The city of Denver is already dreaming of bringing the big game to the Broncos’ sparkling new stadium.
As the Broncos plan a retractable-roof stadium and entertainment complex at Burnham Yard, the city is eager to help the team with a bid to host the Super Bowl. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston told The Denver Post this week that the goal is 2033, which would be the first year the Broncos are eligible to host if they move into a new stadium for the 2031 season.
“We’ve got to get (the Broncos new stadium) ready for that 2031 season to host our Super Bowl in 2033, and win a Super Bowl at home in ’33,” Johnston said. “So we’re trying to get (construction) going as fast as possible.”
Johnston doubled down on that hope in a radio appearance on 850 KOA on Friday. While the first-term mayor believes it’s possible to bring the Super Bowl to Denver for the first time, the Broncos would need to lead the bid process with the NFL, in conjunction with support from the city.
“While we share excitement and optimism for hosting world-class sports and entertainment events in Denver, our focus remains on community engagement with the preferred site plans for a stadium and mixed-use neighborhood at Burnham Yard,” Broncos chief communications officer Patrick Smyth said.
Last year in London, apEO Greg Penner acknowledged the team would “certainly be excited” about hosting a Super Bowl. One reason the Broncos are planning a retractable roof on the new stadium is to attract marquee national events year-round, which would include the Super Bowl as well as the NCAA basketball Final Four.
“As we’re thinking about the stadium, our first and primary focus is on whatap best for our team, our players and our fans,” Penner said on Oct. 10, 2025. “Then you get to the next step of, ‘OK, we want to have some flexibility.’ Itap the reason why we’re looking at a retractable roof.
“Our intent is for our football games to be played with the roof open in the elements. The exception will be to close the roof, but it would give us the flexibility to host events like Super Bowls, concerts, other events.”
Super Bowl sites are vetted and voted on years in advance, and that qualify if they are interested in submitting a bidThehe bid. The bid process then takes time, . The next four Super Bowls are set, with 2027 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, 2028 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, 2029 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and 2030 at the new Nissan Stadium in Nashville. The 2030 site so a possible 2033 Super Bowl in Denver, as Johnston envisions, likely wouldn’t be voted on until 2029.
That timeline is only on the table if the Broncos actually get approval to build a stadium at Burnham Yard. Penner and Leach in recent months have each referred to the timeline as ambitious and each has acknowledged there are myriad hurdles and challenges still in front of the Broncos and several stakeholders in order to get the necessary city council approvals to put shovels in the ground in the spring of 2027.
The foremost challenge is where Denver Water will relocate about 5 acres for its emergency response infrastructure. The original plan was for the utility to move to Lot M on the current Empower Field site, but councilwoman Jamie Torres said in August that such a move is likely untenable due to community concerns.
Leech acknowledged in August that the 2031 timeline could be at risk if the project’s community-related processes, including finalizing the community benefits agreement, don’t accelerate.
If a Burnham Yard stadium is completed, it would certainly be suitable for a Super Bowl. The NFL has made a habit of awarding the game to teams/cities with new stadiums to showcase those venues on its biggest stage. The Titans’ new Nissan Stadium, which is fits that bill.
The recent list of new stadiums that quickly got Super Bowl bids includes SoFi Stadium (opened 2020, hosted 2022), Allegiant Stadium (opened 2020, hosted 2024), Mercedes-Benz Stadium (opened 2017, hosted 2019), U.S. Bank Stadium (opened 2016, hosted 2018), Levi’s Stadium (opened 2014, hosted 2016 when the Broncos won Super Bowl 50), MetLife Stadium (opened 2010, hosted 2014 when the Broncos lost Super Bowl XLVIII), AT&T Stadium (opened 2009, hosted 2011) and Lucas Oil Stadium (opened 2008, hosted 2012).
If Denver were to land the Super Bowl, it would be one of the rare instances that the NFL awarded the game to a cold-weather location. NFL owners vote for which city hosts the Super Bowl.
The game at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, an open-air venue, was an exception to that warm-weather rule. Super Bowl VI at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans was the coldest game-time temperature on record at 39 degrees, although the coldest day in Super Bowl history . Outside the climate-controlled U.S. Bank Stadium, temperatures hovered around 0 degrees, with wind chills reaching -23 degrees.
