Broncos game means $10million for Denver economy
As football fans nationwide stockpile beer and chips for Sunday’s AFC championship, Denver’s Sports Authority Field at Mile High will be making room in the fridge for 800 pounds of nacho cheese.
The city is gearing up to tackle celebrations and a flood of tourists expected to contribute $10 million to Broncos Country this weekend, said Matthew Payne, executive director of the Denver Sports Commission.
“The football fever is palpable,” Payne said. “You’ve got amarquee quarterback matchup. You really can’t overstate the value that this brings to the Denver economy.”
Hard-core football experts are busy calculating game odds while Denver institutions are tallying up the numbers to see how much manpower is needed to host a high-profile playoff game.
Getting folks to the game is one of many responsibilities placed upon the city, but Denver’s Regional Transportation District is not dropping the ball.
With about 25 percent of fans hopping on RTD services to get to Sports Authority Field, spokesman Scott Reed said light rail alone would see 18,000 boardings Sunday.
During playoff games, RTD runs 30 light-rail trains with 109 total cars toting 165 Broncos fans per car, Reed said.
“One light-rail vehicle holds zero Patriots fans,” Reed joked.
Whether or not the Broncos’ mascot, Thunder, could out run light rail is up for debate, but the train outweighs the horse, Reed said.
It would take 99 Thunders to equal one light-rail vehicle, weighing in at 89,560 pounds.
Rebecca Villanueva, corporate communications manager for the Denver Broncos, said the stadium’s staff is hard at work preparing for the day.
Ticket holders lucky enough to eat field-side on game day will make a dent in the stadium’s 2,000-pound order of beef for tacos and burgers, 3,000 pounds of hot dogs and sausages, 5,000 pounds of potatoes, 10,000 pretzels and thousands of gallons of beer, soda and water, she said.
Out-of-town fans are sure to leave the game with full bellies seeking awarm place to rest their heads.
The Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel is close to capacity thisweekend, said Tracy Blair, director of sales and marketing.
“We’re absolutely going to sell out for Saturday,” Blair said. “Once the Broncos won their last game, it didn’t take long for that Saturday to start picking up.”
Payne said hotels end up being a big chunk of the estimated $10 million that tourists are expected to spend during the playoff weekend.
“The hotel part is a big aspect of that $10 million,” Payne said. “These games always end up being like a big commercial for Denver and the Rocky Mountains. It’s always a plus for us.”
Colorado ski resorts know a thing or two about showing off the Rocky Mountains with the help of the Broncos.
Jeff Hanle, spokesman for Aspen Skiing Company, can attest that game-day advertisements touting fresh powder and slopes drive business.
“I can certainly tell you that when the Broncos’ home game is on and it’s snowing or there is ski footage, we see a considerable spike in Web traffic and phone calls over the next couple of days,” Hanle said. “Not all of it converts to trips, but it certainly helps.”
Those skiers who opt for libations intead of recreation can head to Stoney’s Bar and Grill in downtown Denver.
Manager Tom Barn well expects at least 100 shot skis — skis with attached shot glasses that are filled and imbibed in a line — to be purchased Sunday.
For last Sunday’s game, Barnwell said 700 people came to cheer on the Broncos.
“We staff extra,” Barnwell said. “It’s a fun crowd. Everyone is definitely into it and leaves happy.”
After a few shot skis, patrons can hope their behavior doesn’t warrant a run-in with the Denver Police Department.
Although the number of officers stationed at the stadium on game day is under wraps for tactical purposes, police spokesman Doug Schepman said three people were arrested at last Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh.
“The arrests were for trespassing, a warrant and an assault,” Schepman said.
Broncos fans might be disappointed to know that Tom Brady is leading the league in overall team jersey sales for the seventh straight week, according to Dick’s Sporting Goods officials.
Peyton Manning’s jersey ranks 12th in sales overall season-todate, down from being the No. 1 overall selling jersey last season, Dick’s said.
To soften that blow, the sporting goods store let Broncos Country knowthat over the past three seasons, no one has sold more jerseys than Manning.