🏰 A new life for the Sports Castle

🦆 Foie Gras Ban Could Hit Denver Ballots Next Year

The Pro-Animal Colorado activist group says it has successfully collected 16,000 signatures from Denverites who support putting a measure on next November’s ballot that would ban the making and serving of foie gras in Denver. [Westword]

• Flashback: This time last year, foie gras was in the headlines as protesters with the Duck Alliance wreaked havoc at local restaurants serving the French delicacy. [Westword]
• What’s interesting: Pro-Animal Colorado’s 2024 effort to get slaughterhouses banned in Denver was rejected by voters. Will this time be different? [CO Sun]

🏀 Sporting Goods to Return to Sports Castle?

It was a sad day for Denver sports-goers in 2016 when Sports Authority went out of business, leaving the century-old “Sports Castle” on Broadway to be filled only occasionally by pop-up markets, events, and Spirit Halloween. But now, the ski and bike retailer Evo plans to move in, renovate, and bring the building back to its roots as Denver’s go-to sports store. [BusinessDen 🔒]

🇺🇸 Sen. Bennet Now Supports ‘Emergency Redistricting’

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet — who is running for governor in 2026 — voiced his support for an amendment to the state constitution that would allow a “one-time” change to Colorado’s congressional districts in 2028. Bennet joins other state Dems, including his top rival in the Democratic primary, AG Phil Weiser, in support of such an amendment to counter Republican redistricting efforts in other states. [CO Newsline]

• A change of heart: When we asked Sen. Bennet for his stance on the issue a few weeks ago on the City Cast Denver podcast, he did not support redistricting. “We should keep all our options available to us,” he said. “But our focus right now needs to be on 2026, not on 2028.”

🏟️ Council to Vote on $50M on NWSL Stadium Subsidy

A City Council committee approved a package of proposals that would release $50 million in funding to buy the land and build infrastructure for a new soccer stadium for Denver Summit FC. The full City Council is scheduled to vote on Monday, if the team can present a signed community benefit agreement by the end of this week. [Denverite]

• Progress? Things might just be back on track after last month when the team threatened to leave Denver and look elsewhere for its stadium because City Council wasn’t moving quick enough.