From my earliest memories, I remember our family having season tickets to Broncos games. Whether we were at the games or watching on TV, watching Broncos games were always an event. Gathering with friends after church to carpool to the game or to watch the game together when the Broncos were out of town.
Our family had season tickets in the North stands on the first level. When they kicked extra points or field goals, my sister and I had to duck to keep from getting trampled by those trying to catch the ball. These were the days of course before the nets in the goal. In the early years the seating were benches.
When the stadium was expanded the money came from private sources. There was no money from the government or the Broncos. People wanted to come to the games and there weren’t enough seats. Fans were asked to contribute to the stadium expansion. My family contributed $100 toward the project.
In the early years, players had other jobs. They weren’t career players like we have today with million dollar contracts. They were paid a few thousand dollars to play a game. Then they would go home. To keep players in town and coming back year after year, business began giving players jobs in the offseason. My dad’s company hired several players year after year to support the effort.
The Broncos players in the early years were always willing and ready to speak at any event. Our church would have Men’s Breakfasts once a month or so. I remember one breakfast when Bobby Anderson was going to speak. It was the only time I got up early on a Saturday morning so I could volunteer in the kitchen so I could see Bobby Anderson. Back then players liked being around the fans. They didn’t see it as an inconvenience. Players like Gene Mingo, Marlin Briscoe, Lyle Alzado, Craig Morton, Floyd Little and many others.
In the 1970’s I attended Mapleton High School. The school was located along I-25 at Washington and about 50th. At the time the Broncos facility was just down the street. I took a bus to school, so when I wanted to go watch the Broncos practice I’d ask my dad so he could pick me up after work. So, after school I’d walk down the road to watch practice. The facility was fenced with a chain link fence. Anybody who wanted to could come up, stand along the fence and watch practice. After practice was over the players would come over and autograph anything you wanted. One time Riley Odoms tossed me his practice jersey over the fence. It was big-really big. I used it as a night
shirt for years. Players and management liked that the fans came out for practice. They knew that the fans would be the strength and livelihood of the team.
When I was a Senior in High School my family gave up their season tickets. I cried so hard and my dad felt so bad he secured me a season ticket for that season. This time I was in the infamous South stands! My dream come true.
For years I and a friend would journey to training camp at Greeley nearly every weekend. We enjoyed getting up early on Saturday and arriving for morning practice. Afterwards we’d go to a local pub for lunch. After awhile some of the players would show up for lunch too and we would have a great time jawing with them.
Then there are memories of the years I traveled to Seattle to attend the divisional games with a friend who was a Broncos fan. He’d by 20 tickets and a bunch of us, both Broncos and Seahawks fans, would enjoy the game together. We always had a good time. My family also traveled to Miami for a game, NY for a Giants game in December after 9-11, and I attended a San Diego game with my uncle who is also a Broncos fan.
Then there were the Super Bowls. The win at Super Bowl XXXII on January 25, 1998 was another dream come true. I know the win was dedicated to John Elway, I wanted it for him too. But more than that I wanted the win for me and every other fan that had been with the Broncos since the beginning. We all had invested our hopes, dreams and money in the Broncos through all those years of winning, losing, and expansion. We all were finally vindicated. Finally we could hold our heads up high and proudly. The NFL would have to respect us now.
The NFL is a lot different now. It seems that now that the team is successful – worth billions – they only need fans to buy tickets and merchandise. Getting into training camp is a special treat. We get close up seating to the practice, but getting an autograph is like being at a “feeding frenzy”. Even the stadiums distance the fans from the players. At old Mile High we were at field level with the players.
Today, I can’t afford season tickets so I watch the games on TV with my family. Traveling to away games is too costly for me now too. I wanted to be a part of the Denver Broncos Quarterback Club to have that close connection with the Broncos. I will always be a Denver Broncos fan.
Paula Faulkner