Opened:
1948, as Bears Stadium
Capacity:76,000
Surface:
Natural Grass
Location:
Denver, Colorado
Stadium:
INVESTCO Field at Mile High
Coach:
Mike Shanahan
NFL
Championships:
Super
Bowl XXXII (1997) & Super Bowl XXXIII (1998)
Tenants:
Denver
Broncos & Colorado Rapids |
 |
|
Mile
High Stadium is the home of the Denver Broncos of the
NFL and the Colorado Rapids of the MLS. The first phase
of Mile High Stadium, originally named "Bears Stadium,"
was constructed in 1948 and included the existing lower
level west and north stands only. The south stands were
added in l963 to accommodate the American Football League,
Denver Broncos Football Team. In 1967 the City and County
of Denver assumed ownership and management of the facility.
In 1968 the upper deck was added to the west stands.
In 1976 upper decks were added to the north stands and
in 1977 the movable east stands were constructed.
Stadium History:
Home of the Denver Broncos for more than 30 years,
it was hard for many Bronco fans to picture the team
playing anywhere else than Mile High Stadium. In the
mid 1990’s, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen began demanding
that a new stadium for the team be built. Many
Bronco fans were content with Mile High Stadium,
however the Broncos wanted a new state of the art
stadium. In November 1998, voters approved a plan to
construct a new stadium. Construction on the stadium
began in August 1999. Fans attending games at Mile
High Stadium could see the new stadium being
constructed because it was built adjacent to it.
Invesco Funds purchased the naming rights to the
stadium. However, to keep the spirit of Mile High
Stadium alive, the facility was named Invesco Field
at Mile High. Many fans were outraged that the new
stadium was not named the same as its predecessor.
Construction of Invesco Field at Mile High was
completed in just over two years. The Denver Broncos
first game at Invesco Field at Mile High was on
September 10, 2001. Over 76,000 seats are located
throughout the stadium. Incorporating part of the
team name, the main three tier grandstand is in the
shape of a horseshoe. The lower grandstand circles
the entire field. Above the seats in the south
endzone is the main video/scoreboard. On top of the
scoreboard is a replica of a bronco named "Bucky".
Using blue, white, and orange seats, the Broncos
team logo has been incorporated into theupper deck
above the endzone on the north side of the stadium.
Two video boards are also located in the upper deck
of the north endzone. Invesco Field at Mile High has
many amenities, including the Sports Legends Mall
Legacy Walk, which host pre-game activities, the
Colorado Sports Hall of Fame,
and a Broncos team store.
Broncos Team Info:
The
Denver Broncos began play as a charter member of the
American Football League in 1960 where they
struggled unsuccessfully to achieve a .500 record
until the AFL-NFL merger a decade later. Broncos’
stars from these early years include receiver Lionel
Taylor who ranks second all-time in receptions as a
Bronco with 543, and running back Floyd Little who
was drafted in the 1st round in the 1967 draft.
Amazingly, the Broncos first ever postseason
experience resulted in an appearance in Super Bowl
XII in 1977. After finishing the season 12-2
quarterback Craig Morton won the Comeback Player of
the Year Award after throwing for 1,929 and 14
touchdowns in the regular season. The Broncos tough
defense led by outstanding linebackers Tom Jackson
and Randy Gradishar were among the best in the
league. Despite the accolades the Broncos went down
27-10 to the Cowboys, but the OrangeCrush had
arrived.
The Denver Broncos appeared in the Super Bowl three
out of four years between 1986 and 1989 but lost
each time. Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway’s
impressive numbers and late-game heroics made
headlines, however the team was beaten decisively in
each Super Bowl game. It was really a matter of time
and finding the supporting cast to push Elway and
the Broncos over the top. In 1997 a 6th round draft
pick named Terrell Davis ran for 157 yards, caught 2
passes for 8 yards, and scored a Super Bowl record
three rushing touchdowns on the way to Denver’s
first ever SuperBowl victory. The next season Davis
rushed for 2,008 yards and 23 touchdowns in the
regular season, but John Elway claimed Super Bowl
XXXIII MVP honors after he threw for 339 yards
leading Denver to a Super Bowl win. |
