Denver, CO
Ball Arena updates concessions, making food a win for fans, local businesses
DENVER — Colorado Avalanche fans are hungry for another Stanley Cup run, but while the team has been great, the food at Ball Arena has not drawn rave reviews recently.
“We conduct guest surveys throughout the season, and what we were hearing consistently was that the fans just weren’t satisfied with the quality of the concession food,” said Jim Mulvhill, director of marketing communications for Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Avs, Denver Nuggets and Ball Arena.
Now, KSE and Legends Global, which runs food and beverage operations for the arena, are trying to change that by bringing six locally owned Denver restaurants into the arena. Those restaurants are:
- Big Belly Brothers (barbecue) – Sections 148 and 379
- Redeemer Pizza – Sections 126 and 342
- llegal Burger – Section 102
- Mexico City – Sections 118 and 330
- Jake’s Baby D’s (mini doughnuts) – Section 134
- Nola Jane (cajun) – Section 303
Owner and general manager Casey Allen said gumbo, jambalaya and the debris po boy will be among the food options at the arena.
“Nineteen-thousand people have a chance to eat our food at the arena, instead of before or after the game. And it’s just, I mean, it’s just an awesome experience,” he told Denver7 Thursday.
“Great items that you wouldn’t normally find at an arena, really creative options and really high-quality stuff from places that people know from their neighborhoods,” Mulvihill said.
In addition to the new options, classics like hot dogs, popcorn, candy and soda have had prices cut to $5 each. Those items ranged roughly between $6.50 and $8.50 each last season, according to KSE.
Twenty-ounce domestic draft beers are now $10 each, down from $14.
“I think people have realized that there was a tipping point where the prices were getting too high for the average family, and really it’s good for business too,” Mulvihill said. “You bring down the prices, people buy more. In the end, it’s going to be a wash for us.”
Avs fan Aaron Garcia said the higher prices were a concern for him, and he’s happy to see the more reasonable concession cost for him and his family, including his young son, Daxton.
“Yeah, I did voice my opinion on [the food cost],” he said. “And I’m glad they listen. That’s huge, you know, having a little guy and just, it definitely helps keep prices down.”
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If you use Santa Fe Drive as a part of your daily commute, you will notice full closures this weekend on a popular section, from Florida Avenue to Evans Avenue, for the installation of a pedestrian bridge.
Once the 370-foot pedestrian bridge is completed, it will connect the east and west portions of Denver’s Overland neighborhood. This bridge will be used by pedestrians and bicyclists.
The Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure says this closure is needed to keep the traveling public safe. Large cranes will be used to set the two spans in place. Each one weighs about 215,000 pounds and is 180 feet long.
Once the bridge is completed in 2027, it will create a safer connection for pedestrians and bicyclists. It will link neighborhoods to trails, transit, parks, and local businesses without requiring residents to cross heavy traffic.
“Our neighborhood is quartered by transportation routes, so having a safe pedestrian bridge that can take people from one side to the other is an amazing development that neighbors have been asking for for years,” Jenn Greiving, President, Overland Park Neighborhood Association, said.
The Santa Fe Drive closure will begin at midnight on Saturday, July 11, and end on Monday, July 13, at 5 a.m. There will be detours in place. This includes:
- Southbound Santa Fe Drive Detour: Traffic will be routed to Platte River Drive to reenter southbound Santa Fe Drive at the West Evans Avenue on-ramp.
- Northbound Santa Fe Drive Detour: Access to northbound Santa Fe Drive will be at Mississippi Avenue via South Broadway Street.
- On-Ramp Closure: The West Evans Avenue on-ramp to northbound Santa Fe Drive will close at noon on Friday, July 10, to prepare for the full weekend closure and will remain closed until 5 a.m. on Monday, July 13. Traffic will be detoured to South Broadway Street to re-enter northbound Santa Fe Drive via Mississippi Avenue.
- Off-Ramp Closure: The southbound Santa Fe Drive off-ramp to West Evans Avenue will close for the full weekend period and remain closed until Friday, Sept. 11, while crews build new sidewalks and perform other concrete work at the southwest corner of the project. Detours will be posted to West Florida Avenue, West Dartmouth Avenue or West Hampden Avenue to bypass the ramp closure
During this closure, DOTI will reopen the underpass on Iowa Avenue. This is a new ADA accessible pathway that will be available between Santa Fe Drive and Acoma Street.
DENVER (KDVR) — Two officers, one now formerly of the Denver Police Department, face multiple charges relating to separate incidents in the past two months.
According to a release, now-former Denver Police Officer Gabriel Lucero was issued a citation for third-degree assault, official misconduct and false reporting, while Officer Javon Leach was cited for reckless driving and eluding.
The incident involving Lucero reportedly occurred on May 22 just before 1 a.m. in the 500 block of 16th Street. According to a release, Lucero was involved in an assault at a business, as he allegedly assaulted a person and walked away as others continued to assault the victim.
Security guards and an off-duty officer escorted him and the group out; however, Lucero reportedly identified himself as a Denver police officer and attempted to re-enter by using his police badge.
Lucero reportedly provided a false name without any other information, and further investigation verified Lucero as the person involved. Lucero was hired in 2025 and, due to his current probationary status, was fired as of Wednesday.
The incident involving Leach occurred around 1:41 a.m. on June 21, when Leach was reportedly pulling out of a parking lot on Larimer Street, attempting to drive against traffic.
Leach reportedly refused commands to stop as he left the area. Officials said he was found just seven minutes later, traveling at high speeds northbound on Park Avenue West.
He reportedly fled a traffic stop and continued to drive away, and officials deemed Leach to be the suspect following an investigation. He was placed in an off-line assignment while the case progresses, as they are considered misdemeanors.
“The Denver Police Department’s administrative review of Leach’s incident will begin once the criminal case is adjudicated, and that process includes the Denver Department of Safety and the Office of the Independent Monitor, a civilian oversight agency,” the release said.
Denver Nuggets standout forward Peyton Watson could find himself on another team before you know it.
With the Nuggets reportedly open to a sign-and-trade of Watson, could Denver really lose a core piece to their rotation?
It’s hard to imagine many teams being able to shoulder the financial weight of a Watson contract at this point because of the aprons and such, but he’s absolutely an asset to any contending team.
We’ve gone through and identified a few teams that make sense for Watson in the fall… including the one he’s already on at the moment. Hey, he might stay home, you never know!
The Clippers have been linked to Watson as a possible destination; he could help them immensely.
The Pistons have also been linked to Watson, which would help them a lot to contend for an NBA title.
Look, HYPOTHETICALLY, the Nets could move around some cap space with some player trades and such and get a deal done. They are one of the only teams in the NBA right now not in the negative with cap space.
The Grizzlies are the team with the least amount of negative cap space right now, per Spotrac. If they really wanted to pull off a Watson sign-and-trade… it would be hypothetically possible from a money standpoint.
Denver Nuggts
Look, it’s very possible Watson just stays in Denver on a brand-new deal. Who knows at this point?
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