Stadium Introduction, History & Facts Page
INVESCO Field at Mile High History
Home of the Denver Broncos for over 30 years, Mile High Stadium was treasured by Colorado residents for its notorious south stands, long history of consecutive sell-outs and loud crowds. However, the vision of constructing a new, state-of-the-art stadium began to develop in the mid 90’s when concerns over the Broncos future began to surface. According to Broncos Owner and Chief Executive Officer Pat Bowlen, “A new stadium would keep the team competitive within the league and keep the Broncos in Denver.”
Colorado State Legislators began discussing the idea of building a new stadium in 1995 and in the following year, House Bill 1374, or the “Stadium Act,” was proposed. This act involved not only the establishment of a Metropolitan Football Stadium District (MFSD) whose role was to assess the viability of a new stadium, but it also established a Board of Directors. By 1998, the “Stadium Act” was modified by the Senate, resulting in SB 98-171 that was passed on November 3, 1998.
Through taxpayer funds from the six counties surrounding the stadium as well as funds provided by Mr. Bowlen, official groundbreaking for the stadium took place on August 17, 1999. After deliberation, INVESCO Funds Group was given consent to purchase naming rights to the new stadium and on January 29th 2001, the official name of the stadium became “INVESCO Field at Mile High,” in respect to its predecessor.
Completed on-time and under-budget, the stadium encompasses several new and improved features while still preserving the allure of the old Mile High. These keepsakes include:
Horseshoe Shape: The curved shape of the stadium’s upper bowl was designed to be reminiscent of both the well-known horseshoe shape of the Mile High Stadium as well as the rolling peaks of the Rocky Mountains.
Rocky Mountain Thunder: This long-standing tradition within the Denver community involves stomping your feet on the 13,500 tons of steel treads and risers beneath you causing an uproar of noise comparable to that of thunder. The close proximity of the stands to the field also makes it an intimidating place for any competing team to play at.
South Stands: Mile High Stadium’s South Stands were notorious for serving as the backdrop for all Broncos ‘Superfans.’ The resonating sound coming from this section of the stadium not only encourages the Broncos team, but fans throughout the entire stadium.
Bucky the Bronco: This 1,600-pound, 27 foot tall horse graced Mile High and the Denver scene for over 25 years and continues to do so at INVESCO Field at Mile High. After being rejuvenated, Bucky was unveiled at the Grand Opening of the new stadium August 11, 2001.
INVESCO Field at Mile High has made a significant contribution to the state of Colorado and will continue to stand out in the Denver skyline for years to come.
Notable Events:
Eagles Concert
The Eagles concert was the first event held at INVESCO Field at Mile High on August 11, 2001. The event itself served as the unveiling of the recently finished and state-of-the-art stadium.
Bruce Springsteen Concert
INVESCO Field was one of the last stops in Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Rising Tour’ that traveled throughout the United States and Europe. On September 25, 2003 Bruce Springsteen played to the thousands that filled the stadium.
Summer Sanitarium Tour
On August 1, 2003, INVESCO Field at Mile High hosted the Summer Sanitarium Tour in which thousands of fans attended to see Metallica, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, the Deftones and Mudvayne.
Drums Along the Rockies
The finest drum and bugle corps from across the nation showcase their talent as they make their way to the Drum Core International World Championships. Mile High previously hosted the event for several years, and has since continued at INVESCO Field at Mile High. In 2004, INVESCO was the host of the DCI World Championships.
AFC Championship Game
On January 22, 2006, INVESCO Field at Mile High hosted the AFC Championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. After a winning 13-3 record that year, the Denver Broncos were defeated 34-17.
Rocky Mountain Showdown
This is a rivalry football game between the University of Colorado and Colorado State University that dates back to the 1800’s. Recently, INVESCO Field, Colorado State University and the University of Colorado signed a deal to bring the Rocky Mountain Showdown to INVESCO Field through 2019.
Democratic National Convention
Marking the 100 year anniversary of this event taking place in Denver, on August 25 - 28, 2008, INVESCO Field at Mile High was home to the final night and acceptance speech of Senator Barrack Obama. Approximately 84,000 people attended then Presidential Nominee Barak Obama's speech, exceeding the normal capacity of the stadium due to the placement of the audience on the field.
Warped Tour
INVESCO Field at Mile High has been host to this annual concert tour since 2003, one of the longest consecutive Warped Tour locations. Attracting thousands, the tour combines several familiar bands with many bands from around the country.
Denver Outlaws Lacrosse
As part of the Western expansion in 2006, Major League Lacrosse made its way to Denver, Colorado and INVESCO Field at Mile High. The Denver Outlaws professional lacrosse team plays at INVESCO Field each year from May to July.
Championship Saturday
Each year the 4A and 5A High School Football Championships are played at INVESCO Field at Mile High. The Colorado Sports Hall of Fame, the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) and INVESCO Field partner each year to bring the games to INVESCO Field at Mile High, dating back to 2005.
INVESCO Field Quick Facts
• Groundbreaking took place on August 17th, 1999.
• INVESCO Field’s opening event was an Eagles Concert that occurred on August 11th, 2001.
• Total seating capacity of the stadium is 76,125. (Lower Lever – 31,950, Mid Level – 19,100, Upper Level – 25,075)
• There are a total of 132 Luxury Suites on two levels and 8,800 club seats.
• Construction of the stadium cost more than $400 million, including $2.6 million for video boards and $7 million for stairways and handrails.
• Total stadium square footage equals 1.8 million square feet.
• The stadium is comprised of 12,000 tons of structural steel, 200,000 pounds of aluminum, 130,000 bricks, 1.6 millions masonry blocks, 1,500 plumbing fixtures and 25,000 light fixtures.
• The playing surface is a 100% natural grass field comprised of four different Kentucky Bluegrasses overseeded with perennial ryegrass.
• INVESCO Field has three Mitsubishi video boards. The largest is located above the South Stands and has a viewing size of 96’ x 27’. There are two video boards above the Upper Level on the North end, each with a viewing size of 48’ x 27’.
• The stadium holds 530 televisions, 633 speakers, 686 1,500 watt GE metal halide lights in the stadium bowl and more than 1,000 phone lines throughout the stadium, with 350 in the press box alone.
• The first row of the Level 4 Suites is officially one mile (5,280 feet) above sea level.
• There are 560 concession stand points of sale.
• INVESCO Field hosts approximately 300 events each year.
