One year since the closure of the Broomfield Event Center on Nov. 30, 2023, demolition of the building has officially begun. Broomfield City Council said the 6,500-seat event center never reached its full potential in hosting sporting events, concerts and other events since opening in late 2006.
According to the City of Broomfield, demolition of the building structure began on Monday, Nov. 18. The building demolition will generally be from south/southeast to west. The westernmost section of the building will be demolished last, providing a screen and sound buffering for the residents and businesses to the west.
The project will track, reconcile, and post the landfill diversion rate of materials monthly. Diversion rates are calculated by weight. Most of the materials that are not recyclable (to be landfilled) are removed early in the project such as insulation, drywall, and the membrane roof. The heavier, recycled materials such as asphalt and concrete will be removed last. The percentage of diversion is expected to increase as the project progresses.
The north parking lot is not part of the site demolition area and will generally remain open during demolition except for when it needs to be closed for ingress and egress of large construction equipment. The west and east parking lots are included in the demolition plan and barriers will be put into place to prevent access to any part of the construction zone once the project gets underway.
Demolition is anticipated to take six months. Allowable work hours are Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and with advanced approval, Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The auction of all materials, furnishings, fixtures, etc. was run by Roller Auction on Oct. 14.
The Broomfield Event Center, at one point the 1STBANK Center, owned by the BURA, opened in November 2006 as a multi-purpose entertainment and sports arena. Broomfield Sports and Entertainment, LLC was the original operating manager of the Event Center from 2006-2009. Peak Entertainment, LLC served as the facility’s operating manager from 2009-2023.
The original construction cost was financed by the issuance of $59.8 million in bonds to be generated from within the Wadsworth Interchange Urban Renewal Area, but only since 2020 has the Wadsworth Interchange URA generated the necessary revenue to cover the Event Center bond payment. BURA has an outstanding balance on the Event Center bond of $34.2 million in principal, and by the time BURA pays off the bond, BURA will have paid approximately $135 million.
Over the last five years, the City and County of Broomfield has investigated additional uses for the facility, including hosting collegiate and minor league sports, converting it into a convention or exhibition center or using it as a retail or restaurant hall with indoor play space. None of the financial models associated with those options have proven viable. Staff is in the process of evaluating additional options that include razing the building for redevelopment and the sale of the property.
Watch a video feed of the demolition HERE.
