Recently I was watching the 1967 Denver Broncos highlight film online. Before the closing credits a crowd shot of the Bronco fans was shown. I saw a familiar pair in the crowd – my brother Dave and me! Upon further study (and with Dave’s confirmation) it was us! The story of that picture and 53 years of me attending Bronco home games:
My brother and I attended the home opener that year against the Boston Patriots. My Dad dropped us off at the stadium (I was 11 years old, my brother was 14). That was the only game we bought tickets for, but we went to other home games that season. At the old Mile High (then “Bears Stadium”) there was a gap between the West stands and the South Stands were you could see 3/4ths of the field for free from a hill just outside the stadium. My Dad used to drop off my brother, my friend Greg, and me before the game, we’d watch the action from “the hill”, and then with about 6 minutes left in the 4th quarter the Broncos would open the gates and let everyone in for free.
That 1967 season got me hooked on Broncos football. The next season (1968) the Broncos had a kids end zone season ticket price of $2/game and $14 for the 7 game season (for age 12 and under). I bought one season ticket in the South Stands, my friend Greg bought the seat next to me. I bought Greg’s season ticket rights in the 1980’s (when you could do that from a non-family member). 52 years later I still have my season ticket (and the rights to Greg’s)!
When I asked my parents if I could buy my season ticket in 1968 my Mom said, “you only have $25 in your bank account – are you sure it will have lasting enjoyment?” Uhh, I think it did have lasting enjoyment Mom! (thanks to my parents for letting me make that purchase!)
“The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball,” from the James Earl Jones character in the movie Field of Dreams. My variation of that is “The one constant through all the years, Tim, is Bronco Football!” In 53 years of attending games, thru life’s ups & downs, there has always Bronco football for me to enjoy in the Fall. I hope despite this coronavirus challenge we will be seeing NFL games later this year.
