Dick’s Sporting Goods Park is a soccer-specific stadium in Commerce City, Colorado, just northeast of Denver. It opened on April 7, 2007 as the third home venue for the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer, who christened the building with a 2-1 win over D.C. United.
Designed by HOK Sport (now Populous), the stadium anchors a roughly 360-acre sports complex that cost about $131 million to build, funded jointly by Commerce City and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. The grounds include more than 20 additional natural-grass and turf fields, making it as much a community athletic hub as a professional sports venue.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Colorado Rapids (MLS)
- Location: Commerce City, Colorado
- Opened: April 7, 2007
- Capacity: About 18,061 (soccer configuration)
- Complex Cost: About $131 million
- Playing Surface: Natural Kentucky bluegrass
- Notable Event: Hosted the 2007 MLS All-Star Game
A Stadium Built for Soccer
Unlike many MLS clubs that share oversized football stadiums, the Rapids got a venue scaled specifically for soccer, with steep seating bowls that keep fans close to the pitch on all sides. The natural grass field has long been praised by players for its quality, and the stadium’s bowl design creates a notably loud atmosphere for a facility of its size.
Operated by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, the same group behind the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets, the stadium anchors a massive complex of youth fields that hosts tournaments drawing teams from across the country, making it a year-round fixture in Colorado’s soccer and lacrosse communities.
Beyond MLS Soccer
In its debut season, the stadium hosted the 2007 MLS All-Star Game, drawing a strong crowd to watch MLS stars take on Scotland’s Celtic FC. It has also staged international rugby matches during the 2009 Churchill Cup and served as a venue for the 2014 World Lacrosse Championship.
That mix of soccer, rugby, and lacrosse reflects the venue’s design flexibility, and it remains best known today as the dedicated home turf the Rapids have played on every season since 2007.
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Dick’s Sporting Goods Park FAQs
Who plays at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park?
The Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer have played all their home matches at the stadium since it opened in 2007.
How many people does Dick’s Sporting Goods Park hold?
The stadium seats about 18,061 fans for soccer matches, with a slightly higher capacity available for special events.
When did Dick’s Sporting Goods Park open?
It opened on April 7, 2007, with the Colorado Rapids defeating D.C. United 2-1 in the first match.
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Photo: cornfield948 / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.