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Alas, there won’t be 77,000 fans chest- bumping and screaming at the top of their lungs for a defensive stop Sunday inside Empower Field at Mile High. But for the first time since the COVID- 19 pandemic hit in March, a limited number of Denver’s diehards will be able to attend a major professional sports event in person.
Around 5,700 people are expected to loudly boo Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the Broncos go for their first win of the 2020 season Sunday afternoon.
The game- day experience is going to be a little different, but here’s what to expect if you’re going to Mile High:
Arriving at the stadium ( sorry, no tailgating)
In the interest of social distancing, the time- honored tradition of grilling, throwing the pigskin and tossing back a few beers before the game in the parking lot will not be allowed this season.
“We hated doing it,” said Jay Roberts, the stadium general manager. “But we were not comfortable with the day starting out with everyone hanging out.”
Instead, the team requests fans show up around an hour before kickoff, and to head right to their seats.
All gates will be open, but tickets will identify the gate of entry into the stadium. Unlike some teams, the Broncos are not mandating entry times, but officials say 5,700 people spread out over time across all the gates will eliminate lines.
Mask- wearing is a must
Except when eating, fans are required to wear a mask at all times — from the moment they approach the stadium to the moment they leave after the game.
Those who are sick have been told to stay away.
The team’s “Fan Health Promise” bars anyone from entering
the stadium if they have tested positive or been exposed to COVID- 19 in the 14 days prior, or have traveled to any state or territory that is subject to travel or quarantine advisories due to the novel coronavirus.
Food and restrooms
Spacing and sanitizing will be plentiful inside the stadium.
The team set up more than 550 hand- sanitizing stations and stuck 39,000 decals around the stadium to enforce six feet of space in concession lines and restrooms.
Even though the stadium will be at 7% capacity, most of the concession stands will be open, Roberts said, and the process will be entirely cashless.
As far as the bathrooms go, the Broncos installed touchless urinals, sinks and paper- towel dispensers to eliminate high- touch areas.
Seating and watching
Fans will be seated in “pods” with at least six feet of distance between their group and another set
of fans. Seats without fans have been blocked off, with at least two rows of space between groups.
Fans are advised to not highfive or mingle with other fans in a crowd.
“The state was really concerned about people meeting in the stadium,” Roberts said.
For those who refuse to comply with orders involving distancing or mask- wearing, he said, there is an escalation process in place
that could lead to noncompliant people being kicked out of the game.
Congregation areas around the stadium also have been closed.
“We wouldn’t invite fans if we didn’t think it would be safe,” Roberts said.