Mile High Stadium

The Denver Broncos played their first game at the stadium on September 9, 1960. Over its 40 year history, Mile High Stadium underwent many additions. By the mid 1960s city leaders wanted to build a new football/baseball stadium; but voters turned down a bond issue to build a new stadium. However, a civic group raised $1.8 million to buy the stadium. It presented the sports complex to the city in February 1968. Built in time for the start of the 1968 season, a 16,000-seat upper deck was constructed over the west stands, raising the stadium's capacity to more than 50,000. After the 1968 season Bears Stadium was renamed Mile High Stadium. An expansion between 1975 and 1977 raised the seating capacity to more than 75,000. It featured an ingenious, 9 million-pound east stands that could be moved back and forth on a track of water, close in for football and further back for baseball. In 1986, luxury suites were added atop the upper deck. With a capacity of just over 80,000, Mile High Stadium was one of the largest stadiums in the NFL. Three tiers of stands in a horseshoe shape made up Mile High Stadium. The main scoreboard was located above one level of bleachers on the south side of the stadium. Mile High Stadium was also one of the loudest stadiums with its steel grandstands instead of concrete.

Mile High Stadium was home to many great teams and players during its existence. It was home to the Denver Broncos and many baseball teams. In 1993, the Colorado Rockies (MLB) played the first ever Major League Baseball game at Mile High Stadium. The Rockies played two years at Mile High Stadium before moving into their own ballpark, Coors Field. By the mid 1990's, owner of the Broncos, Pat Bowlen wanted a new stadium for his team. In 1998, voters approved a bond to build a new stadium for the Broncos. Constructed adjacent to Mile High Stadium, fans could watch as the new stadium rose. The Broncos played their last game at Mile High Stadium on December 23, 2000. The following year the team moved into Invesco Field at Mile High. Mile High Stadium was demolished after the 2001 NFL season. It serves as a parking lot for the new stadium.