Empower Field at Mile High

Empower Field at Mile High
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Name	Empower Field at Mile High
Location	Denver, Colorado, United States
Opened	2001
Owner	Metropolitan Football Stadium District
Operator	Kroenke Sports Enterprises
Surface	FieldTurf
Capacity	76,125

Empower Field at Mile High is a multi-purpose stadium in Denver, Colorado that serves as the primary venue for professional and collegiate football and large-scale concert productions. Situated near the South Platte River and adjacent to Downtown Denver, the facility replaced Mile High Stadium and anchors a cluster of sports and entertainment properties including connections to Ball Arena and Coors Field. The stadium is a focal point for regional sports franchise activity and national touring acts.

History

The stadium was conceived after the demolition of Mile High Stadium and developed by the Metropolitan Football Stadium District with major involvement from Anschutz Entertainment Group and Kroenke Sports Enterprises. Construction began in 1999 and the venue opened in 2001 amid planning disputes involving the Colorado General Assembly and local leaders from Denver Broncos ownership groups including Pat Bowlen and Stan Kroenke. The site has hosted post-9/11 era NFL seasons, NCAA Division I FBS matchups, and has been adapted for changes in stadium financing practices and municipal stadium policy debates involving the Denver City Council and the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Naming and Sponsorship

Naming rights have changed multiple times, reflecting corporate sponsorship trends seen with venues like CenturyLink Field and AT&T Stadium. The stadium opened with a corporate name agreement, later adopted monikers tied to regional brands similar to deals involving Coors Field and Pepsi Center. In recent years, a sponsorship agreement with a financial services company resulted in the current name, following precedents set by naming deals for venues such as Gillette Stadium and Lambeau Field discussions on commercial partnerships. Ownership and management through Kroenke Sports & Entertainment and leasing arrangements with the Metropolitan Football Stadium District influence future naming negotiations and revenue structures, echoing arrangements seen at Levi's Stadium and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Architecture and Facilities

Designed by a consortium of firms with experience on projects like Rose Bowl renovations and RFK Stadium retrofits, the stadium incorporates an open bowl configuration with sightlines optimized for American football and adaptable staging for concert tours such as U2 and Taylor Swift. Structural elements include cantilevered upper decks, a prominent scoreboard system comparable to installations at AT&T Stadium and Arrowhead Stadium, and hospitality suites that mirror offerings at Wembley Stadium and Madison Square Garden. The playing surface has transitioned to modern synthetic turf systems used in venues like CenturyLink Field and Lumen Field, while locker room, media, and broadcast facilities comply with standards set by the NFL and NCAA. Adjacent practice fields and support infrastructure facilitate operations for tenants including Denver Broncos and occasional Colorado Buffaloes events.

Events and Tenants

Primary tenant duties are held by the Denver Broncos of the National Football League, with the stadium also hosting College Football Playoff-eligible games and rivalry contests involving Colorado Buffaloes and regional programs. The venue has staged major concerts by international artists such as The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and Paul McCartney, as well as large-scale events including X Games-style activations and civic gatherings similar to those at Grant Park or Civic Center Park. Special events have included international soccer friendlies featuring clubs linked to Major League Soccer and exhibition matches with teams from CONCACAF nations. The stadium's scheduling aligns with league calendars governed by the NFL Players Association and touring schedules coordinated with promoters like Live Nation.

Transportation and Access

The site is accessible via major corridors including Interstate 25 and Interstate 70, with multimodal connections to Denver Union Station and the Regional Transportation District light rail and bus network. Event-day planning coordinates with the Denver Police Department and the Colorado Department of Transportation to manage traffic patterns and parking operations, similar to logistics for events at MetLife Stadium and Soldier Field. Transit-oriented initiatives and shuttle services have been developed in concert with Downtown Denver Partnership and municipal transit planners to reduce congestion and link to pedestrian routes toward Elitch Gardens and the Lower Downtown Historic District.

Records and Notable Moments

The venue has been the site of franchise milestones for the Denver Broncos, including playoff victories and record-setting performances by players affiliated with the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Concert attendance records mirror those of large-capacity arenas such as Rose Bowl crowds and have hosted landmark tours that set box office benchmarks referenced by Billboard and industry analysts from firms like Pollstar. Notable sporting moments include nationally televised Monday Night Football and Sunday Night Football games, high-attendance college rivalry games, and performances that contributed to broader cultural moments documented in media outlets including ESPN and The Denver Post.

Category:Sports venues in Colorado Category:Buildings and structures in Denver Category:National Football League venues