Denver’s Ball Arena is slated for a sweeping redevelopment, transforming 64 acres of parking lots into a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood and shifting the center of downtown west. As part of the project, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment has committed $500,000 to the Auraria community under a Community Benefit Agreement approved by the Denver City Council on Oct. 21.
The agreement prioritizes support for local communities most impacted by past urban-renewal projects while fostering stronger connections between the Auraria Campus and Denver’s rapidly evolving downtown.
The Community Benefit Agreement was developed collaboratively with input from community groups, educational institutions and city officials.
“The process brought together voices from across the community,” said James Mejia, chief strategy officer at Metropolitan State University of Denver. “It’s a model for how urban development can create shared value.”
The funds will be disbursed incrementally as the first 10 building permits for new structures in the project are issued to:
- Displaced Aurarians: $25,000 per permit will fund the Displaced Aurarians Scholarship Fund or the construction of the 9th Street Peace Park, providing financial aid to those affected by prior urban-renewal projects.
- Indigenous communities: $25,000 per permit will be directed to MSU Denver’s Indigenous and Native Peoples’ Grant and the University of Colorado Denver’s American Indian Scholarship Fund.
About the Ball Arena redevelopment project
The redevelopment will include a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood with more than 6,000 housing units, a hotel, a 5,000-seat entertainment venue and a 3-acre public park. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with completion projected by 2050.
“This transformation will probably take the next couple of decades,” Mejia said. “But you will see major changes not only on our own campus but at Ball Arena starting in the next five years.
“Physically, campus will look different. With more housing and places for recreation nearby, there will be an influx of residents and visitors. Positioned right in the middle of all this activity, MSU Denver will be a draw for students, events, conferences and exchanges of ideas.”
