Connect with us

Denver, CO

Empower Field renovations breathe character to aging Mile High

Published

1 year ago

on

Empower Field renovations breathe character to aging Mile High


DENVER—The Denver Broncos are very quick to point out that the $100 million they spent on improving Empower Field this summer does not keep them tied to the facility. But the changes made, even if they are for the short term, give the 22-year-old stadium an impressive glow-up.

The two main complaints about the stadium built on the corner of Colfax and Federal that opened in 2001, are that is bland and that it aged way too quickly. The Broncos have helped solve the first issue and are still working on the second part. In a tour given to Denver Sports and other media outlets on Friday, team leadership showed off the new and improved facility ahead of Denver’s first home preseason game on Saturday. From the fifth-largest scoreboard in the NFL to new hospitality areas, concessions and added art pieces Empower Field for the first time has a hint of flavor.

That new flavor was seen in some of the food items we got to try—which were honestly pretty solid for stadium food. The Broncos have also added $5 concession options on things like hot dogs, nachos, pretzels and soda.

Advertisement

They showed off these new foods to media members in a brand new club—the Breckenridge Bourbon Club, which is on the field level and occupies a previously little-used space. In this new club, like the rest of the updates, it was done with a deep understanding and appreciation for the details of Broncos history. In the club they had a few famous plays charted out, while out in the concourse they had the team’s uniform history displayed with the story of each change. This has been one of the most positive signs yet about Greg Penner and Carrie Walton-Penner’s ownership of the Broncos, they’re attention to detail and care for the history of the Broncos. One of those changes was making sure the retired numbers popped a bit better, including new internal lighting on those fixtures next to the new main video board.

My favorite part was apparently Carrie’s idea, adding more art to a lot of the blank and bland spaces in the stadium. In one area near the newly renovated team store on the stadium’s south side, a new mural was being worked on by local artist Detour. That artist was the one who painted the Nuggets championship mural on Colfax which is stylistically similar to the one he’s working on with Denver’s football legends.

Advertisement

Broncos president Damani Leech pointed out that the Broncos are still “in the first quarter” of their look for a new home. While the team’s home may soon change, their current home finally feels a lot more like home thanks to these renovations. Changes which the team says should’ve taken two years but they rushed to get done in one ahead of the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group’s first full season at the helm. And hey for year 22, I don’t about you but everything now feels alright.

***

Advertisement





Source link

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Denver, CO

Denver area events for Nov. 25: Pop-up holiday lounge at Union Station and more

Published

3 hours ago

on

November 25, 2024

By

Denver area events for Nov. 25: Pop-up holiday lounge at Union Station and more


If you have an event taking place in the Denver area, email information to carlotta.olson@gazette.com at least two weeks in advance. All events are listed in the calendar on space availability.

Monday

Sipping N’ Painting Hampden — “Alaska Night,” 6:30-8:30 p.m., Sipping N’ Painting Hampden, 6461 E. Hampden Ave., Denver, $35. Registration required: sippingnpaintinghampden.com.

Advertisement

Brazilian Zouk Classes and Social Dance — 7-11:30 p.m., Mercury Café, 2199 California St., Denver, $20 class and social, $15 social only; mercurycafe.com.

Cloud Nothings — With Armlock, Famers Wife, 8 p.m., Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, $25. Tickets: axs.com.

Mile High Holidays Drone Show — 7 p.m. through Dec. 31, Denver skies; denver.org/milehighholidays.

“American Dreams” Exhibit — Through Dec. 31, Molly Brown House Museum, 1340 Pennsylvania St., Denver, go online for prices. Tickets: mollybrown.org.

“Shadow and Light: Patrick Marold” — Through Jan. 5, Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St., Denver, go online for prices; botanicgardens.org.

Advertisement

Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter.

Advertisement

“Vanity & Vice: American Art Deco” — Through Jan. 12, Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, 1201 Bannock St., Denver. Go online for prices. Tickets: kirklandmuseum.org.

“Dawoud Bey: Street Portraits” — Through May 11, Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway, Denver, go online for prices: denverartmuseum.org.

Monday-Dec. 28

Miracle at Union Station: Buddy’s Bar — Pop-up cocktail lounge featuring holiday décor, cocktails and a designated Hanukkah table, 4-p.m.-midnight, Galley Bar on lower level, Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St., Denver. Reservations: denverunionstation.com.

Monday-Dec. 30

Advertisement

Free Downtown Trolley Rides — See the downtown Castle Rock decorations, 5-7 p.m. Mondays-Tuesdays, no rides Dec. 24, pickup/drop-off points Encore Garage Entrance on South Street between Wilcox and Perry Street and Douglas County School District Parking Lot Entrance on 6th Street Wilcox and Perry Street, Castle Rock; crgov.com/2622/season-of-the-star.

CARLOTTA OLSON, The Denver Gazette



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Denver, CO

PHOTOS: Denver Broncos beat Las Vegas Raiders, 29-19, in NFL Week 12

Published

12 hours ago

on

November 24, 2024

By

PHOTOS: Denver Broncos beat Las Vegas Raiders, 29-19, in NFL Week 12




Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Denver, CO

Raiders HC Sounds Off on Broncos QB Bo Nix’s Rapid Rise

Published

20 hours ago

on

November 24, 2024

By

Raiders HC Sounds Off on Broncos QB Bo Nix’s Rapid Rise


On Sunday, fans will be treated to a head-to-head contest between two rapidly emerging offensive powerhouses, both of whom are bonafide Rookie of the Year contenders. Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix and Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers found new homes with consecutive picks during last April’s NFL draft, and since then, they’ve performed exceptionally well in the pro ranks.

Nix is firmly on the radar of Raiders head coach Antonio Piece, but that’s even more true after yet another award-winning performance last week.

“He was a winner as a freshman. He was a winner as a six-year player,” Pierce noted of Nix. “All he does is win, come in the league. Won the quarterback battle there in Denver. Maybe they were keeping them tight on the leash early on, and now they’re not. He has full control that offense. You can see that Sean Payton gives him opportunities to audible and make some adjustments. He’s making throws, he’s running with his legs, he’s taking care of the football, and he’s winning. That’s all you can ask for from a rookie.”

What happens next on the Broncos beat? Don’t miss out on any news and analysis! Take a second, sign up for our free newsletter, and get breaking Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily!

Advertisement

Nix presents a clear and present danger to the Raiders’ chances of squeezing out what would be only their third win of their massively disappointing season. Stopping the impressive rookie is proving to be another matter entirely for NFL defenses, especially one with a badly beaten-up roster like the Raiders.

“This is crazy,” Raiders linebacker Divine Deablo said via ESPN‘s Paul Gutierrez. “I’ve never seen this amount of injuries on any team I’ve been on.”

This week, Broncos head coach Sean Payton has pumped the brakes a little on the burgeoning hype exploding around Nix. That being said, you get the distinct feeling that Payton is more than comfortable unleashing Nix’s full array of talents at his disposal. Confidence is growing in Nix, and that’s been reflected in how Payton has opened up the playbook for his first-year signal-caller.

The juices are flowing, and Payton may have found an answer in dynamic second-year receiver Marvin Mims Jr. The mystical “joker” role within the Broncos offense seems to have been filled.

“I think we always gotta be saying, ‘Hey, are we doing everything we can to highlight his strengths?’ And so, yeah, I don’t know if he’s got the ‘joker’ tattoo, but he might be invited to the club,” Payton said via Andrew Mason.

Advertisement

When push comes to shove, if Nix plays lights out again, an easy win might come Denver’s way, but stopping Bowers would also ensure the victory and help in the race for Rookie of the Year honors. Payton is already on high alert, but it was also tinged with a bit of football envy when he illustrated Bowers’ “joker” abilities.

“Someone had a really good vision for him and you see all the ‘Joker’ traits, means and change of direction,” Payton said of Bowers. “It can’t be a little. It’s a high-end receiving trait and he can move, he can be outside and he can run a route tree maybe different than most tight ends.” 

Follow Denver Broncos On SI/Mile High Huddle on X and Facebook and subscribe on YouTube for daily Broncos live-stream podcasts!





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending