There’s no place quite like a stadium whose name tells you exactly how high it sits. Empower Field at Mile High isn’t just the home of the Denver Broncos — it’s a landmark that literally lives up to its name at 5,280 feet above sea level. This guide walks through the stadium’s evolution from the original 1948 ballpark to the modern venue today, what the altitude means for players and fans, and what the future holds for this iconic piece of Colorado sports history.

4 related posts

Opened: 2001 · Capacity: 76,125 (expandable) · Elevation: 5,280 ft (1,609 m) · Surface: Kentucky Bluegrass · Tenant: Denver Broncos (NFL)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

Seven facts that define the stadium’s profile, from location to playing surface.

Location Denver, Colorado, USA
Opened 2001
Capacity 76,125 (expandable to 77,000)
Elevation 5,280 feet (1,609 m)
Surface Kentucky Bluegrass
Tenant Denver Broncos (NFL)
Naming Rights Holder Empower Retirement (2019–2029)

Is Empower Field actually a Mile High?

Yes, the name is literal. The stadium sits at exactly 5,280 feet above sea level, the official elevation of Denver, confirmed by the stadium’s official website. That’s one mile — hence “Mile High.” The original Mile High Stadium, which opened in 1948, also stood at the same elevation (Stadiums of Professional Football).

The upshot

The thinner air at Mile High gives home-field advantage: visiting teams have less time to acclimate, and the ball flies faster. That’s why the Broncos have historically dominated at home.

The 5,280‑foot elevation explained

  • The stadium’s elevation is exactly 5,280 ft (1,609 m) above sea level (Official stadium site).
  • Denver is known as the “Mile High City” because its average elevation is exactly one mile high (Wikipedia – Denver).
  • The thin air reduces oxygen by roughly 17% compared to sea level, affecting player stamina and ball flight. Research from the National Institutes of Health confirms that acclimatization takes at least 48 hours.

The implication: playing at Mile High is a genuine physiological shift, not just a marketing gimmick.

Comparing old Mile High Stadium and new stadium altitude

  • Original Mile High Stadium (1948–2000): built at the same 5,280-ft elevation, initially for the Denver Bears baseball team (Stadiums of Professional Football).
  • Empower Field (2001–present): built on the same parking lot as its predecessor, retaining the mile-high elevation (Official stadium site).
  • What changed: the new stadium added 8,200 club seats and 144 luxury suites while keeping the open-air, high-altitude design (Official stadium site).

The pattern: elevation stayed constant, but the fan experience climbed.

When was Empower Field at Mile High built?

Construction began in 1999 and the stadium opened on August 11, 2001, with a cost of $400.7 million (Official stadium site). The first regular-season NFL game took place on September 10, 2001, when the Broncos defeated the New York Giants 31–20 (Wikipedia).

Construction timeline and cost

  • Groundbreaking: 1999 (Wikipedia)
  • Opening: August 11, 2001 (Official stadium site)
  • Cost: $400.7 million (inflation-adjusted cost: roughly $650 million in 2025 dollars) (Official stadium site)
  • Architects: HNTB Architects in association with Fentress Bradburn Architects and Bertram A. Bruton Architects (Official stadium site)
  • General contractor: Turner/Empire/Alvarado Construction (Official stadium site)

First event at the stadium

  • The first game was a preseason matchup on August 11, 2001, Broncos vs. New Orleans Saints (Wikipedia).
  • The first regular-season game was September 10, 2001, a Broncos victory before a crowd of 75,921 (Pro Football Reference).

Why this matters: the stadium opened just weeks before 9/11, making its debut season uniquely tied to that moment in American history.

Why is Broncos Stadium called Mile High?

The nickname comes from Denver itself — the “Mile High City” — because the city’s official elevation is exactly one mile above sea level (Wikipedia – Denver). The original baseball park that opened in 1948 was named Bears Stadium, but after the Broncos moved in it was renamed Mile High Stadium in 1960 (Stadiums of Professional Football). When the new stadium replaced it in 2001, the “Mile High” part of the name was kept as a tribute.

Denver’s nickname “Mile High City”

  • Denver’s elevation at the State Capitol steps is exactly 5,280 feet (Colorado State Archives).
  • The nickname dates to the 1850s gold rush, when miners and settlers recognized the exact mile-high mark. History Colorado documents this in detail.

Historical use of the name for the earlier stadium

  • Bears Stadium became Mile High Stadium in 1960 when the Denver Broncos moved in (Stadiums of Professional Football).
  • The name was so beloved that the 2001 stadium retained “Mile High” as a permanent suffix despite corporate naming rights (Wikipedia).

The trade-off: corporate names come and go, but “Mile High” endures — it’s written into the legal name of the venue.

When did Mile High become an Empower Field?

In 2019, Empower Retirement purchased the naming rights, renaming the stadium Empower Field at Mile High (Official stadium site). This was the third naming rights deal since the venue opened in 2001.

Previous naming rights

  • Invesco Field at Mile High (2001–2011): Invesco paid $120 million for the original 20-year naming rights (Wikipedia).
  • Sports Authority Field at Mile High (2011–2018): Sports Authority took over in 2011 after the retailer agreed to a five-year deal (Wikipedia).

Empower Retirement naming deal in 2019

  • Empower Retirement signed a 10-year naming rights agreement in 2019, reportedly worth around $120 million total (Sports Business Journal).
  • The deal runs through 2029 (Wikipedia).
  • “Mile High” remains part of the full stadium name — a contractual guarantee (Official stadium site).

What this means: the stadium has had four different official names in 24 years, but “Mile High” is the only constant — a savvy move that keeps the brand anchored to Denver’s identity.

What will happen to Empower Field at Mile High?

The Denver Broncos and the Metropolitan Football Stadium District are in ongoing discussions about the venue’s future beyond 2029 (Stadiums of Professional Football). No official decision has been made as of 2025.

Denver Broncos lease and stadium upgrades

  • Current naming rights lease expires in 2029 (Wikipedia).
  • The Broncos have invested in minor upgrades, including new video boards in 2019 and sound system improvements (Denver Broncos official news).

Possible new stadium discussions

  • Multiple reports indicate the team is evaluating both a major renovation and a completely new venue (The Denver Post).
  • Any new stadium would likely be built in or near downtown Denver, though no site is confirmed (Denver Business Journal).

The catch: building a new stadium could cost over $2 billion, and public funding remains a contentious issue in Colorado.

The trade-off

Naming rights bring revenue but also uncertainty. The Broncos have seen three different corporate names since 2001, and each change creates confusion for fans. The future decision between renovation and new construction will define the fan experience for decades.

Confirmed facts

  • Elevation is 5,280 feet. (Official stadium site)
  • Stadium opened in 2001. (Official stadium site)
  • Current naming rights deal with Empower Retirement runs through 2029. (Wikipedia)
  • Denver Broncos are the primary tenant. (Wikipedia)

What’s unclear

  • Exact future of the stadium after 2029 naming rights expiration. (Wikipedia)
  • Whether the Broncos will pursue a new stadium or extensive renovation. (Stadiums of Professional Football)
  • Specific cost and timeline for any potential upgrades. (Stadiums of Professional Football)
  • The exact details of the Broncos’ long-term lease beyond 2029. (Wikipedia)

The decision ahead will shape the Broncos’ home for decades, but the mile-high tradition is secure.

“The stadium sits at exactly 5,280 feet above sea level, one of the highest in the NFL.”

Empower Field at Mile High official site

“Since 2001, Empower Field at Mile High has been the home of the Denver Broncos, hosting 140+ regular-season games.”

Wikipedia

For the Denver Broncos, the decision between renovating the current facility or starting from scratch will define the team’s fan experience for the next generation. One thing is clear: the mile-high tradition is not going anywhere.