KSE President says next focus is to “Improve the fan experience at Ball Arena”

Fans of Denver area sports teams have been going to Ball Arena for over a quarter century to cheer on their favorite teams and watch banners be raised high into the rafters. While the success on the court, ice and field has been successful with three Stanley Cups, two Champions Cups and one Larry O’Brien trophy being won by the teams that have called the arena home, the infrastructure and fan experience in the concourse hasn’t been up to the same standard.

Kevin Demoff, president of Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, knows that the arena needs some work if the city wants to host another all-star weekend or attract attention from Denver residents looking for a way to have a fun night out, even if their first love isn’t a Denver sports team. The last time the NBA All-Star Game was hosted in Denver was 2005, and the NHL All-Star game hasn’t been in town since the franchise won its second Stanley Cup in 2001.

Demoff, in an email sent out to season ticket holders Wednesday, said that KSE’s “next focus is on continuing to improve the fan experience at Ball Arena,” and asked fans for their input on what improvements they would like to see. Demoff mentioned retail options, food and beverage options, parking and more.

“I know we can step up our food and beverage offerings…” Demoff said. “We know we need to deliver more choices, local flavors, and better value for each of you.”

These renovations to the arena will be the first step of a much larger project in which KSE plans to create an entirely new neighborhood around the arena to help build a community. The project spans 55 acres of land around the arena, and focuses on turning the parking lots and infamous Elitch Gardens amusement park into an entirely new district. The overall project could possibly take 25 years to complete.

“Reimagining an expanded Downtown Denver at Ball Arena’s doorstep – an entirely new entertainment district around the Arena – and bringing our neighborhood to life are key to improving your closet-to-closet experience,” Demoff said.

When looking for a prospective city to host an all-star game, the NBA generally wants a city to have “7,250 hotel rooms and at least three, five-star hotels; a convention center with no less than 650,000 square feet of space; and an airport with at least 75 domestic nonstop flights and 20 international flights,” per Sports Business Journal. However, smaller markets like Denver could also get around those thresholds with components such as rideshare capabilities, a large amount of suites and general seating in arenas and multi-use entertainment venues outside of the main arena.

For both the fan experience at a normal game and the potential to host big events and see moments like the high scoring North America versus the World All-Star Game in 2001, these renovations at Ball Arena will be a massive leap forward for Denver as a sports market, and a ticket to see more iconic events in one of the most beautiful cities in the country.