In 2026 Denver will be home to seven professional sports teams and countless personal sporting and recreation opportunities. The seventh addition will come with the Denver Summit FC begin play in the 2026 season as the National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) 16th franchise. Following the success of The Colorado Avalanche in 2022 winning the NHL Stanley Cup, The Denver Nuggets won their first NBA Championship in 2023 led by now three-time MVP, Nikola Jokić. Denver was a proud host of rounds one and two of the 2023 and 2025 NCAA March Madness tournaments, the 2023 National Cycling League Cup Series, the USGA U.S. Amateur Championship, the 2023 USGAA Finals, the 2024 and 2025 U.S. Women’s National Team at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park, the 2024 MexTour at Empower Field, the 2025 International Federation of Sport’s Climbing’s (IFSC) sixth Speed World Cup, the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup semi-finals, the 2025 U.S. Men’s National Team at DICK’s Sporting Goods Park and more. In a 2024 roundup of the 13 best NHL Stadium Series showdowns of all time, ESPN ranked the Colorado Avalanche versus the Detroit Red Wings game at Coors Field in 2016 at No. 2, based on environment, hype, the game itself and the teams’ style. Additionally, Empower Field at Mile High was ranked No. 3 for “Best NFL Stadium” and No. 5 for “Best NFL Stadium Food” by USA TODAY in October 2024. The momentum continues following World Rugby’s recent bid visit for the 2031 Men’s and 2033 Women’s World Cup; additionally, Denver is the only North American finalist city for the 2030 Gay Games.