Empower Field at Mile High
Denver skyline sports legacy
Project Facts
| Location | Denver, Colorado |
| Owner | Metropolitan Football Stadium District |
| Cost | $364 million |
| Status | Completed 2001 |
| Capacity | 76,125 seats |
Overview
Empower Field pays homage to the cherished legacy of its predecessor, Mile High Stadium, while also carving out its own identity. Serving as both a sports arena and a venue for performing arts, it stands proudly against the backdrop of the Denver skyline, symbolizing the spirit of the Rocky Mountain Region.
Services
About the Project
Our team provided structural engineering services for Empower Field at Mile High, the home of the Denver Broncos. The 76,125-seat stadium was built adjacent to the 50-year-old Mile High Stadium, which was subsequently demolished. The project was delivered using a competitive design-build arrangement.
The upper portion of the stadium is wrapped in silver aluminum skin, giving it a sleek, futuristic appearance. The horseshoe-shaped seating includes a lower bowl, two suite levels, a club level, and an upper bowl. We developed a two-way post-tensioned concrete system for the superstructure, saving approximately $2 million in construction costs. This system accommodated the stadium’s sinuous geometry, resulting in wider column spans in the concourses and suites.
Because the Broncos wanted to retain the home-field advantages of an extremely noisy stadium, Empower Field took a cue from Mile High Stadium and utilized steel treads and risers. After extensive vibration studies, an appropriate steel material was selected that allows the crowd to match the “Rocky Mountain Thunder,” which has made Denver the most successful home team in the league.
