Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, the parent company behind Denver’s NBA, NHL and MLL franchises, announced Monday it is exploring potential renovations to Ball Arena, which the Nuggets and Avalanche have called home since 1999.
KSE is conducting “market due diligence to evaluate opportunities to enhance the fan experience,” according to a news release. Major renovations to the venue have not been common, but before the 2013-14 season, the original scoreboard was replaced by a center-hung, rectangular scoreboard.
In March, KSE submitted a “large development review” document to the city of Denver, outlining plans to repurpose the sprawling 55 acres of parking lots surrounding Ball Arena. Stan Kroenke, the billionaire owner of the Nuggets and Avalanche, owns the land on which the parking lots are situated. In a 41-page document to the city, Kroenke said the project could involve the construction of housing, office space and retail. That development review did not include any planned changes to the venue itself.
For the latest market evaluations regarding Ball Arena, Kroenke has hired a third-party advisory firm for a planning process that has already included tours of recently renovated NBA and NHL arenas. The firm has also conducted a series of focus group sessions with current ticket buyers, according to the KSE release.
“As we move through this process, it is critical that we continue to listen to our fans to understand what is most important to their event-day experience,” the release said. The company will be sending out a survey Aug. 29 seeking fan feedback to help determine the future of the arena.
The Nuggets, Avalanche and Mammoth have all won championships in their respective leagues in the last two seasons. The Nuggets clinched their first NBA title in front of the fans at Ball Arena in June.
