Empower Field at Mile High opened on August 11, 2001, replacing the original Mile High Stadium as the home of the Denver Broncos. Built at a cost of $400.9 million and designed by HNTB and Fentress Architects, the 76,125-seat venue sits at precisely 5,280 feet above sea level — Denver’s defining elevation — giving it a literal and symbolic connection to the city’s iconic Mile High nickname.
Since opening day the Broncos have sold out every home game at the stadium, a streak spanning more than two decades. The venue has cycled through four naming rights deals — opening as Invesco Field, then Sports Authority Field, briefly Broncos Stadium, and finally Empower Field at Mile High in 2019 — while remaining one of the NFL’s most consistently packed and loudest arenas.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Denver Broncos (NFL)
- Location: Denver, Colorado
- Opened: August 11, 2001
- Capacity: 76,125 (football)
- Elevation: 5,280 ft (1,610 m) above sea level
- Surface: Kentucky bluegrass
- Construction Cost: $400.9 million
- Record Attendance: 85,233 — Ed Sheeran concert, August 19, 2023
The Mile High Advantage
Playing football a full mile above sea level presents measurable challenges for visiting teams. The thinner air extends kick distances and briefly boosts sprinting speed, but endurance suffers for athletes unaccustomed to altitude — a built-in edge the Broncos and their fans have long celebrated. The stadium’s enclosing upper deck traps crowd noise effectively, amplifying an already passionate fan base into a genuine obstacle for opposing offenses.
The Broncos leveraged this combination of altitude and atmosphere through multiple Super Bowl runs, including a championship following the 2015 season. Home sell-out streaks in environments like Empower Field are rare in modern professional sports, and Denver’s unbroken run since 2001 stands as a testament to both the franchise’s success and the stadium’s electric game-day experience.
Beyond the Broncos
Empower Field at Mile High has hosted some of the most significant non-sporting events in Denver’s history. In August 2008, the stadium was transformed for the Democratic National Convention, where Barack Obama delivered his presidential nomination acceptance speech to a crowd estimated at around 84,000 — one of the largest political gatherings in U.S. history at that time.
The venue also draws major touring concerts, with a record crowd of 85,233 attending Ed Sheeran’s +–=÷× Tour in August 2023, surpassing its standard football capacity. The Colorado Rapids of MLS used the stadium as their home from 2002 to 2006 before relocating to a soccer-specific facility. A replacement stadium is planned for the Burnham Yard site nearby, targeting an opening around 2031.
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Empower Field at Mile High FAQs
Why is it called ‘Mile High’?
Denver sits at an elevation of exactly 5,280 feet — precisely one mile — above sea level. The original Mile High Stadium embraced that distinction in its name, and the current venue preserved the tradition when it opened in 2001.
How many times has the stadium changed its name?
Four times. It opened as Invesco Field at Mile High in 2001, became Sports Authority Field at Mile High in 2011, was briefly known as Broncos Stadium at Mile High during the 2018 season, then adopted its current name, Empower Field at Mile High, in 2019 after Empower Retirement secured naming rights.
Is a new stadium planned to replace Empower Field at Mile High?
Yes. The Denver Broncos have announced plans for a new stadium at the nearby Burnham Yard redevelopment site, with a target opening around 2031, which would eventually succeed Empower Field at Mile High as the team’s home.
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Photo: Pdubs.94 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.