Broncos Could Consider PSLs To Help Fund New Stadium

The Denver Broncos will take the field for their first preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons tonight, but there are big things going on behind the scenes with reguard to their efforts to build a new stadium, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. 

Specifically, one of the issues at the moment is selling Personal Seat Licenses, which Florio referrred to as, “The money-for-nothing charge that attaches to the ability to buy season tickets.”

Owner Greg Penner addressed the issue earlier this week at his press conference, and he indicated that a decision has yet to be made about PSLs. 

“Really, it’s the furthest thing from our minds right now,” Penner said. “We’re so focused on — we’ve had so many steps before that. . . . [Burnam Yards is] still a preferred site but it’s not finalized that we’re going to be in that location. Obviously, that’s where we really want to be.

“So really, we haven’t even gotten to PSLs yet. Our season ticket holders are vital to our organization and we’re going to keep them informed every step of the way once we get there.”

This really isn’t true, but it’s what Penner is supposed to say in this situation. Plenty of other teams use PSLs to help fund their stadiums, as Florio pointed out, and they’re a great way to fill in revenue gaps without sticking local taxpayers with a huge bill. 

Meanwhile, the building process continues to grind along, according to Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post, who reported on that same press conference. The Broncos are also attempting to add a mixed-use district aruond the stadium, which adds layers of complications to the process. 

“I think that’s a good analogy and I think everybody involved in the process has the intent to do the right thing and is trying to do the right thing,” Penner said. “But it’s a lot of moving pieces and it’s complex. Our focus is squarely on the 2031 opening and trying to get that done, but it’s not going to be easy.”

The Broncos have already cleared multiple hurdles to get this done, including securing the site while collaborating and negotiating with both community groups and government entities, according to Gabriel.

“I don’t know that it’s been more frustrating than I thought,” Penner said Tuesday. “We went into this knowing that, if you’re going to do a project of this scale — and we knew when we started focusing on this site specifically that it was going to be more challenging. But we also really want to stay in Denver if we can and deliver a stadium in this market that is a vital part of the downtown.

“But if you’re doing a project in an area like that, it’s just harder. So I think we went in with our eyes wide open about the challenges and we’ll keep working through it.”