History
The concrete bowl on the University of Denver campus opened on October 2, 1926, with a 27-7 win over Colorado School of Mines. Designed by Gavin Hadden, it held up to 30,000 and earned the nickname 'Monument to Concrete.'
Besides the Pioneers, it hosted Air Force Academy football in the late 1950s and some Denver Broncos games in the AFL's first season. After DU ended football in 1961 the stadium saw little use, and the university moved to demolish it in 1971. Its former grounds are now used by DU's tennis, soccer and lacrosse programs.
Why it matters: The University of Denver's major football venue for 35 seasons and an early home of Air Force football and the Denver Broncos.
Timeline
- March 1925Groundbreaking[1]
Construction began on the campus stadium.
- October 2, 1926
Denver beat Colorado School of Mines 27-7.
- 1961
The University of Denver discontinued football in early 1961.
- 1971
The university decided to raze the stadium in 1971; the east section stood until 1974.
The site today
| Physical status | Site redeveloped[1,2] |
|---|---|
| Current use | University of Denver athletic facilities, including the Stapleton Tennis Pavilion and soccer and lacrosse stadiums[1,2] |
| Surviving remnants | Old line markers are kept at the Anderson Academic Commons (per Wikipedia)[1] |
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Teams & events
| Denver Pioneers | NCAA · 1926–1960 |
|---|---|
| Air Force Falcons | NCAA · 1955–1961 · tenant |
| Denver Broncos | AFL/NFL · 1960 · secondary |
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Other names | Hilltop Stadium |
|---|---|
| Location | University of Denver campus, Denver, Colorado |
| Venue type | Stadium |
| Sports | Football |
| Level | NCAA, AFL |
| Opened | October 2, 1926[1,2] |
| Last used for sports | 1971[2] |
| Demolished | 1971[1,2] |
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
| Final capacity | 30,000[1] |
| Capacity notes | Peak capacity 30,000 per Wikipedia. |
| Architect | Gavin Hadden[1] |
| Construction cost | $571,000[1] |
| Surface | Grass |
| Owner / operator | University of Denver |
| Closure | The University of Denver discontinued its football program in 1961, leaving the stadium without a primary tenant. |
Documented details
Sources
- DU Stadium, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: architect, capacity, construction cost, coordinates, current land use, demolished, opened, remnants, teams
- This Month in History, University of Denver Magazine. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, current land use, demolished, opened
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (1)
- Wikipedia says demolition was decided in 1971 with the east section standing until 1974; the DU Magazine gives 1971 as the demolition year.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.