Sports Authority Field at Mile High

Sports Authority Field at Mile High

Mile High Stadium II
Former names	Invesco Field at Mile High (2001–2011) Sports Authority Field at Mile High (2011–present)
Address	1701 Mile High Stadium Circle
Location	Denver, Colorado
Coordinates	39°44′38″N 105°1′12″W / 39.74389°N 105.02000°W / 39.74389; -105.02000Coordinates: 39°44′38″N 105°1′12″W / 39.74389°N 105.02000°W / 39.74389; -105.02000
Public transit	Sports Authority Field at Mile High (RTD)
Owner	Denver Metropolitan Football Stadium District
Operator	Stadium Management Company
Executive suites	132
Capacity	76,125 (football) up to 50,000 (concerts)
Surface	Kentucky Bluegrass[1]
Construction
Broke ground	August 17, 1999
Opened	September 10, 2001[2]
Construction cost	$400.7 million ($536 million in 2016 dollars[3])
Architect	HNTB Fentress Architects Bertram A. Burton and Associates
Project manager	ICON Venue Group[4]
Structural engineer	Walter P Moore[5]
Services engineer	M-E Engineers, Inc.[6]
General contractor	Turner/Empire/Alvarado[5]
Tenants
Denver Broncos (NFL) (2001–present) Denver Outlaws (MLL) (2006–present) Colorado Rapids (MLS) (2001–2006)

Sports Authority Field at Mile High, previously known as Invesco Field at Mile High, and commonly known as Mile High or Mile High Stadium, is an American football stadium in Denver, Colorado. The field is named after a sponsor and the stadium is named Mile High. The stadium's primary tenant is the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). The stadium opened in 2001 to replace Mile High Stadium. The stadium was largely paid for by taxpayers in the Denver metropolitan area and the property is owned by a special taxing district.^[7][8] More controversially, Invesco paid $120 million for the original naming rights, before Sports Authority secured the naming rights on August 16, 2011.^[9]

Despite its sponsor's liquidation and closure, the Sports Authority name is still being used on the stadium for the time being due to contract reasons.

Naming rights controversy

Many fans opposed a corporate name and wished to retain the previous venue's name, "Mile High Stadium."^[10] 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, Colorado-based Sports Authority in a 25-year agreement worth $6 million per year.^[9] After Sports Authority missed two quarterly payments as a result of its March 2016 bankruptcy and subsequent liquidation, the Broncos organization and the Metropolitan Football Stadium District are seeking to terminate the naming rights contract.^[11]

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;^[12] the bill failed to pass out of a Senate Committee in May 2016.^[13]

Usage

It is used primarily for American football games. It is the home field for Denver's National Football League team, the Denver Broncos. The stadium also hosts the city's Major League Lacrosse team, 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 the DCI (Drum Corps International) Championships 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.

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 Bronco 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!!" This is followed by the "sad trombone" sound effect.^[14]

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). 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 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.^[15]

On December 21, 2012, the Broncos announced a $30 million renovation project prior to the start of the 2013 season, including a new high-definition LED video board on the stadium's south end zone that triples the size of the old video board.^[16]

In 2013 it was revealed that a Kansas City Chiefs jersey (Neil Smith) was buried somewhere near the 50-yard line by a couple of out-of-state contractors during renovations.^[17]

NFL events

Sports Authority Field at Mile High before the start of 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Other notable events

The field at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

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.

Satellite view of stadium

Detailed view of seats colored to form the Denver Broncos logo.

The stadium has hosted other sports events. The first football game held 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.

The stadium has held several concerts. The first event held was a concert by the Eagles. Irish rock band U2 performed at the stadium on May 21, 2011, during their U2 360° Tour in front of a sold out crowd of 77,918 people. The show was originally to be held on June 12, 2010, but was postponed, due to Bono's emergency back surgery.

In August 2004, it hosted the Drum Corps International Division I World Championships.^[18]

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 Pepsi Center. Approximately 84,000 people attended Obama's speech, exceeding the normal capacity of the stadium due to the placement of audience on the field.^{[19][20][21][22]}

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.^[23]

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. The members of the ring are:

• Safety Austin "Goose" Gonsoulin (1960–1966), 1984 Inductee
• Defensive End Rich Jackson (1967–1972), 1984 Inductee
• Running Back Floyd Little (1967–1975), 1984 Inductee*
• Wide Receiver Jerry Rice (2005–2015), 2015 Inductee
• Former Owner Gerald H. Phipps, 1985 Inductee
• Quarterback Charley Johnson (1972–1975), 1986 Inductee
• Defensive End Paul Smith (1968–1978), 1986 Inductee
• Quarterback Frank Tripucka (1960–1963), 1986 Inductee
• Defensive Back Bill Thompson (1969–1981), 1987 Inductee
• Quarterback Craig Morton (1977–1982), 1988 Inductee
• Wide Receiver Haven Moses (1972–1981), 1988 Inductee
• Kicker Jim Turner (1971–1979), 1988 Inductee
• Linebacker Randy Gradishar (1974–1983), 1989 Inductee
• Linebacker Tom Jackson (1973–1986), 1992 Inductee
• Cornerback Louis Wright (1975–1986), 1993 Inductee
• Quarterback John Elway (1983–1998), 1999 Inductee*
• Linebacker Karl Mecklenburg (1983–1994), 2001 Inductee
• Safety Dennis Smith (1981–1994), 2001 Inductee
• Offensive Tackle Gary Zimmerman (1993–1997), 2003 Inductee*
• Free Safety Steve Atwater (1989–1998), 2005 Inductee
• Running Back Terrell Davis (1995–2001), 2007 Inductee
• Tight End Shannon Sharpe (1990–1999, 2002–2003), 2009 Inductee*
• Wide Receiver Rod Smith (1994–2006), 2012 Inductee
• Center Tom Nalen (1994–2008), 2013 Inductee
• Running back Gene Mingo (1960–64), 2014 Inductee
• Head coach Dan Reeves (1981–92), 2014 Inductee
• Wide receiver Rick Upchurch (1975–83), 2014 Inductee
• Owner Pat Bowlen (1984-Present), 2015 Inductee

* Also in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

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 current owner 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.^[24]

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.

See also

• Mile High Stadium
• Coors Field
• Pepsi Center
• Dick's Sporting Goods Park
• McNichols Arena
• National Sports Center for the Disabled

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

• Sports Authority Field at Mile High official website
• Sports Authority Field at Mile High at StadiumDB.com
• Sports Authority Field at Mile High Seating Chart

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