Colorado politics told you Thursday that Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, Colorado State University and the National Western Stock Show was about to announce a 13-member board to oversee the $1.1 billion transformation of property at Interstate 70 and Brighton Boulevard.

Thursday in the mayor’s office, Hancock and other dignitaries announced the first National Western Center Authority.

“This board has a very important duty – to guide this community asset for the maximum benefit to our community,” Hancock said in a statement. “I have no doubt that this impressive group of public servants will set a positive course for the National Western Center and for the neighborhoods it will call home.”

The fullboard ultimately must be confirmed by the Denver City Council.

Representing the city and county of Denver, which has seven voting board seats and two non-voting seats:

Representing Colorado State University with two voting seats:

Representing the Stock Show Association with two voting Board seats:

The 10-year redevelopment and 50-year partnership between the city, the university and the Stock Show is to turn the city into a campus for events, education, tourism and agricultural innovation, which having spinoff benefits for the surrounding communities and the state’s farming and ranching industry as a year-round campus.

“Colorado State University is proud to play an ongoing role in guiding this milestone project forward and shaping it as an asset that will benefit our community and the people of Colorado for generations to come,” Frank said in a statement. “We look forward to collaborating with community, industry and organizational stakeholders to bring this project to life as an inclusive, responsive and exciting hub of education, innovation and entertainment.”

Grant, who also is the retired CEO of the annual two-week Stock Show (which starts Saturday) added, “In the formation of the National Western Center Authority, no more important task exists than the Mayor’s nomination of high quality individuals to the initial board of directors having varied backgrounds, including neighborhood residents, diversity of opinions and skill sets appropriate and necessary for the implementation of our aspirational global vision; and the Mayor has met the challenge beautifully.”

The Mayor’s Office of the National Western Center plans to hire a full-time president and CEO for  the National Western Center Authority sometime early this year.