The Denver Broncos are planning to build a replica of their former home, Mile High Stadium, in the parking lot of Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
The “mini” Mile High Stadium would serve as a tailgating attraction during home football games, according to local media reports. From The Denver Post:
The 11-foot-tall Mile High Monument will be a one-eighth replica of the old Mile High Stadium centered in the middle of Lot J northwest of Sports Authority Field. With 176 original seats surrounding a 1,250-square-foot padded AstroTurf field, the venue could host as many as 300 people as part of the stadium's thriving special events program.
The monument also will include a replica scoreboard, complete with the “Bucky” the bronco mascot, as well as a statue of Barrel Man, the famous Broncos fan who showed up at games in a barrel.
The Broncos presented the plan to the Metropolitan Football Stadium District board earlier this month. Pending city approval, construction on the Mile High Monument will begin in April. The team hopes the monument will be ready by August.
Currently, a home plate is painted on the parking lot site of the planned Mile High Monument, serving as a reminder that the Denver Bears minor league baseball team and Major League Baseball’s Colorado Rockies also played at Mile High.
The Broncos played at Mile High Stadium from their inception in 1960 through 2000. The new stadium opened in 2001 as Invesco Field at Mile High before Sports Authority won stadium rights prior to the start of the 2011 season.
Sports Authority, a retail sporting goods chain, filed for bankruptcy earlier this month, and there is some question as to how long its name will remain on the stadium. According to TV station Denver7, Sports Authority is contracted to pay $19.9 million over the next five years, including $3.6 million on Aug. 1. If Sports Authority fails to make the payment, it will would be in default and have an additional 30 days to pay. The Broncos said other companies have already expressed interest in securing naming rights to the stadium, the TV station reported.
