Members of the Denver City Council have given a green light to up to $812 million in funding for an extensive updating of the National Western Center.
That center has long served as the home to the National Western Stock Show, which every winter attracts more than 650,000 people for a two-week event, complete with rodeos and trade shows.
The project, always designed to be done in phases, has also included the construction of new offices, a medical center for horses, and a series of public plazas.
The council vote means a commitment on the part of the city to the building of a 4,500-seat events center and 4,000-square-foot community building just to the north of downtown Denver.
The project has been criticized by residents and community activists, among others, who have said it is too large and too expensive. The expense factor is seen in the fact that the expansion effort was originally pegged at $765 million.
In a statement Mayor Mike Johnston lauded the council move, remarking that “there is no more cherished tradition in Denver than the Stock Show.”
The project also includes the building of a 160-room hotel, parking garage, and 30 to 40 units of workforce housing.
The annual livestock show has been held in the Mile High City since 1906, except for 2021 when it was cancelled owing to the Covid 19 pandemic.
June 11, 2025
By Garry Boulard
