Denver Broncos

Home field

For most of their history the Denver Broncos played in Mile High Stadium, which became one of the shrines of professional football for its record ongoing streak of sell-outs: every game from 1970 to 2006, with the exception of two replacement games during the 1987 strike (but both were sold out before the strike), for a total of 299 games, including post-seasons. The stadium's legendary home-field advantage is regarded as one of the best in the NFL, especially during the post-season. The Broncos have had the best home record in pro football over the past 32 years (1974-2006, 191-65-1). Mile High Stadium was one of the NFL's loudest stadiums, with steel flooring instead of concrete, which may have given the Broncos an advantage over opponents. Since 2001, they have played at Invesco Field at Mile High, built next to the former site of the since demolished old Mile High Stadium. Sportswriter Woody Paige, along with many of Denver's fans, however, often refuse to call the new stadium by its full name, preferring to use Mile High Stadium because of its storied history and sentimental import.

The Colorado altitude has also been attributed as part of the team's home success. The stadium displays multiple references to the stadium's location of 5,280 ft. (1 mile) above sea level, including a prominent mural just outside the visiting team’s locker room. Many believe the physical and mental aspects of competing athletically with less air to breathe affects the performance of visiting teams.


Tragedies in early 2007
Cornerback Darrent Williams was shot and killed around 2 a.m on West 11th Avenue and Speer Boulevard in downtown Denver on January 1, 2007. He was in a Hummer H2 limousine.

Team spokesman Jim Saccomano said police called him about 2 A.M. from the scene and told him three people had been shot, and the 24-year-old Williams had been killed. His death came hours after the Denver Broncos were eliminated from the playoff race.

A little after 2 A.M., a white Hummer limousine was fired on from a white 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe that pulled up along its side, police spokesman Sonny Jackson said. As many as a dozen bullet holes were visible on the driver's side of the vehicle. One window was blown out and four others had bullet holes. Javon Walker was also in the limousine but he was not injured. Brandon Flowers and Nicole Reindl were injured but not killed.

Williams was the second starting corner for Denver, playing with Champ Bailey and others in the Denver secondary. In his 2 year career, he had 1 sack and 6 interceptions, returning 2 of them for touchdowns. He was a second round pick in the 2005 draft out of Oklahoma State University. He started 9 games in his rookie year, most in franchise history for a rookie CB.

A mere 50 days after the fatal shooting, running back Damien Nash collapsed and died suddenly on February 24, 2007, following a charity basketball game in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. Cause of death is yet to be determined.


(from wikipedia.org)