Empower Field at Mile High

• 1. Legislative Battle And Public Vote

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  In November 1998, Denver voters passed Referendum 4A to fund a new football stadium. This vote extended a tenth of a percent sales tax on transactions within the Metro area. The measure authorized $224.9 million in bonds for construction. State Representative Doug Dean from Colorado Springs sponsored SB 171 to place this question on the ballot. The Broncos' lobbying effort employed 13 lawyers and spent tens of thousands of dollars to push the legislation through. Members of the state legislature later claimed this was one of the largest lobbying efforts they had seen. The Metropolitan Football Stadium District monitored all financing and construction activities. This district is a subdivision of the State of Colorado created specifically for planning and building professional stadiums. The extension of the original stadium tax officially came into effect on the 1st of January 2001.

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• 2. Corporate Naming Rights Shifts

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  Invesco Funds Group paid $120 million for the original naming rights in 2001. Sports Authority secured these rights in August 2011 under a 25-year agreement worth $6 million per year. Despite its sponsor's liquidation and closure in 2016, the name remained on the stadium for two years due to regulatory hurdles. The Broncos announced on the 2nd of January 2018 that exterior signage would be removed. A temporary name called Broncos Stadium at Mile High lasted through the remainder of 2018 and part of 2019. On the 4th of September 2019, a new corporate naming rights agreement with Empower was announced. Denver mayor Wellington Webb opposed the sale of naming rights during construction. A poll by Friends of Mile High found that 70% of respondents preferred keeping the old name despite potential loss of $89 million in revenue. Several Colorado legislators attempted to pass a bill requiring the Mile High moniker regardless of deals in May 2016 but it failed.

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• 3. Infrastructure And Renovation Projects

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  On the 21st of December 2012, the Broncos announced a $30 million renovation project before the start of the 2013 season. This included a new HD LED video board on the south end zone that tripled the size used in the early 2000s. In 2013, contractors buried a Neil Smith Kansas City Chiefs jersey near the 50-yard line hoping to create a curse. The Broncos won another Super Bowl two years later in Super Bowl 50. To satisfy FIFA requirements for the 2026 World Cup bid, the MFSD invested $8.3 million in improvements. These upgrades added LED lights and improved locker rooms and seating. On the 14th of December 2022, more than $100 million in upgrades were announced for completion by the 2023 season. An August 2023 debut revealed a new scoreboard measuring wide by tall making it the fifth-largest screen in any NFL stadium. A fire broke out on the 24th of March 2022 destroying approximately 1,000 feet of seating caused by a welding torch.

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• 4. Fan Chants And Acoustic Phenomena

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  A home game tradition carried over from the original Mile High Stadium is the Incomplete Chant. When an opposing team throws an incomplete pass, fans shout IN-COM-PLETE after the announcer states the play details. The Broncos filed to register this trademark in 2020. Fans boo when the public-address announcer lists unused tickets as part of final attendance figures. During the first years, fans on one side chanted Go while others responded with Broncos back and forth for minutes. This tradition has since died out. Rowdiness in the South Stands was once famed but has diminished significantly. Fans create their own Mile High Thunder by stamping feet on steel floors to preserve unique acoustic features. The old stadium had bare metal allowing thunder to reverberate readily. Bucky the Bronco, a replica of Roy Rogers horse Trigger, sits atop the main scoreboard. The stadium has sold out every Denver Broncos home game since its inception extending a streak that began during the team's tenure at the old stadium.

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• 5. NFL Playoffs And Historic Games

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  On the 10th of September 2001, the stadium hosted its first regular season NFL game where the Broncos defeated the New York Giants 31, 20. A pre-game ceremony moved the Thunder from the old stadium using legends like John Elway and Steve Atwater. On the 29th of October 2007, a record crowd of 77,160 watched the Broncos lose to the Green Bay Packers 19, 13. The stadium hosted its first Thanksgiving game on the 26th of November 2009 when the Broncos took on the Giants winning 26, 6. On the 19th of January 2014, the Broncos defeated the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game 26, 16 before 77,110 fans. This advanced them to their first Super Bowl since beginning play in the new stadium. On the 24th of January 2016, they defeated the Patriots again 20, 18 before 77,100 advancing to Super Bowl 50 which they won two weeks later. On the 19th of October 2025, the Broncos led a historic comeback against the Giants scoring 33 points in the fourth quarter to win 33-32.

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• 6. Concerts And Record Attendance

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  The Eagles headlined the first concert at the stadium on the 11th of August 2001 with attendance of 54,217 and revenue of $4,837,465. U2 performed during their 360° Tour on the 21st of May 2011 drawing 77,918 fans and generating $6,663,410. Taylor Swift became the first female artist to perform here on the 25th of May 2018 with 57,140 attendees earning $7,926,366. The Rolling Stones played on the 10th of August 2019 grossing $13,494,183 from 58,846 tickets sold. Ed Sheeran held the record for largest crowd with 85,233 attendees on the 15th of July 2023 earning $8,560,475. Zach Bryan drew 110,321 people on the 14th of June 2024 making it the highest-grossing concert in history with $20,540,397. George Strait's show on the 24th of June 2023 was the second-highest-grossing as of August 2023.

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