Partners
The National Western Center and its founding partners are bringing the campus to life! In 2014 these organizations committed to developing a vision for a future campus, and continue to shape the site into an exciting, year-round destination:
Founding Partners
City and County of Denver
The City and County of Denver has been spearheading the redevelopment efforts for the National Western Complex and Denver Coliseum site since Mayor Michael B. Hancock took office in 2011. In 2016, Mayor Michael B. Hancock created the Mayor’s Office of the National Western Center to lead the capital build of this innovative campus and provide support for the developing Authority as this vision becomes a reality.
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Western Stock Show Association
The National Western Stock Show (NWSS) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides college and graduate level scholarships in agriculture and medicine for practice in rural areas. It is our mission to serve producers and consumers throughout the world by being the premier stock show and nationally recognized western heritage and entertainment event. The NWSS is one of Colorado’s preeminent tourist destinations and is held each January for 16 days. The annual event is considered the Super Bowl of livestock shows, as it hosts nearly 20 breeds of cattle throughout the 16-day run. The event includes one of the world’s richest regular season professional rodeos, world-class equestrian shows and Colorado’s largest agricultural trade show – all of which attracts more than 660,000 guests each year. The Stock Show welcomes attendees from 45 states and 30 countries demonstrating not only national but international influences in agribusiness and western heritage. The Stock Show’s annual economic impact for the City & County of Denver and nearby communities exceeds $100M annually.
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CSU System Spur
Coming in 2022: CSU System will open Spur, where innovative ideas and unforgettable experiences come to life at the National Western Center. Spur’s three buildings at the center of the landmark project in north Denver will ignite and fuel new ideas around water, food, and health and their impact on our lives and our world. Spur is where learning is open and accessible to all. Where researchers tackle the world’s most pressing problems around water, food and health. Where art and culture challenge and surround you. Where rural and urban, local and global intersect. Learn more at csuspur.org.
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History Colorado
History Colorado's mission is to inspire generations to find wonder and meaning in our past and to engage in creating a better Colorado. We serve as the state's memory, preserving the places, stories, and material culture of Colorado through our museums, educational programs, historic preservation programs, research library, collections, and outreach to Colorado communities. As a founding partner or The National Western Center, History Colorado is committed to the goals of strategically aligning education, economic development and tourism and entertainment uses in one location to celebrate and honor the history of the Stock Show, and the Western heritage of Colorado and the West.
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Denver Museum of Nature and Science
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science exists to be a catalyst and ignite our community’s passion for nature and science. The Museum is the Rocky Mountain Region’s leading resource for informal science education and offers a wide variety of engaging exhibitions, programs, activities and scientific research to inspire public appreciation and understanding of the wonders of Colorado, Earth and the universe. At the National Western Center, the Museum is committed to engaging our local community, visitors and others to offer programming that connects people to science and nature in ways that are meaningful to them. The Museum partners with the City of Denver, Colorado State University and the National Western Stock Show to engage with people at the National Western Center site.
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The National Western Center Authority
In 2018, the partners created the National Western Center Authority, a nonprofit organization responsible for operating, maintaining, programming and promoting the National Western Center. The Authority is the primary entity responsible for ensuring the National Western Center achieves its mission. It is also responsible for developing a community investment fund benefitting the Globeville, Elyria and Swansea neighborhoods, including through a “round up” donation option on on-campus retail purchases. The Authority’s work is well underway in preparation for buildings being completed and the larger campus opening to the public. The Authority is guided by a 13-member board of directors. The Authority is doing business as (DBA) the National Western Center.
City and County of Denver
The City and County of Denver is responsible for constructing several buildings and the necessary infrastructure for phases 1 and 2 of the project, to enable campus partners to build, program, innovate, and operate the campus. The city owns the majority of the land and facilities on the campus, made possible in 2015 when Denver residents voted in support of Ballot Measure 2C, a tourism tax that helps fund a portion of the redevelopment. The city leases the site to the National Western Center Authority to operate and maintain it for 100 years. The Mayor’s Office of the National Western Center, under Mayor Michael B. Hancock, is managing the majority of construction for phases 1 and 2, underway now. The city is pursuing options to complete campus phases 3-8 of the project, also known as “the Triangle.”
The city seats seven voting and two nonvoting members on the Authority Board of Directors.
National Western Stock Show
The Western Stock Show Association (WSSA) will produce and book a variety of equestrian, livestock and agricultural events at the new center, including the iconic anchor event, the annual National Western Stock Show (NWSS). As one of three funding partners, NWSS is contributing $125 million total toward the redevelopment ($50 million in cash, and $75 million in land value). On the future National Western Center campus, WSSA will own and operate a new building — the Legacy Building — as its headquarters, featuring an expanded NW Club, Western art collection, NWSS archives and historic collections, and more. The Honoring the Legacy campaign is raising funds for the headquarters. NWSS currently operates and maintains the National Western Complex, a longstanding event complex that will be replaced with the new National Western Center. NWSS seats two voting members on the Authority Board of Directors.
CSU Spur
The Colorado State University System owns and is building what will become CSU Spur, on three parcels of land on the National Western Center campus. The state of Colorado has dedicated $200 million to the capital construction of the CSU Spur campus, which will be open to all, and be home to collaborative research and educational programs about water, food and health. The CSU System seats two voting members on the Authority Board of Directors.
History Colorado
History Colorado is a founding partner of the National Western Center, and was instrumental in shaping its master plan. At the National Western Center, History Colorado will create experiences and exhibits that that share powerful stories, honor the site’s treasured memories, and enhance our vibrant communities.
DMNS
The Denver Museum of Nature and Science is a founding partner of the National Western Center, and was instrumental in shaping its master plan. At the National Western Center, the museum will create opportunities for citizens to become actively involved in science through compelling programs and experiences that inspire a community that loves, understands, and protects our natural world.
