmann, who called himself a longtime Broncos fan, said he had toured the site and was disappointed by news reports in which the team suggested the community benefits process could derail things. He called the agreement "critical" (video at 27:48).

There is a precedent. In January, the Council adopted 26-0021, sponsored by Council Member Flor Alvidrez, honoring the West East Neighbors United coalition for its community benefits agreement on the women's soccer stadium near Broadway. That stadium has come before the Council several times, most recently with 26-1163, an amendment to its city agreement passed in August.

What's next

No Broncos stadium agreement is before the Council right now. Search our legislation page for "Burnham" to follow new items, and see your Council member on the district map.