Thousands flock to 16th Street concert, raising hopes of an economic comeback
It was one of the first big events to be held in what many people consider the heart of downtown.
Block party debuts on 16th Street as construction nears completion
'The concert just last night was incredible because it was the first time in those two years that we've seen thousands and thousands of people come back,' Downtown Denver Partnership CEO Kourtny Garrett said.
The area has had a lot of challenges ever since COVID, protests and renovation projects that choked foot traffic. 16th Street is now nearly finished with a major renovation project.
Nine of 13 blocks have undergone major infrastructure changes. Some people who live, work and visit there say it is an entirely new vibe.
On Tuesday night, an estimated 5,000 people attended a concert on 16th Street. The Downtown Denver Partnership says it was the first big event to take place in years.
One of the businesses that has seen ups and downs on the stretch is the Sportsfan. It has survived Covid, protests and major renovations that choked traffic in front of one of its stores.
FOX31 learned more people are returning to the popular tourist spot. The number of people now visiting the area was not readily available.
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'We've been seeing a much better amount of traffic. We have two stores, one down here and one five blocks up the street, and I would say, on average, we're seeing a 20 to 25% increase. It's nice to be busy when you have a sales job, and it's nice to see the community thriving a little bit more than we've seen since COVID,' Sportsfan Manager Myles Gregory said.
Monday night's concert was just the beginning of what the partnership says will be a series of events to bring people back to downtown Denver.
FOX31 also spotted several groups of tourists.
'We kind of came from the LoDo area, and that seemed a little bit more business-focused. But coming over here seems a lot more lively and stuff. I like how the streets have things going on in places we can explore,' Wisconsin tourist Tia Beirne said.
The 16th Street kick-off to summer will take place this weekend. It will feature nine blocks of entertainment, live music and vendors. The mile-long 16th Street is expected to attract thousands of people.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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