Broncos Replace Empower Field Turf for Fifth Year
Denver tore out and resodded its entire playing surface, citing player safety, ahead of its Week 10 bye.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Football
The Denver Broncos replaced the grass playing surface at Empower Field at Mile High, marking the fifth consecutive year the team has done so. The club tore out the entire surface and laid fresh sod during a two-week window between a Week 9 trip to Carolina and a Week 10 bye.
Why it matters
The Broncos cited player safety as the reason for the replacement, a recurring offseason-style move now happening mid-season. The timing gives the grounds crew a narrow window before Denver's next home game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Nov. 22.
The Broncos have replaced the playing surface for five straight years and used a two-week window between a Week 9 road game and a Week 10 bye to complete the work. Denver has played four of its eight home games this season, with the Raiders visiting on Nov. 22.
The players
Denver Broncos
The Broncos are an NFL franchise based in Denver that competes in the AFC West and was valued at $9.4 billion by Forbes in September 2026.
Sean Payton
Sean Payton is the head coach of the Denver Broncos, who stated the team will not sell at the trade deadline.
The details
The Broncos tore out the entire playing surface at Empower Field at Mile High and laid fresh sod. The grounds work is scheduled around Denver's Week 9 trip to Carolina and the Week 10 bye, leaving the crew roughly two weeks to complete the job.
Timeline
Week 9: Broncos travel to Carolina.
Week 10: Broncos bye week and grounds crew window.
Nov. 10: NFL trade deadline; Denver enters at 6-2.
Nov. 22: Las Vegas Raiders visit Denver.
Season Trajectory
Denver sits atop the AFC West at 6-2 and holds the conference's No. 2 seed heading into the Nov. 10 trade deadline. The club's stated plan not to sell, combined with links to running backs Jonathan Taylor and Breece Hall, frames how it will approach the back half of its season.
Fantasy managers tracking Denver's running backs should watch for trade-deadline moves, since the Broncos have been linked to Jonathan Taylor and Breece Hall. The Nov. 22 Raiders game at Empower Field is the next home contest fans can attend.
The takeaway
Denver's approach to the trade deadline, with its stated plan not to sell, will show whether a 6-2 start is enough to carry the team through the second half of the season.
What happens next
Denver's next scheduled events are the Nov. 10 trade deadline and the Nov. 22 home game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Further reading
Follow the latest Broncos developments in our Football coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sportskeeda.
