Invesco Field at Mile High is a stadium in Denver, Colorado. Invesco Field at Mile High replaced the identically sized, but commercially obsolete Mile High Stadium (named for the fact that Denver is exactly one mile above sea level) in 2001. The Stadium is famous as the home of the Denver Broncos of the NFL.

Naming rights controversy

Many fans opposed a corporate name and wished to retain the previous venue's name, "Mile High Stadium. The Denver Post initially refused to use the Invesco label and referred to it as Mile High for several years before changing their policy and adding INVESCO to articles. Post columnist Woody Paige created more controversy when he revealed that Invesco officials referred to the stadium as "the Diaphragm," a reference to its shape resembling that of a birth-control device.

Usage

Invesco Field at Mile High is used primarily for football games. It is the home field for Denver's NFL team, the Denver Broncos. The stadium also hosts the city's Major League Lacrosse team, the Denver Outlaws. In college football it has hosted the rivalry game between the Colorado State Rams and the Colorado Buffaloes. Invesco Field at Mile High is also used for concerts and other events. It was the former home of the city's Major League Soccer franchise, the Colorado Rapids.

Location

Invesco Field at Mile High marks the completion of a six–year sporting venue upgrade program in Denver, including Coors Field and the Pepsi Center. As with the other venues, the stadium was constructed to be easily accessible. It sits along Interstate 25 near the Colfax Avenue and 17th Avenue exits. It is also bordered by Federal Boulevard, a major Denver thoroughfare, on the west side. A dedicated light rail station also serves the stadium. The stadium is located in the Sun Valley neighborhood.

Stadium culture

A home game tradition (carried over from the original Mile High Stadium) is the "Incomplete Chant". At Bronco home games, when the opposing team has an incomplete pass, the announcer will say "And the pass is ..." to which the fans respond "in-com-plete!", followed by a muted trumpet sound effect.

Notable events

The first ever event at the new stadium was a concert by the rock group Eagles. On September 10,2001 Invesco Field at Mile High hosted its first regular season game, in which the Denver Broncos defeated the New York Giants 31–20. In a pre-game ceremony Broncos legends John Elway, Steve Atwater, Randy Gradishar, Haven Moses, Billy Thompson, Floyd Little, Dennis Smith, and Karl Mecklenburg helped to "Move the Thunder" from the old Mile High Stadium to the new home of the Broncos.

On August, 3, 2003 Heavy Metal Band Metallica played to a sold out crowd of almost 100,000 people.

In August 2004 the stadium hosted the Drum Corps International Division I World Championships.

On July 2, 2005 Invesco Field at Mile High hosted the 2005 Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game. In 2006, Major League Lacrosse placed the expansion Outlaws in Denver.

On January 23rd, 2006 Invesco Field at Mile High hosted the AFC Championship game.

On October 29th, 2007, a record crowd of 77,160 watched the Broncos lose to the Green Bay Packers 19-13 on Monday Night Football.

On August 28, 2008, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama accepted the Democratic Party's nomination for President of the United States at Invesco Field, moving the 2008 Democratic National Convention from the Pepsi Center. Approximately 84,000 people attended Obama's speech, exceeding the normal capacity of the stadium due to the placement of audience on the field.

Denver Broncos Ring of Fame

• Quarterback John Elway (1983-1998), 1999 Inductee
• Safety Austin "Goose" Gonsoulin (1960–1966), 1984 Inductee
• Linebacker Randy Gradishar (1974–1983), 1989 Inductee
• Defensive End Rich Jackson (1967–1972), 1984 Inductee
• Linebacker Tom Jackson (1973–1986), 1992 Inductee
• Quarterback Charley Johnson (1972–1975), 1986 Inductee
• Running Back Floyd Little (1967–1975), 1984 Inductee
• Linebacker Karl Mecklenburg (1983–1994), 2001 Inductee
• Quarterback Craig Morton (1977–1982), 1988 Inductee
• Wide Receiver Haven Moses (1972–1981), 1988 Inductee
• Former Owner Gerald H. Phipps, 1985 Inductee
• Safety Dennis Smith (1981–1994), 2001 Inductee
• Defensive End Paul Smith (1968–1978), 1986 Inductee
• Wide Receiver Lionel Taylor (1960–1966), 1984 Inductee
• Defensive Back Bill Thompson (1969–1981), 1987 Inductee
• Quarterback Frank Tripucka (1960–1963), 1986 Inductee
• Kicker Jim Turner (1971–1979), 1988 Inductee
• Cornerback Louis Wright (1975–1986), 1993 Inductee
• Tackle Gary Zimmerman (1993–1997), 2003 Inductee
• Free Safety Steve Atwater (1989–1998), 2005 Inductee
• Running Back Terrell Davis (1995–2001), 2007 Inductee

While the ring of fame was carried over from the old stadium to the new, the names were re-ordered to segregate the pre-Pat Bowlen (the team's owner and founder of the Ring) era and the post-Bowlen era. One of the most noticeable changes was the move of John Elway's name to the center of the ring, in-between the goalposts of the North endzone.

References

External links

• Official Invesco Field at Mile High Website

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