Broncos' Future Stadium Likely to Close Roof for Inclement Weather

Team owner Greg Penner says retractable roof would have been closed for AFC title game due to cold and snow.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 1:07pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Denver Broncos have begun planning for a new stadium with a retractable roof, which would allow them to host events like the Super Bowl. Team owner Greg Penner said that if the new stadium had been ready for the recent AFC Championship game, the roof would have likely been closed due to the cold temperatures and snowstorm that impacted the game.

Why it matters

The Broncos' decision to include a retractable roof in their new stadium design reflects a broader trend in the NFL to build more climate-controlled facilities that can host major events like the Super Bowl. This decision also highlights the challenges of playing football in extreme weather conditions and the tradeoffs teams must make between preserving the outdoor experience for fans versus providing more comfortable conditions.

The details

Penner noted that the NFL has regulations for postseason games that would have required the Broncos to close the retractable roof given the 26-degree temperature and wind chill of 16 degrees at kickoff, as well as the snowstorm that hit in the second half. While Penner didn't think the weather ultimately decided the outcome, he said it was 'pretty rough' for the fans.

  • The Broncos have begun the initial process of planning a new stadium with the goal of having it completed in time for the 2031 NFL season.
  • The AFC Championship game between the Broncos and Patriots was played on January 28, 2026.

The players

Greg Penner

The Denver Broncos' team owner and CEO.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The NFL does have guidelines, or rules ... so we'd obviously comply with that. In this case, we would have likely closed it ahead of time given both the temperature and the potential precipitation.”

— Greg Penner, Team Owner and CEO (Yahoo Sports)

“Who knows if that would have had any outcome on the game either way. This would have been more around just what was going to be good for the fans. So it was pretty rough.”

— Greg Penner, Team Owner and CEO (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

The Broncos will continue the planning process for their new stadium with a retractable roof, with the goal of having it completed in time for the 2031 NFL season.

The takeaway

The Broncos' decision to include a retractable roof in their new stadium design reflects the NFL's broader trend towards building more climate-controlled facilities that can host major events. This decision highlights the challenges of playing football in extreme weather conditions and the tradeoffs teams must make between preserving the outdoor experience for fans versus providing more comfortable conditions.