Empower Field at Mile High

Last updated

Empower Field at Mile High
Empower Field logo.svg
Empower Field at Mile High exterior 2022.jpg
Exterior view of the stadium in 2022
Empower Field at Mile High
Former namesInvesco Field (2001–2011)
Sports Authority Field (2011–2018)
Broncos Stadium (2018–2019)
Address1701 Mile High Stadium Circle
Denver, Colorado
Location Sun Valley
Coordinates 39°44′38″N105°1′12″W / 39.74389°N 105.02000°W / 39.74389; -105.02000
Public transit RTD:
BSicon TRAM1.svg   E    W  
at Empower Field at Mile High
OwnerMetropolitan Football Stadium District
Executive suites132
Capacity 76,125 (football)
85,000+ (concerts)
Record attendance85,233 (August 19, 2023; Ed Sheeran, +–=÷× Tour)
Surface Kentucky Bluegrass [1] (2015–present)
Artificial Turf [1] (2001–2015)
Construction
Broke groundAugust 17, 1999
OpenedAugust 11, 2001
Construction cost $400.9million
($733 million in 2023 dollars) [2]
Architect
Project managerICON Venue Group [3]
Structural engineer Walter P Moore [4]
Services engineerM-E Engineers, Inc. [5]
General contractor
[4]
Tenants
Denver Broncos (NFL) (2001–present)
Colorado Rapids (MLS) (2002–2006)
Denver Outlaws (MLL) (2006–2019)
Website
empowerfieldatmilehigh.com

Empower Field at Mile High (previously known as Broncos Stadium at Mile High, Invesco Field at Mile High, and Sports Authority Field at Mile High, and commonly known as Mile High, New Mile High, or Mile High Stadium) is an American football stadium in Denver, Colorado, United States. Its primary tenant is the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). It opened in 2001 to replace the Broncos' original home, the old Mile High Stadium. The venue was previously home of the Denver Outlaws lacrosse team and the Colorado Rapids soccer team. It has also played host to countless concerts and served as the venue for Barack Obama's acceptance of the Democratic presidential nomination at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

Contents

The stadium is nicknamed Mile High due to not only its predecessor, but due to the city's elevation of 1 mile or 5,280 feet (1,610 m) above sea level. [6] Given the difficulty of competing at altitude, as well as the notoriously loud fans, the Broncos are known to have one of the best home field advantages in the NFL. [7]

On March 24, 2022, a fire broke out that damaged some suites and many seats on the third level. The fire was caused by sparks from a welding torch. [8]

Financing

Legislative effort

The Broncos' pursuit of the new stadium included a lobbying effort that included 13 lawyers and tens of thousands of dollars. This effort was directed at the passing of SB 171 which put Referendum 4A on the November 1998 ballot. SB 171 was sponsored by Representative Doug Dean (R) from Colorado Springs. Members of the state legislature claimed that this was one of the largest lobbying efforts they had seen. [9]

In November 1998, Denver voters passed referendum 4A which was in favor of the construction of a new football stadium to replace the existing Mile High Stadium. The referendum was included on the ballots of six Colorado counties that comprise the Denver Metropolitan area. [10] The referendum called for the extension of a tenth of a percent sales tax on transactions within the Metro area to go towards the cost of issuing a $224.9 million bond. [11] This tax was originally established in 1990 when the Colorado Rockies sought public financing for Coors Field. [12] Financing and construction for the stadium was monitored by the Metropolitan Football Stadium District (MFSD). The MFSD is a subdivision of the State of Colorado that, "was created for the purpose of planning, acquiring land and constructing a professional football stadium". The MFSD is also responsible for implementing the MFSD tax. [13] The extension of the original stadium tax came into effect on January 1, 2001. [12]

The funding deal between the Broncos and the State of Colorado called for the team to pay 25% of the estimated cost of $400 million while the state would pay the other 75% of the cost. Part of the agreement stipulated that the MFSD would collect half of the 10 year, $120 million naming rights deal with Invesco Funds Group. Upon Sports Authority’s bankruptcy, the Broncos agreed to pay the MFSD $3.6 million to assume ownership of the naming rights of the stadium. [11]

Corporate partners

Naming rights

Invesco paid $120 million for the original naming rights in 2001, before Sports Authority secured them in August 2011. [14]

Despite its sponsor's liquidation and closure in 2016, the Sports Authority name remained on the stadium for two years afterwards because of regulatory hurdles. The Broncos announced on January 2, 2018 that the stadium's exterior signage would be removed. [15] The stadium took on a temporary name, Broncos Stadium at Mile High, for the remainder of 2018 - including the 2018 NFL season - and part of 2019 before a new corporate naming rights agreement with Colorado-based Empower was announced on September 4, 2019. [16]

Concessions

Concessions are currently run by Aramark Corporation. Aramark took over concession at the beginning of the 2019 season as Empower Retirement assumed the naming rights. As part of their offerings, Aramark has partnered with several Denver restaurants to provide a more robust selection of food options. The new partners include Frank Bonanno, a Denver restaurateur known for his many popular restaurants around downtown Denver. [17]

Improvements

On December 21, 2012, the Broncos announced a $30 million renovation project prior to the start of the 2013 season, including a new HD LED video board on the stadium's south end zone that tripled the size of the video board used in the early 2000s. [18]

In 2013, it was revealed that a Neil Smith Kansas City Chiefs jersey was buried somewhere near the 50-yard line by a couple of out-of-state contractors during renovations, despite Smith's play on the Broncos' Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII-winning teams. The curse the contractors hoped to create did not occur as the Broncos won another Super Bowl two years later, Super Bowl 50. [19]

In an effort to be selected as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the MFSD invested $8.3 million on stadium improvements to satisfy FIFA's requirements. Included in the improvements are the addition of LED lights as well as locker room and seating upgrades. [20]

On December 14, 2022 the Broncos announced more than $100 million in upgrades to the stadium that would be completed during the off season and in time for the 2023 season. Upgrades include expanding the video board and an all-inclusive hospitality club on field level. [21] In August 2023, the Broncos debuted the improvements, including the new scoreboard, measuring 225 feet (69 m) wide by 72 feet (22 m) tall, making it the fifth largest screen in any NFL stadium. [22]

Controversies

Naming rights

During construction of the new stadium, Denver mayor, Wellington Webb opposed the sale of the stadium's naming rights. At this time, the potential partners were AT&T, Janus Capital, and Invesco Funds Group. A group called Friends of Mile High created a poll asking whether fans preferred the old name or would be fine with a corporate sponsor. The poll found that 70% of respondents preferred to keep the name as Mile High despite a potential loss of $89 million in revenue for the state. [23]

Many fans opposed a corporate name and wished to retain the previous venue's name, "Mile High Stadium." [24] The Denver Post initially refused to use the Invesco label and referred to it as Mile High Stadium for several years before changing its policy and adding Invesco to articles.

On August 16, 2011, the Metropolitan Stadium District announced Invesco would immediately transfer the naming rights to Englewood-based Sports Authority in a 25-year agreement worth $6 million per year. [14] In August 2016, the Denver Broncos paid $3,601,890 to the Metropolitan Football Stadium District to purchase the naming rights to the stadium. [25] As the naming rights change began to occur, the MFSD sought permission to install larger signs on the newly named stadium. Residents of the neighborhood sought to block the installation of new signs in an effort to keep light pollution down. Neighborhood complaints included concerns about light pollution as well as the aesthetic value of the Sports Authority sign that the MFSD hoped to install on the stadium. [26]

In 2016, several Colorado legislators attempted to pass a bill in the Colorado State Legislature that would require the "Mile High" moniker regardless of any naming rights deal, citing the large public contribution to the stadium's construction; [27] the bill failed to pass out of a Senate Committee in May 2016. [28]

A comparison of the actual loss and the budgeted loss for the Metropolitan Football Stadium District for the years 2014 to 2018. MFSD Budget Comparison.png
A comparison of the actual loss and the budgeted loss for the Metropolitan Football Stadium District for the years 2014 to 2018.

Many citizens of the surrounding neighborhoods have expressed discontent with the impact of the stadium on their environment. Residents have complained about the increased traffic on game days, frequent public urination by intoxicated fans. [12]

Financing

A 2016 study by the Brookings Institution has found that the federal government lost out on significant tax revenue in their deal with the Broncos to pay for the stadium. The study of 36 professional football stadiums found that the tax exempt municipal bonds caused $49 million in lost tax revenue for the federal government. Additionally, the income tax break that bond holders could claim cost the government an additional $5 million. [29]

Usage

Playing surface for a Denver Broncos game Denver Colorado Invesco Field at Mile High.jpg
Playing surface for a Denver Broncos game

The stadium is used primarily for American football games. It is the home field for Denver's National Football League team, the Denver Broncos. The stadium previously hosted one of the city's Major League Lacrosse teams, the Denver Outlaws. In college football, it has hosted the rivalry game between the Colorado State University Rams and the University of Colorado Boulder Buffaloes. It is also used for the CHSAA class 4A and 5A Colorado high school football state championship games, and has been used for the CBA Marching Band Finals.

In addition, it has been used for a Drum Corps International (DCI) Championship in 2004 and the annual Drums Along the Rockies competition. It is also used for concerts, music festivals and other events, and was home to the city's Major League Soccer franchise, the Colorado Rapids, before that team built and moved into Dick's Sporting Goods Park in suburban Commerce City.

On June 23, 2018, England played New Zealand in a rugby league match at the stadium. [30] England won the match 36-18.

Location

The construction of the stadium marked the completion of a six-year sporting venue upgrade program in Denver, including the construction of Coors Field and of Pepsi Center. As with the other venues, the stadium was constructed to be easily accessible. It sits along Interstate 25 near the Colfax Avenue and 17th Avenue exits. It is also bordered by Federal Boulevard, a major Denver thoroughfare, on the west side. A dedicated light rail station also serves the stadium. The stadium is located in the Sun Valley neighborhood.

Stadium culture and traditions

A home game tradition (carried over from the original Mile High Stadium) is the "Incomplete Chant." At Broncos home games, when the opposing team throws an incomplete pass, the stadium announcer will state "Pass thrown by [the opposing quarterback] intended for [the opposing intended receiver] is..." at which time the fans complete the sentence by shouting "IN-COM-PLETE!!". [31] The Broncos filed to register a trademark for the chant in 2020. [32] In a tradition carried over from Mile High Stadium, the stadium's public-address announcer will give the final official attendance for the game, including the number of unused tickets; in response, Broncos fans "boo" the no-shows. During the stadium's first years, in another tradition that was carried over from Mile High, Broncos fans on one side of the stadium would chant "Go" and fans on the other side would respond "Broncos," back and forth chanting for several minutes. That tradition has since died out. Another long-term tradition is famed rowdiness of fans seated in the "South Stands," although this tradition has diminished significantly as well. Finally, especially in the upper two decks, the fans create their own 'Mile High Thunder' (and warm themselves) by stamping their feet on the stadium's floors. The old Mile High Stadium was built with bare metal, and the 'Thunder' reverberated readily. The new stadium was built with steel floors to preserve this unique acoustic feature. [33]

The stadium also continued the tradition of displaying Bucky the Bronco, a 30-foot (9.1 m) high replica of Roy Rogers horse, Trigger, on top of the main scoreboard. [34]

The stadium has sold out every Denver Broncos' home game since its inception in 2001, extending the "sold-out" streak that began during the team's tenure at Mile High Stadium, where every home game had been sold out since 1970 (though due to NFL policy, local TV broadcasts of sold-out games did not start until 1973).

Notable events

NFL events

Interior view during the 2013 AFC Championship game SAF at Mile High AFC Championship game pom-poms.jpg
Interior view during the 2013 AFC Championship game

On September 10, 2001, the stadium hosted its first regular season NFL game, in which the Broncos defeated the New York Giants 31–20. In a pre-game ceremony, Broncos legends John Elway, Steve Atwater, Randy Gradishar, Haven Moses, Billy Thompson, Floyd Little, Dennis Smith, and Karl Mecklenburg helped to "Move the Thunder" from the old Mile High Stadium to the new home of the Broncos.[ citation needed ] As this inaugural game happened to fall on the day before 9/11, it has been referenced by survivor Pasquale Buzzelli in an interview with Joe Budden.

The stadium has hosted several NFL playoff games. It hosted the 2005 AFC Divisional playoff game, in which Denver defeated the New England Patriots 27–13. The following week, it hosted the AFC Championship Game, which the Broncos lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 34–17. On January 8, 2012, the stadium hosted its third NFL playoff game, an AFC Wild Card playoff game against the Steelers. The Broncos won in overtime, 29–23. On January 12, 2013, the stadium hosted its fourth NFL playoff game, an AFC Divisional playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens. The Broncos lost to the Ravens 38–35 in double overtime.[ citation needed ]

On October 29, 2007, a record crowd of 77,160 watched the Broncos lose to the Green Bay Packers 19–13 on Monday Night Football on the first play from scrimmage in overtime. [35]

On November 26, 2009, it hosted its first Thanksgiving game, when the Broncos took on the Giants. The game was televised on NFL Network, which the Broncos won by a final score of 26–6. [36]

On January 19, 2014, the Broncos defeated the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, 26–16 in front of 77,110 fans in attendance, advancing to their first Super Bowl since they began play in the new stadium.

On January 17, 2016, the Broncos defeated the Steelers in the AFC Divisional playoffs, 23–16 in front of 77,100, advancing to the AFC Championship Game for the 10th time in franchise history.

On January 24, 2016, the Broncos defeated the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, 20–18 in front of 77,100, advancing to Super Bowl 50, which they won two weeks later.

Soccer

On July 26, 2014, Sports Authority Field at Mile High hosted a soccer match between Manchester United and A.S. Roma which was part of the 2014 International Champions Cup and Manchester United won the match 3-2. [37]

DateWinning TeamResultLosing TeamTournamentSpectators
April 3, 2002Flag of the United States.svg  United States 1–0Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico International Friendly 48,476
June 1, 2011Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 3–0Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 45,401
July 14, 2013Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 0–0Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup 30,000
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 3–1Snake Flag of Martinique.svg  Martinique
July 26, 2014 Flag of England.svg Manchester United 3–2 Flag of Italy.svg A.S. Roma 2014 International Champions Cup 54,116
July 13, 2017Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 2–0Flag of Curacao.svg  Curaçao 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup 49,121
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 0–0Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica
June 19, 2019Snake Flag of Martinique.svg  Martinique 3–0Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup 52,874
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 3–1Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
June 3, 2021Flag of the United States.svg  United States 1–0Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg  Honduras 2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals 34,451
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 0–0
(5–4) pen.)
Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica
June 6, 2021Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg  Honduras 2–2
(5–4) pen.)
Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica 2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals 37,648
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 3–2
( a.e.t. )
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 2021 CONCACAF Nations League Final
June 5, 2024Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay International Friendly

Rugby league

The stadium hosted an international rugby league match between New Zealand and England on June 23, 2018. [38]

DateWinning TeamScoreLosing TeamCompetitionAttendance
June 23, 2018Flag of England.svg  England 36–18Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand International Friendly19,320

Concerts

The stadium has held several concerts.

DateArtistOpening act(s)Tour / Concert nameAttendanceRevenueNotes
August 11, 2001 Eagles An Evening With the Eagles54,217 / 54,217$4,837,465The first concert at the stadium. [39]
August 1, 2003 Metallica Limp Bizkit
Linkin Park
Deftones
Mudvayne
Summer Sanitarium Tour
September 25, 2003 Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band The Rising Tour 35,679 / 37,500$2,442,072
May 21, 2011 U2 The Fray U2 360° Tour 77,918 / 77,918$6,663,410The show was originally to be held on June 12, 2010, but was postponed due to Bono's emergency back surgery.
July 21, 2012 Kenny Chesney
Tim McGraw
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Jake Owen
Brothers of the Sun Tour 50,020 / 50,020$4,401,805
July 20, 2013 Kenny Chesney
Eric Church
Eli Young Band
Kacey Musgraves
No Shoes Nation Tour 47,895 / 49,103$3,349,330
June 6, 2015 Luke Bryan Florida Georgia Line
Randy Houser
Thomas Rhett
Dustin Lynch
DJ Rock
Kick the Dust Up Tour 50,539 / 50,539$3,642,005
August 8, 2015 Kenny Chesney
Jason Aldean
Brantley Gilbert
Cole Swindell
Old Dominion
The Big Revival Tour
Burn It Down Tour
54,674 / 54,674$5,279,591
June 7, 2017 Metallica Avenged Sevenfold
Volbeat
WorldWired Tour 51,955 / 57,027$6,299,803
August 2, 2017 Guns N' Roses Sturgill Simpson Not in This Lifetime... Tour 41,445 / 44,806$3,846,068
May 25, 2018 Taylor Swift Camila Cabello
Charli XCX
Taylor Swift's Reputation Stadium Tour 57,140 / 57,140$7,926,366Swift became the first ever female artist to have a concert at the stadium.
June 30, 2018 Kenny Chesney Thomas Rhett
Old Dominion
Brandon Lay
Trip Around The Sun Tour51,553 / 53,983$4,442,006
August 4, 2018 Luke Bryan Sam Hunt
Jon Pardi
Morgan Wallen
What Makes You Country Tour 51,756 / 60,328$3,759,849
June 8, 2019 Garth Brooks Joe Nichols The Garth Brooks Stadium Tour 84,000 / 84,000$6,774,510
August 10, 2019 The Rolling Stones Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats No Filter Tour 58,846 / 58,846$13,494,183This concert was originally scheduled to take place on May 26, 2019, but was postponed due to Mick Jagger recovering from a heart procedure. [40]
July 23, 2022 Red Hot Chili Peppers Haim
Thundercat
2022 Global Stadium Tour 49,617 / 49,617$6,748,875 [41]
July 30, 2022 Kenny Chesney Dan + Shay Old Dominion Carly Pearce Here and Now Tour [42]
August 18, 2022 The Weeknd Kaytranada
Mike Dean
After Hours til Dawn Stadium Tour TBATBA [43] [44]
June 17, 2023 Illenium Blanke
William Black
Trilogy: Colorado47,000$3,900,000Largest EDM headliner event in US history. [45] [46]
June 24, 2023 George Strait Chris Stapleton
Little Big Town
59,663 / 59,663$16,652,9602nd highest grossing concert in history as of August 2023. [47]
July 14, 2023 Taylor Swift MUNA
Gracie Abrams
The Eras Tour First act in history to sell out two shows on a single tour. [48]
July 15, 2023
August 19, 2023 Ed Sheeran Khalid
Cat Burns
+–=÷× Tour 85,233 / 85,233$8,560,475Holds record for largest crowd. Also, the show ended just after midnight the next day because of a weather delay.
June 14, 2024 Zach Bryan [49]
June 15, 2024
June 20, 2024 The Rolling Stones Hackney Diamonds Tour [50]
June 27, 2024 Morgan Wallen Jon Pardi
Nate Smith
Bryan Martin
One Night At A Time World Tour [51]
June 28, 2024
July 27, 2024 Kenny Chesney
Zac Brown Band
Megan Moroney
Uncle Kracker
Sun Goes Down 2024 Tour [52]
August 3, 2024 Foo Fighters Pretenders
Mammoth WVH
Everything or Nothing at All Tour [53]

Other notable events

The main entrance of the stadium, when it was known as Invesco Field at Mile High DSCN5753 invescofieldatmilehigh e.jpg
The main entrance of the stadium, when it was known as Invesco Field at Mile High
The south end zone as it looked during the final day of the 2008 Democratic National Convention Invesco Field at Mile High DNC 2008.jpg
The south end zone as it looked during the final day of the 2008 Democratic National Convention
Satellite view of stadium Invesco Field at Mile High satellite 2004.jpg
Satellite view of stadium
Detailed view of seats colored to form the Denver Broncos logo. Broncos Bleachers.JPG
Detailed view of seats colored to form the Denver Broncos logo.

The stadium has hosted other sports events. The first football game held (college, on September 1, 2001; attendance 75,022) was the Rocky Mountain Showdown, when the University of Colorado Buffaloes defeated the Colorado State University Rams 41–14. On July 2, 2005, it hosted the 2005 Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game. In 2006, Major League Lacrosse placed the expansion Outlaws in Denver.

In August 1977, 1978 and 2004, it hosted the Drum Corps International (DCI) World Championships, and every July hosts Drums Along the Rockies, which is a major competition in the annual DCI summer tour. [54] [55] Drums Along the Rockies is the longest-running event held at any Mile High named stadium, from 1963 through 2019. Although canceled in 2020 due to the COVID Pandemic, the event is expected to return in July 2021.

On August 28, 2008, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama accepted the Democratic Party's nomination for President of the United States here, moving the 2008 Democratic National Convention from Ball Arena. Approximately 84,000 people attended Obama's speech, exceeding the normal capacity of the stadium due to the placement of audience on the field. [56] [57] [58]

On April 13, 2019, the stadium hosted its first AMA Supercross Championship event.

On April 27, 2019, the stadium hosted its first Monster Jam show. On April 23, 2022, it hosted another.

The stadium was a candidate venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, however it was not chosen by FIFA as one of the 16 venues to host to the tournament. [59]

Denver Broncos Ring of Fame

The Denver Broncos Ring of Fame was created in 1984 by team owner Pat Bowlen to honor former players and administrators who played significant roles in the franchise's history. The names and years of service (and in most cases, jersey numbers) of the men inducted into the ring are displayed on the Level 5 facade of the stadium. There is no specific number of new members that may be chosen for induction in any given year; in many years, no new members were inducted.

Inducted or Enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame [60]
Denver Broncos Ring of Fame
No.NamePosition(s)SeasonsInducted
23 Goose Gonsoulin S 1960–661984
87 Rich Jackson DE 1967–721984
44 Floyd Little RB 1967–751984
87 Lionel Taylor WR 1960–661984
Gerald Phipps Owner1961–811985
12 Charley Johnson QB 1972–751986
70 Paul Smith DE1968–781986
18 Frank Tripucka QB1960–631986
36 Billy Thompson S1969–811987
7 Craig Morton QB1977–821988
25 Haven Moses WR 1972–811988
15 Jim Turner PK 1971–791988
53 Randy Gradishar LB 1974–831989
57 Tom Jackson LB1973–861992
20 Louis Wright CB 1975–861993
7 John Elway QB
General manager
1983–98
2011–2020
1999
77 Karl Mecklenburg LB1983–952001
49 Dennis Smith S1981–942001
65 Gary Zimmerman OT 1993–972003
27 Steve Atwater S1989–982005
30 Terrell Davis RB1995–20012007
84 Shannon Sharpe TE1990–99, 2002–032009
80 Rod Smith WR1994–20062012
66 Tom Nalen C 1994–20072013
21 Gene Mingo RB, K, RS 1960–642014
Dan Reeves Head coach 1981–922014
80 Rick Upchurch WR, RS 1975–832014
Pat Bowlen Owner1984–20192015
1 Jason Elam PK 1993–20072016
73 Simon Fletcher LB/DE1985–952016
47 John Lynch S2004–072016
Red Miller Head coach 1977–802017
24 Champ Bailey CB2004–20132019
18 Peyton Manning QB2012–152021

While the Ring of Fame was carried over from the old stadium to the new, the names were re-ordered to separate the inductees who served the team during the pre-Pat Bowlen (the team's owner until 2019 and founder of the Ring) era from those who served during Bowlen's ownership. One of the most noticeable changes was the move of John Elway's name to the center of the ring, located directly between the goalposts of the north end zone. [61]

Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Museum

The Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Museum opened in August 2001. It is located at Gate #1 on the west side of the stadium.

2022 fire

A fire broke out on March 24, 2022, destroying several sections of third row seats and fourth-level suites, though no injuries were reported. The fire caused damage to approximately "1000 feet of seating." The cause of the fire was determined to be from a welding torch being used on an expansion joint. [8] The fire also forced Empower Field at Mile High staff to reorganize events scheduled to take place at the stadium. [62] The damage was said to be a "real challenge" to repair in time for the next Denver Broncos regular season, due to damage to steel risers and difficulties in procuring replacement materials. [63]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denver Broncos</span> National Football League franchise in Denver, Colorado

The Denver Broncos are a professional American football franchise based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team is headquartered in Dove Valley, Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terrell Davis</span> American football player (born 1972)

Terrell Lamar Davis is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL) from 1995 to 2001. He is the Broncos all-time leading rusher and still holds the record for most postseason single-season touchdowns (eight), which he achieved in 1997. He is also credited with starting the "Mile High Salute", a celebratory tradition among Denver Broncos players after scoring a touchdown. Davis was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017. Despite his short seven year tenure, Davis is often regarded as one of the greatest running backs of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coors Field</span> Baseball stadium in Denver, Colorado

Coors Field is a baseball stadium in downtown Denver, Colorado. It is the ballpark of Major League Baseball's Colorado Rockies. Opened in 1995, the park is located in Denver's Lower Downtown neighborhood, two blocks from Union Station. The stadium has a capacity of 50,144 people for baseball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mile High Stadium</span> Former stadium in Denver, Colorado, US

Mile High Stadium was an outdoor multi-purpose stadium located in Denver, Colorado, from 1948 to 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AFC Championship Game</span> Semifinal championship football game in the NFL

The AFC Championship Game is the annual championship game of the American Football Conference (AFC) and one of the two semifinal playoff games of the National Football League (NFL), the largest professional American football league in the world. The game is played on the last Sunday in January by the two remaining playoff teams, following the AFC postseason's first two rounds. The AFC champion then advances to face the winner of the NFC Championship Game in the Super Bowl.

The 1998 season was the Denver Broncos' 29th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 39th overall. The Broncos entered the season as the defending Super Bowl champions and looked to become only the fifth team in league history to win consecutive Super Bowls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XLVIII</span> 2014 National Football League championship game

Super Bowl XLVIII was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Denver Broncos and National Football Conference (NFC) champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 2013 season. The Seahawks defeated the Broncos 43–8, the largest margin of victory for an underdog and tied for the third largest point differential overall (35) in Super Bowl history with Super Bowl XXVII (1993). It was the first time the winning team scored over 40 points while holding their opponent to under 10. This became the first Super Bowl victory for the Seahawks and the fifth Super Bowl loss for the Broncos, at the time a league record for the most of any team. The game was played on February 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the first Super Bowl played outdoors in a cold-weather city and the first Super Bowl to be played on February 2.

The 2006 season was the Denver Broncos' 37th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 47th overall. Following a 7–2 start, the team collapsed down the stretch as the team failed to improve on their 13–3 record from 2005 and they finished the season with a 9–7 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2002, due to a 26–23 overtime loss to the San Francisco 49ers and allowing the Kansas City Chiefs to win the tiebreaker, by beating the Jacksonville Jaguars 35–30.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Empower Field at Mile High station</span> Light rail station in Denver, Colorado

Empower Field at Mile High station is a RTD light rail station in Denver, Colorado, United States. Operating as part of the E and W Lines, the station was opened on April 5, 2002, and is operated by the Regional Transportation District. It primarily serves the adjacent Empower Field at Mile High football stadium.

This is a list of sports in Denver, Colorado, United States. Denver is home to many professional sports teams who are based out of Denver and surrounding cities in the metropolitan area. It is also one of the twelve American cities to house a team from each of the U.S. cities with teams from four major league sports. All four of its teams play their home games near downtown with three active sports venues which includes Empower Field at Mile High, home of the Denver Broncos; Ball Arena, home of the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets; and Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies. There is also a Major League Soccer (MLS) team based in the Denver metro area, but they do not play their home games in the city of Denver and is located in nearby Commerce City.

The 2001 season was the Denver Broncos' 32nd in the National Football League (NFL) and their 42nd overall. This was the Broncos' first year at the new Invesco Field at Mile High, replacing the old Mile High Stadium. The Broncos, heavily favored to be the AFC Super Bowl XXXVI representative, were aiming to head back to the Super Bowl for the first time in three years, and to win their third title in the Shanahan era. However, the season ended up as highly disappointing, as the team finished with an 8-8 record and missed the playoffs. The season was also a start of a multi-year investigation into the team cheating the salary cap during the 1996 season and both their Super Bowl-winning seasons. The team was stripped of their third-round pick in the 2002 draft, and received an initial fine of $968,000.

The 2003 Denver Broncos season was the franchise's 34th season in the National Football League and the 44th overall.

DU Stadium, sometimes referred to as Hilltop Stadium, was a stadium in the western United States, located on the campus of the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado. Built 98 years ago in 1926, the crescent-shaped main grandstand design on the west sideline was based on other similar-sized stadiums from the same time period, Brown Stadium and Cornell's Schoellkopf Field, both in the Ivy League.

The 2010 Denver Broncos season was the franchise's 41st season in the National Football League (NFL), the 51st overall and the 10th playing their home games at INVESCO Field at Mile High. The off-season was marked by the draft selections of Georgia Tech wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and All-American Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, as well as season-ending injuries to All-Pro linebacker Elvis Dumervil and free agent running back LenDale White. The team failed to improve on its 8–8 record from 2009, and set a new franchise record for losses in a single season, with a 4–12 record, which was their worst record in the post-merger era, and worst in a 16-game schedule. In addition, this was the Broncos' fifth consecutive non-playoff season, which was second-longest such streak in franchise history at the time, behind 1960–1976. The regular season was marked by a videotaping scandal and the firing of head coach Josh McDaniels.

The 2011 season was the Denver Broncos' 42nd in the National Football League (NFL) and their 52nd overall. It also marked their first season under head coach John Fox, as well as the first with John Elway as the team's Executive Vice President of Football Operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Denver Broncos season</span> Sports season

The 2012 season was the Denver Broncos' 43rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 53rd overall and their second under head coach John Fox. The offseason was marked by the signing of former Indianapolis Colts' quarterback Peyton Manning on March 20, leading to the team trading incumbent quarterback Tim Tebow to the New York Jets. The Broncos did not have a first-round selection in the 2012 NFL Draft, and selected defensive end Derek Wolfe as the team's first pick in the second round of the draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broncos–Raiders rivalry</span> National Football League rivalry

The Broncos–Raiders rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders. Both teams compete in the American Football Conference (AFC) West division. Since the American Football League was established in 1960, the Broncos and Raiders are the most frequent Monday Night Football matchup in league history with 20. The Broncos and the Raiders have shared the same division, first being the AFL Western Conference, and since the AFL–NFL merger, the AFC West.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Denver Broncos season</span> NFL team season

The 2013 season was the Denver Broncos' 44th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 54th overall. It also marked their 30th season under the ownership of Pat Bowlen, the second with Peyton Manning as the team's starting quarterback and the third under head coach John Fox.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broncos–Chargers rivalry</span> National Football League rivalry

The Broncos–Chargers rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Chargers. Since the American Football League was established in 1960, the Broncos and Chargers have shared the same division, first being the AFL Western Conference, and since the AFL–NFL merger, both clubs have competed in the American Football Conference (AFC) West division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Denver Broncos season</span> NFL team season

The 2015 Denver Broncos season was the franchise's 46th season in the National Football League (NFL) and the 56th overall. It was also the fourth season with Peyton Manning as the team's starting quarterback, as well as the final season of Manning's 18-year NFL career.

References

  1. 1 2 "Broncos Ditching Synthetic Field At Mile High, Using Kentucky Bluegrass Grown In Colorado". February 11, 2015.
  2. 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–" . Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  3. "Sports Authority Field at Mile High - CAA ICON". iconvenue.com.
  4. 1 2 "Inside the Construction of Invesco Field at Mile High". SportsBusiness Journal. September 3, 2001. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
  5. M-E Engineers, Inc. - Projects Archived May 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  6. "Stadium Elevation". Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  7. "The highest form of home field advantage". Spectrum News. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Sparks from Welding Torch Blamed for Fire at Stadium". denver.cbslocal.com. March 25, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  9. "The Denver Post Online: New Broncos Stadium". extras.denverpost.com. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  10. "Voters Approve Stadium Proposals". www.cbsnews.com. November 4, 1998. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  11. 1 2 "Inside the Construction of Invesco Field at Mile High". www.sportsbusinessdaily.com. September 3, 2001. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  12. 1 2 3 Whipple, Kelsey (January 4, 2012). "Sports Authority Field at Mile High tax ends, stadium finally paid off". Westword. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  13. "Metropolitan Football Stadium District". Metropolitan Football Stadium District. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  14. 1 2 Caldwell, Gray (August 16, 2011). "A New Home". Denver Broncos. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  15. DiLalla, Aric (January 2, 2018). "Broncos to remove Sports Authority signage from stadium in coming weeks". Denver Broncos. Archived from the original on January 9, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  16. "Broncos agree to terms with Empower Retirement on 21-year deal to name stadium 'Empower Field at Mile High'". www.denverbroncos.com. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  17. Antonation, Mark (September 14, 2019). "New at Mile High: Biker Jim's, Bonanno, GQue...and 505 Chile?". Westword. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  18. Klis, Mike (December 21, 2012). "Broncos, Stadium District to spend $30 million on Mile High improvements". The Denver Post. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  19. "Troy claims a secret lies beneath the 50 yard line... | The Rick Lewis Show | 103.5 The Fox". 103.5 The Fox. Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  20. "Denver eyes World Cup as it invests in Mile High stadium upgrades - SportsPro Media". www.sportspromedia.com. March 19, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  21. "Broncos announce more than $100 million in upgrades to Empower Field at Mile High". www.denverbroncos.com. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  22. "Broncos unveil $100M upgrade to Empower Field at Mile High featuring mammoth scoreboard". The Colorado Sun. August 26, 2023. Archived from the original on August 26, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2023. The scoreboard is 225 feet wide and 72 feet high, making it the tallest in North America and 70% larger than the old scoreboard. Overall, it's the fifth-largest scoreboard in the NFL.
  23. Janofsky, Michael (October 29, 2000). "Denver Journal; What's in a Stadium Name -- Tradition or Money?". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  24. Favre, Gregory E. (August 10, 2006). "A Mile High Controversy". Archived from the original on November 27, 2006. Retrieved September 25, 2006.
  25. Zellinger, Marhsall (May 31, 2016). "Denver Broncos awarded Mile High Stadium naming rights during Sports Authority bankruptcy case". The Denver Channel. Archived from the original on November 1, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  26. Whipple, Kelsey (December 21, 2011). "Neighbors of Sports Authority Field at Mile High worry about light pollution". Westword. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  27. Bunch, Joey (August 23, 2016). "Bill would forever preserve "Mile High" in Broncos' stadium name". The Denver Post. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  28. Bunch, Joey (May 5, 2016). "Senate Republicans kill bill to retain "Mile High" in stadium's name". The Denver Post. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  29. "Study shows Broncos' Mile High stadium cost federal taxpayers $54 million". The Denver Post. September 9, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  30. "New Zealand to face England in international rugby league match in Denver this summer". February 27, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  31. "Frequently Asked Questions". DenverBroncos.com. NFL Enterprises, LLC. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  32. "Denver Broncos Trademarks - Gerben IP". June 3, 2020.
  33. "The New And Improved Mile High". Stadium Journey. December 29, 2019.
  34. "11 secrets of Sports Authority Field @ Mile High". KMGH. January 13, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  35. "Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos - October 29th, 2007". Football Reference. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  36. "Broncos end four-game skid with win over Giants". The Augusta Chronicle. November 27, 2009. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  37. It included a 60 yard goal by Miralem Pjanic of AS Roma, adding to mile high's reputation as a good place to kick long field goals. United Survive late Roma Surge to gain first ICC Victory Archived July 28, 2014, at the Wayback Machine ICC.com July 26, 2014 Retrieved July 27, 2014
  38. Sevits, Kurt (February 27, 2018). "International rugby league match coming to Denver in June".
  39. "Amusement Business – Boxscore: Top 10 Concert Grosses". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 34. New York. August 25, 2001. p. 14. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  40. Kaufman, Gil (May 16, 2019). "Rolling Stones Announce Rescheduled North American Tour Dates". Billboard . Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  41. "2022 GLOBAL STADIUM TOUR UPCOMING DATES". redhotchilipeppers.com. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  42. High, Empower Field at Mile. "Kenny Chesney | Empower Field at Mile High". www.empowerfieldatmilehigh.com. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  43. "Tour". The Weeknd's Official Website. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  44. "The Weeknd Announces Lineup of Openers to Replace Doja Cat on Stadium Tour". Complex . Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  45. "Instagram".
  46. Bain, Katie (March 13, 2024). "Music Helped Saved Illenium's Life — And Now He's Doing the Same For Others". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  47. High, Empower Field at Mile. "George Strait, Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town | Empower Field at Mile High". www.empowerfieldatmilehigh.com. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  48. "Taylor Swift adds 2nd Denver show to 'The Eras Tour'". FOX31 Denver. November 11, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  49. "Zach Bryan Makes Next-Level Leap To Major Arenas, Stadiums On 2024 "The Quittin Time Tour" - Pollstar News". August 28, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  50. High, Empower Field at Mile. "Rolling Stones | Empower Field at Mile High". www.empowerfieldatmilehigh.com. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  51. High, Empower Field at Mile. "Morgan Wallen | Empower Field at Mile High". www.empowerfieldatmilehigh.com. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  52. "Kenny Chesney Back For Another Summer Of Stadiums On 'Sun Goes Down' Tour - Pollstar News". November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  53. "Foo Fighters announce U.S. stadium tour, with stop in Denver planned - CBS Colorado". www.cbsnews.com. October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  54. "Drum Corps International Past Champions and Locations".
  55. "Drums Along The Rockies". Ascend Performing Arts. August 13, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  56. "Obama Accepts Democrat Nomination". BBC News . BBC. August 29, 2008. Retrieved August 29, 2008.
  57. Lloyd, Robert (August 29, 2008). "Barack Obama, Al Gore Raise the Roof at Invesco Field". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved August 29, 2008.
  58. Wangsness, Lisa (August 29, 2008). "Some Saw Spectacular, Others Just Spectacle". The Boston Globe . Retrieved August 29, 2008.
  59. "FIFA unveils stellar line-up of FIFA World Cup 2026 Host Cities". FIFA. June 16, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  60. "Years - Hall of Famers - Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site". www.profootballhof.com.
  61. Ringo, Kyle. "Kickoff: Birth of a Stadium". Rocky Mountain News . Archived from the original on July 22, 2006. Retrieved November 30, 2006.
  62. Powell, Erin (March 29, 2022). "Staff scramble to accommodate stadium events after Mile High fire". 9 News . Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  63. Sullivan, Tyler (March 28, 2022). "Broncos say it will be a 'real challenge' to repair fire damage at Mile High Stadium by September opener". CBS Sports. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
Events and tenants
Preceded by Home of the
Denver Broncos

2001–present
Succeeded by
current
Preceded by Home of the
Denver Outlaws

2006–2019
Succeeded by
Last Venue
Preceded by Home of the
Colorado Rapids

2002–2006
Succeeded by
Preceded by Host of the
Drum Corps International
World Championship

2004
Succeeded by
Preceded by Host of AFC Championship Game
2006
2014
2016
Succeeded by
Preceded by
None

CONCACAF Nations League Finals Venue

2021

Empower Field at Mile High

Succeeded by
TBD