Empower Field at Mile High facts for kids

Empower Field at Mile High is a famous American football stadium in Denver, Colorado, United States. It's the home field for the Denver Broncos, a team in the National Football League (NFL). The stadium opened in 2001, taking the place of the old Mile High Stadium.

People often call it "Mile High" because Denver is about one mile (5,280 feet) above sea level. Playing at this high altitude can be tough for visiting teams. Also, the Broncos fans are known for being very loud, which gives the team a big advantage at home!

Besides football, the stadium has hosted many concerts and other events. The Colorado Rapids soccer team and the Denver Outlaws lacrosse team used to play here too. In 2008, Barack Obama even accepted the Democratic presidential nomination at the stadium.

On March 24, 2022, a small fire broke out at the stadium. It damaged some seats and suites on the third level. The fire was caused by sparks from a welding torch, but luckily, no one was hurt.

Quick facts for kids
Empower Field at Mile High

Exterior view of the stadium in 2022
Former names	Invesco Field (2001–2011) Sports Authority Field (2011–2018) Broncos Stadium (2018–2019)
Address	1701 Mile High Stadium Circle Denver, Colorado, United States
Location	Sun Valley
Coordinates	39°44′38″N 105°1′12″W / 39.74389°N 105.02000°W / 39.74389; -105.02000
Public transit	RTD:  E   W  at Empower Field at Mile High
Owner	Metropolitan Football Stadium District
Executive suites	132
Capacity	76,125 (football) 85,000+ (concerts)
Record attendance	85,233 (August 19, 2023; Ed Sheeran, +–=÷× Tour)
Surface	Kentucky Bluegrass (2015–present) Artificial Turf (2001–2015)
Construction
Broke ground	August 17, 1999
Opened	August 11, 2001
Construction cost	$400.9million ($704 million in 2022 dollars)
Architect	HNTB Fentress Architects Bertram A. Burton and Associates
Project manager	ICON Venue Group
Structural engineer	Walter P Moore
Services engineer	M-E Engineers, Inc.
General contractor	Turner Empire Alvarado
Tenants
Denver Broncos (NFL) (2001–present) Colorado Rapids (MLS) (2002–2006) Denver Outlaws (MLL) (2006–2019)

How the Stadium Was Paid For

To build the new stadium, the Broncos team worked hard to get a special law passed. This law allowed voters in the Denver area to decide if they wanted to help pay for the stadium.

In November 1998, people in six Colorado counties voted "yes" to build the new football stadium. This meant a very small sales tax (a tenth of a percent) would be added to things people bought. This money would help pay for a large bond, which is like a loan, for the stadium.

The Broncos agreed to pay 25% of the stadium's cost, which was about $400 million. The state of Colorado paid the other 75%.

Stadium Names and Partners

Naming Rights

The stadium has had a few different names over the years. When it first opened in 2001, a company called Invesco paid $120 million to have their name on the stadium. So, it was called Invesco Field at Mile High.

Later, in 2011, Sports Authority took over the naming rights. Even after Sports Authority closed down in 2016, their name stayed on the stadium for two more years.

In 2018, the stadium was temporarily called "Broncos Stadium at Mile High." Then, in 2019, a Colorado-based company called Empower made a new deal. That's why it's now called Empower Field at Mile High!

Food and Drinks

The company that handles all the food and drinks at the stadium is called Aramark Corporation. They started in 2019 when Empower took over the naming rights. Aramark works with several popular Denver restaurants to offer lots of different food choices for fans.

Stadium Upgrades and Cool Features

The stadium has been updated several times to make it even better.

In 2012, the Broncos announced a $30 million project. This included a huge new HD video board on the south end zone. It was three times bigger than the old one!

In 2013, a funny story came out. Some workers buried a jersey from a rival team (the Kansas City Chiefs) near the 50-yard line during renovations. They hoped it would "curse" the Broncos! But the curse didn't work, as the Broncos won another Super Bowl just two years later.

To try and become a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the stadium spent $8.3 million on improvements. These included new LED lights, better locker rooms, and seating upgrades.

In 2022, the Broncos announced even more upgrades, costing over $100 million. These were ready for the 2023 season. The biggest change was making the video board even larger. It's now 225 feet wide and 72 feet tall, making it one of the biggest screens in any NFL stadium!

What the Stadium Is Used For

Playing surface for a Denver Broncos game

The stadium is mostly used for American football games. It's the home of the Denver Broncos NFL team.

It has also hosted other sports:

• The Denver Outlaws lacrosse team used to play here.
• College football games, like the "Rocky Mountain Showdown" between Colorado State University and the University of Colorado Boulder.
• High school football state championship games.
• A rugby league match between England and New Zealand in 2018.

Besides sports, the stadium is a popular place for big concerts and music festivals. It also hosts Drum Corps International (DCI) championships and competitions like "Drums Along the Rockies."

The Colorado Rapids soccer team also played here for a few years before moving to their own stadium, Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

Where the Stadium Is Located

The stadium is easy to get to! It's right next to Interstate 25 and Federal Boulevard, which are major roads in Denver. There's even a special light rail station that takes people directly to the stadium.

Building this stadium finished a big project in Denver to upgrade its sports venues. Other new venues built around the same time included Coors Field (for baseball) and Ball Arena (for basketball and hockey).

Stadium Fun Facts and Traditions

Broncos fans have some cool traditions that started at the old Mile High Stadium and continued at the new one:

• The "Incomplete Chant": When the other team throws an incomplete pass, the stadium announcer says, "Pass thrown by [opposing quarterback] intended for [opposing receiver] is..." Then, all the fans shout "IN-COM-PLETE!!"
• Booing the No-Shows: At the end of each game, the announcer shares the official attendance, including how many tickets weren't used. Fans then "boo" the people who bought tickets but didn't show up!
• Mile High Thunder: Especially in the upper sections, fans stomp their feet on the steel floors. This creates a loud "thunder" sound that makes the stadium shake and gets everyone excited! The new stadium was built with steel floors on purpose to keep this unique sound.
• Bucky the Bronco: A huge, 30-foot tall statue of a horse named Bucky sits on top of the main scoreboard. It's a replica of Roy Rogers' famous horse, Trigger.

The Denver Broncos have sold out every home game at Empower Field at Mile High since it opened in 2001. This continues a long streak that started back in 1970 at the old stadium!

Cool Events at the Stadium

NFL Games

Interior view during the 2013 AFC Championship game

The first regular season NFL game at the stadium was on September 10, 2001. The Broncos beat the New York Giants. Before the game, some Broncos legends helped "Move the Thunder" from the old stadium to the new one.

The stadium has hosted many important NFL playoff games. The Broncos have won some big ones here, including AFC Championship Games in 2014 and 2016, which sent them to the Super Bowl!

On October 29, 2007, a record crowd of 77,160 fans watched the Broncos play the Green Bay Packers. On November 26, 2009, the stadium hosted its first Thanksgiving Day game.

Soccer Matches

The stadium has also hosted exciting international soccer matches. For example, in 2014, famous teams Manchester United and A.S. Roma played here.

Date	Winning Team	Result	Losing Team	Tournament	Spectators
April 3, 2002	United States	1–0	Mexico	International Friendly	48,476
June 1, 2011	Mexico	3–0	New Zealand		45,401
July 14, 2013	Panama	0–0	Canada	2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup	30,000
	Mexico	3–1	Martinique
July 26, 2014	Manchester United	3–2	A.S. Roma	2014 International Champions Cup	54,116
July 13, 2017	El Salvador	2–0	Curaçao	2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup	49,121
	Mexico	0–0	Jamaica
June 19, 2019	Martinique	3–0	Cuba	2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup	52,874
	Mexico	3–1	Canada
June 3, 2021	United States	1–0	Honduras	2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals	34,451
	Mexico	0–0 (5–4) pen.)	Costa Rica
June 6, 2021	Honduras	2–2 (5–4) pen.)	Costa Rica	2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals	37,648
	United States	3–2 (aet)	Mexico	2021 CONCACAF Nations League Final
June 5, 2024	Uruguay	4–0	Mexico	International Friendly	57,852

Concerts and Other Events

The stadium has held many concerts with famous artists.

The stadium has also hosted other cool events like:

• AMA Supercross Championship (motorcycle racing)
• Monster Jam shows (monster trucks!)

Denver Broncos Ring of Fame

The Denver Broncos Ring of Fame honors important players and people who helped the team. Their names and jersey numbers are displayed high up on the stadium's Level 5. This tradition was carried over from the old Mile High Stadium.

Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Museum

The Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Museum is located at the stadium, near Gate #1. It opened in August 2001. It's a great place to learn about famous athletes and sports moments from Colorado's history.

Images for kids

• 

  The main entrance of the stadium, when it was known as Invesco Field at Mile High

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  The south end zone during the final day of the 2008 Democratic National Convention

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  Satellite view of stadium

• 

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

See also

• Mile High Stadium
• Coors Field
• Ball Arena
• Dick's Sporting Goods Park
• National Sports Center for the Disabled
• Lists of stadiums