Denver Summit News Round Table: Mile High Home Opener, Stadium Drama, Signings

Denver, CO – There’s been a bunch of news for Denver Summit FC in the last few weeks. The Burgundy Wave staff have been enjoying a quiet start to the Colorado Rapids offseason. Let’s take a look at what the NWLS expansion team are up to and what it means for the inaugural season.

Santa Fe Yards Stadium:

Let’s get the bad news out of the way.

The City Council voted on five measures related to the team and stadium. The first measure passed, rezoning the site to allow the stadium to be built/allowed there. The other four measures were about what the $50 million in spending around the infrastructure supporting the stadium. It looks like there wasn’t enough details about what the money was spent on.

“Given the challenges we have faced in the Denver City Council process, we are currently pursuing a parallel path regarding the stadium site and engaging with other jurisdictions outside of Denver,” read a club statement.

Burgundy Wave has had some skepticism about tax payer dollars being spend towards the project, on what, and how much. This and the Denver Broncos new stadium project are pet projects for Mayor Mike Johnson and he’s had clashes with other local officials about rushing projects, having big ideas, but not the details to follow through. I can understand other local officials being skeptical amid budget constraints, layoffs, and with all the of Vibrant Denver measures passing.

It sucks that this line is being drawn on a women’s sports stadium when we fully expect the Broncos to get their way.

I understand ownership pursuing other options they’d looked at previously. If they want to open the permanent stadium in 2028, they need shovels in the ground in 2026. Expect Centennial to come up, as well as the Denver Coliseum Site, possibly other suburbs. I don’t think this jeopardizes the franchise being here or the inaugural season. Sev

Pure speculation here. I think they circle back to Santa Fe Yards. Ownership chips in more money. Maybe they do a tax payer refund over time. The stadium location and plan is too good. Any other site they go with isn’t going to be closer to downtown, the two existing highways, or public transit. A stadium in the suburbs like the Rapids would be such a killjoy.

Good News for the Inaugural Season:

Earlier this month, the club announced that their first ever hope match will be Saturday, March 28. Kickoff will be 12 noon Mountain Time, live on CBS. The match has since surpassed 25,000 tickets sold for the match, a third of the stadium’s capacity. Additionally, the club has surpassed 8,500 season tickets sold.

It felt inevitable that the home opener would be at Mile High, not the temporary 12,000 seat stadium down in Centennial. “The Kickoff” should surely sell out the lower bowl (30,000 ish) and could eventually sell out the 76,000+ capacity. It gives way more fans the chance to go to the first game and share that first collective experience. It will draw out some casuals and those who are WoSo curious.

This is huge for NWSL and the club. Especially if they get they nail the match day experience and get a result. Instant conversion that could set the team up fanbase wise for years to come.

The 8,500 season tickets sold aligns with the season ticket deposit information we have. There’s still hype around the team even with the stadium uncertainty. 8,500 is more than two thirds of the temporary stadium capacity and well over half of the planned capacity for Santa Fe Yards. That is a very good foundation (and probably a larger STM population than the Rapids).

I would guess they are at or close to any pre-imposed cap for season tickets. You want to be able to sell half-season tickets, flex packages, and single game tickets. You get more profit selling single game tickets if they are in demand. It’s great for introducing people who are curious about the sport and potentially converting them into sickos.

I think Denver Summit crush the attendance at Mile High. It’ll be the highest attended game in Colorado Soccer history outside of a handful of Concacaf matches at Mile High and some 4th of July games for the Pids back at old Mile High. I think the club also sells out every regular season home game at the temporary stadium down south.

New Signings: Center Backs Kaleigh Kurtz and Megan Reid

On the technical front, after starting off with the attack, Summit have finally signed some defenders.

Kaleigh Kurtz, 31, is a decorated center back who’s been with North Carolina Courage since 2018. General Manager Kurt Johnson has to know her well. She’s played every minute of every NWSL game for four years in a row. NWSL Champion twice, NWSL Shield winner twice, two NWSL Challenge Cups. NWSL Best XI in 2024. For the Rapids fans, imagine the Rapids signing Drew Moor in his prime.

Kurtz should be the veteran anchor on the back line. She’s signed a three-year deal through 2028.

Megan Reid, 29, comes to Summit after spending her entire 4-year professional career with Angel City. She’s played 81 games in that time, and like Kurtz, was an iron woman in 2022. In December 2024, she got her first cap with the Canadian Women’s National Team.

“Adding Megan to our roster gives Summit FC a defender with proven consistency and international experience,” said Curt Johnson, General Manager of Denver Summit FC. “Her professionalism, durability, and competitive drive make her a perfect fit as we build our team for the inaugural season. We’re thrilled to welcome her to Denver.”

She has also signed a three-year deal through 2028. Summit could very well have their center back pairing for their first season.

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