View source for Mile High Stadium

{{Short description|Former stadium in Denver, Colorado, US}}
{{For|Denver's current NFL stadium|Empower Field at Mile High}}
{{Redirect-distinguish|Bears Stadium|Soldier Field}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Mile High Stadium
| image               = Denver Mile High Stadium postcard (c. 1970s-1980s).jpg
| image_size          = 275px
| caption             = Aerial view of Mile High Stadium circa 1980
| address = 2755 West 17th Avenue
| location = [[Denver|Denver, Colorado]]
| coordinates = {{coord|39|44|46|N|105|1|18|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground = 1947
| opened = August 14, 1948<ref name="pbp">{{cite web|url=http://projectballpark.org/history/nl/mile.html|title=Mile High Stadium|work=Project Ball Parks|date=2010}}</ref>
| expanded = 1959, 1968, 1976, 1977, 1986
| closed = September 8, 2001
| demolished = January–April 17, 2002<ref name="pbp"/>
| owner = [[Denver|City & County of Denver]]<br />(1968–2001)<br />Rocky Mountain Sports, Inc.<br />([[Denver Bears]]/[[Denver Broncos|Broncos]],<br />1948–1968)
| operator = Denver Parks and Recreation
| surface = Natural grass
| architect = Stanley E. Morse<ref name=OCLC>{{cite web|title=Stanley E. Morse architectural records, 1924-2008-Denver Public Library|url=http://beta.worldcat.org/archivegrid/collection/data/53010984|website=ARCHIVEGRID|publisher=OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc.|access-date=April 26, 2015|date=2008}}</ref>
| general_contractor = Platt Rogers<br />Construction Company<ref name=GHPhippsHistory>{{cite web|title=History of GH Phipps|url=http://www.ghphipps.com/about/history/|website=GH Phipps Construction Company|access-date=April 29, 2015|date=2015}}</ref>
| former_names = Bears Stadium (1948–1968)
| tenant = [[Denver Bears (Western League)|Denver Bears]] ([[Western League (1900-1958)|WL]]) (1948–1954)<br />[[Denver Zephyrs|Denver Bears / Zephyrs]] ([[American Association (20th century)|AA]] / [[Pacific Coast League|PCL]]) (1955–1992)<br />[[Denver Broncos]] ([[American Football League|AFL]] / [[National Football League|NFL]]) (1960–2000)<br />[[Denver Dynamos]] ([[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|NASL]]) (1974–1975)<br />[[Colorado Caribous]] ([[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|NASL]]) (1978)<br />[[Denver Gold]] ([[United States Football League|USFL]]) (1983–1985)<br />[[Colorado Rockies]] ([[Major League Baseball|MLB]]) (1993–1994)<br />[[Colorado Foxes]] ([[American Professional Soccer League|APSL]]) (1994–1995)<br />[[Colorado Rapids]] ([[Major League Soccer|MLS]]) (1996–2001)
| capacity = 76,273 (1986–2001)<br />75,100 (1984–1985)<br />75,123 (1982–1983)<br />75,103 (1980–1981)<br />75,092 (1979)<br />75,087 (1977–1978)<br />63,532 (1976)<br />51,706 (1973–1975)<br />51,656 (1972)<br />51,200 (1971)<br />50,705 (1970)<br />50,000 (1968–1969)<br />34,643 (1966–1967)<br />34,264 (1962–1965)<br />34,657 (1960–1961)<br />18,000 (1948–1959)
| dimensions = '''Left Field:''' {{convert|333|ft|abbr=on}}<br />'''Left-Center:''' {{convert|366|ft|abbr=on}}<br />'''Center Field:''' {{convert|423|ft|abbr=on}}<br />'''Right-Center:''' {{convert|400|ft|0|abbr=on}}<br />'''Right Field:''' {{convert|370|ft|0|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite book |first=Philip J.|last=Lowry|title=Green Cathedrals: The Ultimate Celebration of Major League and Negro League Ballparks|location=New York|publisher=Walker Publishing Co.|date=2006|isbn=9780802718655|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Afo5vtVTz4wC&q=%22Mile+High+Stadium%22+%22Dimensions%22}}</ref>
}}

'''Mile High Stadium''' (originally '''Bears Stadium''' until 1968) was an outdoor [[multi-purpose stadium]] located in [[Denver]], Colorado, from 1948 to 2002.

The stadium was built in 1948 to accommodate the [[Denver Bears (Western League)|Denver Bears]] baseball team,<ref name=dshwymj>{{cite news |title=Denver Shows Way to Get Milwaukee Ball Park|first=R.G.|last=Lynch|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZFMaAAAAIBAJ&pg=2049%2C3249996|newspaper=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|Milwaukee Journal]]|date=October 16, 1949|page=3, sports}}</ref> which was a member of the [[Western League (1900–1958)|Western League]] during its construction. Originally designed as a baseball venue,<ref name=dshwymj/> the stadium was expanded in later years to accommodate the addition of a professional football team to the city, the [[Denver Broncos]], as well as to improve Denver's hopes of landing a [[Major League Baseball]] team. Although the stadium was originally built as a baseball-specific venue, it became more popular<!-- how measured? by annual revenue? by city of Denver net revenue? by surveys" --> as a pro-football stadium despite hosting both sports for a majority of its life.{{not verified in body|date=April 2024}}

The Broncos called Mile High Stadium home from their beginning in the [[American Football League|AFL]] in [[1960 Denver Broncos season|1960]] until [[2000 Denver Broncos season|2000]]. The Bears, who changed their name to the Zephyrs in 1984, continued to play in the stadium until 1992 when the franchise was moved to [[New Orleans]]. The move was precipitated by the awarding of a Major League Baseball franchise to the city of Denver, and in 1993 the [[Colorado Rockies]] season opened in Mile High. The team played the [[1993 Colorado Rockies season|1993]] and strike-shortened [[1994 Colorado Rockies season|1994 season]]s in Mile High setting MLB attendance records while [[Coors Field]] was being constructed in downtown Denver.

In addition to the Broncos, Bears/Zephyrs, and Rockies, Mile High Stadium was home to several other professional teams during the course of its history. The [[Denver Gold]] of the [[United States Football League]] called Mile High home from 1983 to 1985, and the stadium played host to the inaugural [[1983 USFL Championship Game|USFL championship game]] on July 17, 1983. Several professional soccer teams also played at Mile High. The first was the [[Denver Dynamos]] of the [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|North American Soccer League]], who were founded in 1974 and played their first two seasons in Denver before moving to [[Bloomington, Minnesota]], and becoming the [[Minnesota Kicks]]. The second was the Colorado Caribous of the North American Soccer League playing just the 1978 season before moving to Atlanta and becoming the Atlanta Chiefs. The [[Colorado Foxes]] of the [[American Professional Soccer League]] played at Mile High from 1994 to 1995. Denver was home to one of [[Major League Soccer]]'s 10 charter franchises as the [[Colorado Rapids]] were formed and played in Mile High from 1996 until 2001, making them the last franchise to play in Mile High Stadium prior to its closure.

After the Rapids' 2001 season, Mile High Stadium was closed and in 2002 the stadium was demolished.

==History==

===Early years as Bears Stadium (1948–1959)===

Mile High Stadium was originally built as Bears Stadium for minor league baseball by [[Bob Howsam]] in 1948 at the site of a former [[landfill]]. The stadium initially consisted of a single 18,000-seat grandstand stretching along the north side from the left field foul pole to the right field foul pole on the west side.<ref name=dshwymj/> Luther "Bud" Phillips hit the first official home run out of Bears Stadium.<ref name=parksofbaseball>{{cite web|title=Mile High Stadium|url=http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/past/MileHighStadium.htm|website=Ballparks of Baseball|access-date=April 29, 2015}}</ref> In its first full season in 1949, the Bears averaged over 6,600 per game to lead the [[Minor League Baseball|minor leagues]] in attendance.<ref name=dshwymj/>

In the late 1950s, there was an attempt to form a third major league, the [[Continental League]], helmed by former [[Los Angeles Dodgers|Dodger]] general manager [[Branch Rickey]]. Howsam, who had worked with Rickey years before with the [[St. Louis Cardinals]], joined ranks with Rickey, pleading for a major league team in Denver. Advised that to get a major league franchise Denver would need a much larger ballpark, Bears Stadium would begin the first of its many expansions. Over 8,000 seats were added to the south stands, bringing stadium capacity to 23,100.

[[Major League Baseball]]'s (MLB) answer to the Continental League was to expand its two Leagues, which would eventually lead to the folding of the Continental League. Although Denver was not awarded a franchise, MLB promised teams in the future for Denver and other cities. Howsam was now trapped with a massive debt load and a stadium far too big for a minor-league team. Frantically searching for a solution, he concluded the only way out was to extend the stadium's season with football.

===The Broncos as the primary tenant (1960–1992)===
[[File:Mile High Stadium during a Broncos game on September 15, 1996.jpg|thumb|The Broncos at Mile High Stadium in [[1996 Denver Broncos season|1996]]]]
A large bleacher section was added along the south side and temporary east stands were built in [[1960 Denver Broncos season|1960]], raising the capacity to 34,657;<ref name=parksofbaseball/> baseball capacity was 26,500 {{nowrap|in 1963.<ref name=trarwh>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MW0pAAAAIBAJ&pg=1594%2C124669 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Fire trucks are white in High City |date=April 15, 1963 |page=8}}</ref>}}

Howsam's ownership in the AFL was short-lived, as overwhelming debt forced Howsam to sell all his sports interests in 1961. His dream of major league baseball in Denver would be placed on hold for another 30&nbsp;years.

One condition of including Denver in the [[AFL–NFL merger]] announced in [[1966 Denver Broncos season|1966]] was expanding Bears Stadium to at least 50,000 seats. This required adding second and third decks along the west sideline (first base line). This expansion was completed in [[1968 Denver Broncos season|1968]], when the stadium was sold to the city of Denver, which renamed it Mile High Stadium and built the upper deck along the west side, thus raising capacity to 50,657.<ref name=SBNation>{{cite web|last1=Shrout|first1=Brian|title=Little Known Broncos Facts: We Have a General Manager?|url=http://www.milehighreport.com/2012/6/8/3069683/little-known-broncos-facts-we-have-a-general-manager|website=SB Nation – Mile High Report|access-date=April 29, 2015|date=June 8, 2012|quote=Saban was a driving force behind a fund raising campaign which allowed the city of Denver to purchase the stadium and expand its seating to 50,657. The stadium was subsequently renamed "Mile High Stadium."}}</ref>

====1970s====

'''Early '70s expansion'''

The Broncos sold out every game in their inaugural NFL season.  Every Broncos game—preseason, regular season (not including games with replacement players) and playoffs—has been sold out since, a streak that continued after the Broncos left Mile High.  As ticket sales increased, the stadium expanded to 51,706 seats. With a $25 million bond issue in 1974 another stadium renovation added more seats. By 1976, seating was up to 63,532 as the upper decks construction was completed along the north end zone (third base line).{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

'''The east stands'''

An ingenious expansion that took place from 1975 to 1977 raised the capacity to 75,103 by extending the upper deck that was along the north side and building movable, triple-decked stands along the east side. When fully retracted toward the field, the stands would form a horseshoe for football, appropriate considering the team was the [[Denver Broncos]]. Yet when fully extended by 145 feet (44 m), the stadium could still fit a normal-sized baseball field with outfield distances of {{convert|335|ft}} down the left-field line, {{convert|375|ft}} to left-center and 423 to center field.<ref name="DPT">{{cite news|last=Moss|first=Irv|title=Jim Tolle, Mile High Stadium stands engineer|url=http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_15799807|access-date=October 31, 2012|newspaper=Denver Post|date=August 17, 2010}}</ref>

The movable structure was 450 feet (137 m) long, 200 feet (61 m) wide, and weighed nearly 9 million pounds (4,500 short tons, 4,000 metric tons). When a game or event required moving the stands the {{convert|145|ft}} in or out, engineers pumped water into 163 water bearings spaced out beneath the stands, lifting the structure off its foundation. A sheet of water ⅓-inch thick formed under the structure. Hydraulic rams then pushed the stands forward at the rate of two feet per minute, taking stadium engineers about six hours from start to finish to move the stands.<ref name="DPT" />

'''The south stands'''

The south stands of Mile High Stadium had, for many years, a reputation for having the most vociferous fans. While not matching other cities' stadiums for rowdiness or bad behavior, the south stands ticketholders nevertheless represented some of the Broncos' most ardent fans who were able to generate an outsized impact on the noise level of the stadium despite the open gaps between the south stands and the east and west stands.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

'''Bucky Bronco'''

In 1975, Denver approached actor [[Roy Rogers]] to commission a statue of his horse, [[Trigger (horse)|Trigger]], for display at the stadium. A {{convert|24|foot|adj=on}}, {{convert|1300|lb|adj=on}} fiberglass replica of the horse had previously been produced for the Roy Rogers Museum in [[Victorville, California]]. Rogers agreed, with the stipulation that the new statue not be named "Trigger". Denver fans were polled by ''[[The Denver Post]]'' to decide on a different name, and "Bucky" was chosen. Painted white to match the Broncos logo, the statue was mounted atop the scoreboard at Mile High, where it remained for 25 years before being relocated to the [[Broncos Stadium at Mile High|new stadium]]. Mounted, the statue measures {{convert|27|ft}} and {{convert|1600|lb}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMCA_Bucky_Bronco|title=Bucky Bronco|publisher=Waymarking.com}}</ref>

====1980s====
Mile High Stadium, in the 1970s and 1980s, was the only professional-caliber baseball facility to have an all grass infield, with sliding pits around bases. This unique feature was similar to several newer Major League Baseball stadiums that also used sliding pits, except those other stadiums all had artificial turf infields.{{Citation needed|date=July 2008}} 
In [[1986 Denver Broncos season|1986]], 77 luxury suites were added atop the west stands, increasing the official [[seating capacity]] to 76,123.

==== 1990s ====
[[File:Braves @ Rockies @ Mile High 5.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Colorado Rockies]] baseball game at Mile High in 1994]]

The stadium's large capacity combined with enthusiasm for the new team and the lowest MLB ticket prices allowed the expansion Rockies to set [[Major League Baseball attendance records]] before moving to [[Coors Field]] for the [[1995 Colorado Rockies season|1995 season]]. The stadium was known for its loudness with the sound of fans stomping in the bleachers echoing within the horseshoe. The large center and right fields, foul territory areas (although left field was shorter than average), and center field's 30-foot (10&nbsp;m) high fence, was not as problematic for pitchers as [[Coors Field]] would be. The club's [[1993 Colorado Rockies season|1993 season]] attendance was 4,483,350 in 79 home dates (81 games – 2 doubleheaders), an average of 56,751 per home date. The Rockies were on pace to exceed the record during the strike-shortened [[1994 Colorado Rockies season|1994 season]]. They had drawn 3,281,511 in 57 home dates (also 57 games), an average of 57,570 per home date. (Season attendance figures from ''The Sporting News Baseball Record Book'', 2007, p.&nbsp;234; Game counts are from game logs on Retrosheet.)<ref name=1993Rockies>{{cite web|title=The 1993 Colorado Rockies Regular Season Game Log|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1993/VCOL01993.htm|website=Retrosheet}}</ref><ref name=1994Rockies>{{cite web|title=The 1994 Colorado Rockies Regular Season Game Log|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1994/VCOL01994.htm|website=Retrosheet}}</ref>

The [[Colorado Foxes]] of the [[American Professional Soccer League]], moved into Mile High Stadium in 1994 and drew an average of 4,100 spectators in their first year.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pearce |first=Alan |date=May 6, 1995 |title=Foxes hope to pull in crowds in bid to pull off title in '95 |page=20B |work=Rocky Mountain News}}</ref> They were displaced in the 1996 season by the [[Colorado Rapids]], one of the founding franchises of the top-flight [[Major League Soccer]] (MLS).<ref>{{cite news |last=Jackson |first=Tony |date=February 14, 1996 |title=Foxes get new home, but say they aren't going to the dogs |page=11B |work=Rocky Mountain News}}</ref>

===Final years (2000–2001)===
The final football game at Mile High Stadium was December 23, 2000, in which the [[2000 Denver Broncos season|Broncos]] routed the [[2000 San Francisco 49ers season|49ers]], 38–9. The Broncos had defeated every visiting franchise from the stadium's opening to close, enjoying perfect records against the [[Arizona Cardinals]] (3–0), [[Baltimore Ravens]] (1–0), [[Carolina Panthers]] (1–0), [[Green Bay Packers]] (5–0), and [[Indianapolis Colts]] (5–0).<ref name=MileHighMemories>{{cite web|title=Mile High Stadium Memories|url=http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/tradition/mile-high-stadium.html|website=Denver Broncos – Traditions|access-date=April 29, 2015}}</ref>

The Rapids were the final professional team to play in Mile High Stadium, staying until 2001.<ref>{{cite news |last=Renck |first=Tracy |date=July 12, 2007 |title=A new home of their own |url=https://www.chieftain.com/story/sports/2007/07/12/a-new-home-their-own/8813093007/ |work=[[The Pueblo Chieftain]] |accessdate=June 4, 2024}}</ref> The team had sought a [[soccer-specific stadium]] as early as 1999 due to the lack of control at Mile High.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mitchell |first=Eric |date=August 23, 1999 |title=With Columbus as a guide, Rapids set sail toward soccer-only stadium |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/1999/08/23/No-Topic-Name/With-Columbus-As-A-Guide-Rapids-Set-Sail-Toward-Soccer-Only-Stadium.aspx |work=[[Sports Business Journal]] |accessdate=June 4, 2024}}</ref> Team captain [[John Spencer (Scottish footballer)|John Spencer]] became the first Rapids player to record a [[hat-trick (association football)|hat-trick]] during a 3–1 win against [[D.C. United]] on Independence Day 2000 in front of 60,500 fans, a team attendance record.<ref>{{cite news |date=July 4, 2001 |title=United Washed Out by Rapids Before Record Crowd |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2001/07/05/united-washed-out-by-rapids-before-record-crowd/444b0e17-d806-4cd7-b65a-862be9c7c0e9/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |accessdate=June 4, 2024}}</ref> The Rapids played the last professional sporting event ever held at Mile High on September 8, 2001, a 2–0 loss to the [[Los Angeles Galaxy]] with 17,129 in attendance.<ref name="LATimes-Rapids">{{cite news |last=Jones |first=Grahame L. |date=September 9, 2001 |title=Simon Says It's Good Time to Score Goal |page=D3 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-sep-09-sp-43941-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |accessdate=June 4, 2024}}</ref> The team were scheduled to move to [[Empower Field at Mile High]] for their season finale on September 12,<ref name="LATimes-Rapids"/> but the match was postponed due to the [[September 11 attacks]] and ultimately cancelled.<ref>{{cite news |last=Coleman |first=Kevin |date=October 4, 2001 |title=Search for new home expands |page=D2 |work=The Denver Post |url=http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1002,94~168430,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011004223257/http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1002,94~168430,00.html |archive-date=October 4, 2001 |accessdate=June 4, 2024}}</ref>

Mile High Stadium was closed in 2001, after the Colorado Rapids and Denver Broncos moved to neighboring [[Empower Field at Mile High]] (then known as Invesco Field at Mile High), upon completion of the new stadium. The demolition of Mile High Stadium began in January 2002, an event covered extensively by local newspapers and broadcast live on television. The demolition was performed by Spirtas Wrecking Company of [[St. Louis|St. Louis, Missouri]], the same group that led the demolition of arenas and stadiums in St. Louis, [[Three Rivers Stadium|Pittsburgh]] and [[Kingdome|Seattle]]. Conventional demolition was chosen over implosion. The stadium demolition was completed by April.

The former stadium is now a parking lot for Empower Field at Mile High. A miniature replica of the stadium is in the parking lot. The historical site of many games and events for 40 years is marked by the hills forming the west and north stands, the corner between them descended by a staircase, much as the stands were. The location of home plate is identified by a marker located at {{coord|39.74637|-105.02187|type:landmark_region:US-CO_dim:50|format=dms|name=Mile High Stadium home plate marker}}.<ref name=WayMarker>{{cite web|title=Bears Stadium - Denver, CO - Colorado Historical Markers on Waymarking.com|url=http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMFEKR_Bears_Stadium_Denver_CO|website=Waymarking.com|access-date=April 29, 2015}}</ref>

==Notable events==

===Concerts===
June 27, 28 and 29, 1969, concert promoter [[Barry Fey]] held The [[Denver Pop Festival]] at Mile High Stadium with many well-known acts performing every evening. The city of Denver supported the festival and made available areas for camping and other services. The Denver Police however allowed non-ticket holders to enter the parking area whereupon they attempted to climb over chain link fencing to see the show while claiming that music should be "free". Police responded by lobbing tear gas canisters toward the fences knowing full well that the gas would affect everyone in attendance at the outdoor venue. Sunday night's final act was [[Jimi Hendrix|The Jimi Hendrix Experience]], which proved to be the Experience' final performance as a trio as well. Bassist [[Noel Redding]] quit and simply flew back to England that night. Jimi did not perform again for 6 weeks until mid-August when he closed [[Woodstock|The Woodstock Music and Art Fair]] with his new band. Jimi Hendrix died 13 months later in September 1970.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}
[[File:Mile High Stadium on July 13, 1995.jpg|thumb|Mile High Stadium in 1995]]
[[Lynyrd Skynyrd]] played at the Stadium June 27, 1977, as part of their One More From The Road tour.

[[The Jacksons]] performed two concerts at Mile High Stadium on September 7 and 8, 1984, during their Victory Tour.<ref>[[Victory Tour (The Jacksons tour)|Victory Tour]]</ref>

The stadium was the penultimate stop on [[Bruce Springsteen]] & the [[E Street Band]]'s [[Born in the U.S.A. Tour]], where they performed two shows on September 23 and 24, 1985.

The stadium hosted the final show of the 1988 [[Monsters of Rock Tour 1988|Monsters of Rock]] Festival Tour, featuring [[Van Halen]], [[Metallica]], [[Scorpions (band)|Scorpions]], [[Dokken]] and [[Kingdom Come (German band)|Kingdom Come]], on July 30, 1988. On June 28, 1991, the [[Grateful Dead]] performed in the stadium.

[[Metallica]] and [[Guns N' Roses]] brought the [[Guns N' Roses/Metallica Stadium Tour]] to the stadium on September 19, 1992, with [[Body Count (band)|Body Count]] as their opening act.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

On October 21, 1992, [[U2]] performed at Mile High as part of the third leg of their [[Zoo TV Tour]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Axver|first1=Andre|last2=Muehlbradt|first2=Matthias|title=U2 Denver, 1992-10-21, Mile High Stadium, ZOO TV Tour - U2 on tour|url=http://www.u2gigs.com/show814.html|website=U2gigs.com|date=October 21, 1992 |access-date=January 22, 2016|ref=U2Zoo}}</ref> U2 would return again to perform in concert May 1, 1997, on the first leg of their [[PopMart Tour]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Axver|first1=Andre|last2=Muehlbradt|first2=Matthias|title=U2 Denver, 1997-05-01, Mile High Stadium, PopMart Tour - U2 on tour|url=http://www.u2gigs.com/show323.html|website=U2gigs.com|date=May 1997 |access-date=January 22, 2016|ref=U2Pop}}</ref>

The stadium played host to [[Ozzfest]] on June 24, 1997. The stadium again hosted Ozzfest, for the second and last time, on June 21, 2001, and hosted the [[Area Festival|Area:One Festival]] on July 28, 2001.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

===In film===
The stadium was featured in [[Michael Moore]]'s 2002 documentary ''[[Bowling for Columbine]]'' as the backdrop for Moore's interview with controversial rock musician [[Marilyn Manson]] during the 2001 Ozzfest tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bowlingforcolumbine.com/media/clips/windowsmedia.php?Clip=manson1021LG |title=Marilyn Manson Interview on Bowling for Columbine |publisher=Bowling for Columbine |date=October 11, 2002 |access-date=November 15, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615135947/http://www.bowlingforcolumbine.com/media/clips/windowsmedia.php?Clip=manson1021LG |archive-date=June 15, 2011 }}</ref>

===Other events===
In 1977 and 1978, Mile High Stadium hosted the [[Drum Corps International]] World Championships (with the 2004 championships held at the successor stadium). From 1963 to 2019, the Denver-based [[Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps|Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps]] annually hosted Drums Along the Rockies, making it the single longest-running event held at the stadium and its successor aside from Denver Broncos football. Canceled in 2020 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19 pandemic]], the event has since returned for the annual gathering, but has since moved to [[Colorado State University]]'s stadium in [[Fort Collins, Colorado|Fort Collins]].

[[Billy Graham]] held his "Rocky Mountain Crusade" at the stadium in 1987.

In August 1993, Denver hosted [[World Youth Day]]. On August 12 and 13, Mile High Stadium hosted two events with [[Pope John Paul II]], the Papal Welcoming Ceremony and the Way of the Cross.<ref name=WYD>{{cite web|title=Apostolic Journey to Jamaica, Mexico and Denver (Colorado) (August 8–16, 1993)|url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/travels/sub_index1993/trav_america-1993_en.htm|work=John Paul II: Travels|publisher=The Vatican}}</ref>

The weekend of June 16 and 17, 1995, saw Mile High Stadium transform into a revival tent when it played host to the [[Promise Keepers]], a male-only [[Evangelical Christian]] ministry co-founded in 1990 by [[Bill McCartney]], former head coach for the [[University of Colorado, Boulder]] football organization ([[CU Buffs]] for short). Membership in the Promise Keepers had skyrocketed year-over-year, such that their previous venue [[Folsom Field]] (seating capacity 53,613), located on the [[University of Colorado Boulder|University of Colorado, Boulder]] campus, had outgrown their needs.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Coach Bill, the Guys and God|work = The Independent|access-date = March 29, 2023|date = July 22, 1995|url = https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/coach-bill-the-guys-and-god-1592838.html|archive-date = July 7, 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220707150839/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/coach-bill-the-guys-and-god-1592838.html|url-status = live}}</ref> Mile High Stadium was chosen because it could accommodate the 70,000+ men and boys that would fill the stadium that weekend.

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080611093646/http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/milehigh/1223mile0.shtml Toast of the Town: Mile High Stadium rose from a dumping ground into the symbol of the city]
*[http://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/story.asp?story=2203 Denver Bids Fond Farewell to Mile High Stadium]

==External links==
{{Commons category|Mile High Stadium}}
*[http://www.stadiumsofprofootball.com/past/MileHighStadium.htm Stadiums of Pro Football: Mile High Stadium]
*[http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/national/milehi.htm Ballparks.com: Mile High Stadium]
*[http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/past/MileHighStadium.htm Ballparks of Baseball: Mile High Stadium]
{{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-sta|et}}}}
{{succession box
 | title = Home of the<br />[[Colorado Rockies]]
 | years = 1993–1994
 | before = None
 | after = [[Coors Field]]
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Home of the<br />[[Denver Broncos]]
 | years = 1960–2000
 | before = None
 | after = [[INVESCO Field at Mile High]]
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Home of the<br />[[Colorado Rapids]]
 | years = 1996–2001
 | before = None
 | after = [[INVESCO Field at Mile High]]
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Host of the <br />[[Drum Corps International]] <br />World Championship 
 | years = 1977–1978
 | before =[[Franklin Field]]
 | after = [[Legion Field]]
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Host of [[AFC Championship Game]]
 | years = 1978<br />1988<br />1990<br />1999
 | before = [[Oakland Coliseum]]<br />[[Cleveland Municipal Stadium]]<br />[[Riverfront Stadium]]<br />[[Three Rivers Stadium]]
 | after = [[Three Rivers Stadium]]<br />[[Riverfront Stadium]]<br />[[Ralph Wilson Stadium]]<br />[[EverBank Field]]
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Host of the<br />[[United States Football League]] championship game
 | years = 1983 
 | before = None
 | after = [[Tampa Stadium]]
}}
{{end}}
{{Colorado Rapids}}
{{Colorado Rockies}}
{{Denver Broncos}}
{{Atlanta Chiefs}}
{{Minnesota Kicks}}
{{Defunct MLB Ballparks}}
{{Defunct NFL stadiums}}
{{Former MLS stadiums}}
{{AMA Supercross venues}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:American Football League venues]]
[[Category:Colorado Rapids stadiums]]
[[Category:Colorado Rockies stadiums]]
[[Category:Defunct NFL venues]]
[[Category:Defunct Major League Baseball venues]]
[[Category:Defunct minor league baseball venues]]
[[Category:Denver Broncos stadiums]]
[[Category:Baseball venues in Colorado]]
[[Category:Soccer venues in Colorado]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Denver]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1948]]
[[Category:Sports venues demolished in 2002]]
[[Category:2002 disestablishments in Colorado]]
[[Category:Former Major League Soccer stadiums]]
[[Category:Defunct soccer venues in the United States]]
[[Category:United States Football League venues]]
[[Category:Demolished sports venues in Colorado]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) stadiums]]
[[Category:Denver Gold stadiums]]
[[Category:American Association (1902–1997) ballparks]]