Empower Field at Mile High Game Day Guide
Denver Broncos · Denver, CO
Know Before You Go
- Bag policy
Any bag no larger than 4.5 x 6.5 inches is permitted, as are clear bags no larger than 12 x 6 x 12 inches.
Medical exceptions require inspection and approval at gate screening; the venue recommends contacting it at least two business days before the event.
- Bag storage
Paid lockers for rejected bags and personal items are outside Gate 8 near the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame wall.
The venue does not check items at the gates and does not publish the locker fee amount on its policy page.
- Gate opening
General gates open two hours before kickoff for Broncos games; eligible club and suite entrances open three hours before kickoff.
Use the gate printed on the ticket and plan to reach it about one hour before kickoff.
- Mobile tickets
Broncos tickets and parking permits are mobile in the Broncos app or Account Manager, and screenshots are invalid because the barcode rotates.
Save tickets and parking permits to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet before arrival.
- Re-entry
Empower Field at Mile High does not allow re-entry after a ticket has been scanned and the guest leaves the stadium.
- Prohibited items
Empower Field prohibits weapons, outside alcohol, non-compliant bags, noisemakers, large umbrellas, laser pointers, coolers, glass, cans, large bottles, laptops, and other listed items.
Review the complete official list before leaving home; event-specific rules may differ from the standard policy.
- First aid
First Aid Centers are across from Section 122 on the Main Concourse and near Section 534 on the Upper Concourse.
- Nursing and lactation
Four coded nursing locations are inside Gate 6, near Section 316, in the west Level 5 elevator lobby, and near Suite 233.
Ask the nearest Guest Relations Center for the access code; breast-pump supplies are permitted after screening.
- Family restrooms
ADA-compliant family restrooms with baby-changing tables are near Gate 10 and Sections 135, 122, 305, 324, 341, 508, and 534.
Baby-changing stations are also available in every stadium restroom.
- Tickets for children
Guests age 2 and older need a ticket; an infant younger than 2 may sit on a ticket holder's lap if the child does not obstruct nearby views.
- Guest services
Guest Relations Centers are at Gate 10 and Sections 122, 322, 508, and 534, with additional desks in club and suite elevator lobbies.
To report a problem anonymously, text 720-650-6464 or call 720-258-3850 with the issue and location.
- Service animals
Trained service dogs are permitted on a leash or harness; pets and emotional-support animals are prohibited.
Pet-relief areas are available outside the stadium.
- Smoking and vaping
Smoking and vaping are prohibited except in designated areas at Gates 4, 5, 9, and 10.
Smoking elsewhere can result in ejection without refund or re-entry; marijuana use or possession is prohibited throughout stadium property during public events.
Game Day Timeline
What the day looks like at Empower Field at Mile High, hour by hour.
Lots Open for Tailgating
Official stadium parking lots open. Fans claim spots and set up grills, canopies, and tailgate setups in the shadow of the Rockies.
Tailgate Scene Peaks
The lots are packed with Broncos fans grilling green chile burgers, bison brats, and Rocky Mountain cuisine. Coors Light and Colorado craft beers flow freely.
Gates Open
Stadium gates open. Head in early to explore the Ring of Fame plaza honoring Broncos legends and grab food without lines.
Player Warmups
Players take the field for warmups. The crisp mountain air and panoramic views of the Front Range make this a memorable moment.
Find Your Seats
Settle in and soak up the pregame energy. Thunder the horse and the Broncos cheerleaders are about to take the field.
Game Time
Thunder gallops through the end zone after every Broncos score. The crowd stomps in unison, creating the famous 'Mile High Thunder' that shakes the stadium. The 'In-com-plete!' chant on opponent incompletions is relentless.
Exit Strategy
RTD light rail handles crowds efficiently. Walk to LoDo (Lower Downtown) for post-game dining and nightlife along Larimer Square and Blake Street.
Tips & Fan Reports
Chant "In-Com-Plete" when the opposing QB throws an incompletion and be loud when the defense is on the field. Those are the only rules at Mile High.
Park by Ball Arena and walk over. The earlier the better since it fills up fast. I usually shoot to park an hour before kickoff but 2-3 hours gets you a great spot and plenty of tailgate time.
UV is 25% stronger at altitude. You will burn even in November. Sunscreen is not optional at Empower Field.
Hydrate way more than you think you need. At 5,280 feet the altitude and dry air dehydrate you fast, especially if you are drinking beer.
Dress in layers, Denver's weather can swing 30°F in a single day. Warm afternoon sun can give way to a cold evening fast.
The RTD light rail from downtown to the stadium is $3 and avoids the I-25 traffic. Runs every 5-10 minutes on game days.
Apply sunscreen even in fall and winter, Denver gets 300+ days of sunshine, and UV exposure is 25% stronger at altitude.
Hydrate aggressively, the 5,280-foot altitude and low humidity cause dehydration faster than at sea level. Drink extra water before and during the game.
If the long tailgate is the point of the trip, Lot C is the only lot that gives you six hours, and the stadium says it sells out 30 minutes to an hour after it opens, so arrive at opening rather than near it.
The $45 carpool rate in Lot A needs four or more people in the vehicle, and buys you no tailgate. It is explicitly excluded there.
Before the Game
Tailgating is permitted at Empower Field, and the stadium's own framing is about space rather than equipment: a setup must not occupy another parking spot and must not block the drive lanes or walkways. Most lots open 4.5 hours before kickoff. The exception is the one worth planning around: Lot C, the designated early tailgating lot, opens a full six hours before kickoff, sells a limited number of spaces first-come first-served at $55 by credit card only, and the stadium expects it to sell out within half an hour to an hour of opening.
Where to Tailgate
Lot C: early tailgating lot
The one lot that opens six hours before kickoff rather than 4.5: 8AM for afternoon kickoffs, 12PM for evening games, 1PM for 7PM preseason. Limited spaces at $55, first-come first-served, credit card only, and the stadium expects it gone 30 minutes to an hour after opening.
Known for Opens 6 hours before kickoff · $55, card only · Sells out fast
General stadium lots
The rest of the lots around the stadium, opening 4.5 hours before kickoff. Tailgating is permitted, provided a setup stays within its own space and clear of the drive lanes and walkways.
Known for Open 4.5 hours before kickoff · Tailgating permitted
Lot A carpool section
Designated spaces in Lot A at $45 for vehicles carrying four or more people. Cheaper than general parking, but tailgating is specifically not allowed in the carpool section: it is a parking discount, not a tailgate spot.
Known for $45 for 4+ occupants · No tailgating permitted
Pregame Rules
What Empower Field at Mile High allows before the game, and what it does not.
- Tailgating is permitted, but fans must be mindful of other fans and use parking spaces for vehicle usage only.
- A tailgate must not occupy another parking spot, and must not block the drive lanes or walkways.
- Tailgating is not allowed in the designated carpool section of Lot A.
- Most parking lots open 4.5 hours prior to kickoff.
- Lot C, the early tailgating lot, opens 6 hours prior to kickoff and is sold on the day, first-come first-served.
Weather
Empower Field at Mile High is open air, so these are the conditions you sit in.
Across the NFL season the warmest month is September, with an average high of 82°F, and the coldest is December, when the average low is 21°F. September is the wettest month at 1.2 inches and January the driest at 0.4 inches.
That December low ranks 9th coldest of the 32 NFL venues, and September here ranks 30th wettest.
September
1.2 inchesOctober
1.2 inchesNovember
0.8 inchesDecember
0.5 inchesJanuary
0.4 inchesWhat to Bring
- Only the outside food and drink the rule allows
Food for individual consumption and unfrozen, non-alcoholic drinks in permitted bottles no larger than 34 ounces may enter inside an approved clear bag.
- A card or a phone wallet
Empower Field is cashless at the ticket office, concessions, retail, and parking and accepts cards and contactless payments.
- Layers, gloves and a hat
December lows average 21°F, and the seats are open to it.
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
September highs average 82°F at Empower Field at Mile High, with no roof over the seats.
Tailgate Gear
Lots open 4.5 hours before kickoff, or 6 hours in Lot C.
- A setup that fits entirely within your own parking space: spilling into the next one is the stadium's named restriction
- Nothing that blocks a drive lane or walkway
- A credit card: Lot C is card-only at $55 and sells out within the hour
- Four or more people if you want the $45 Lot A carpool rate, though you cannot tailgate there
How We Checked This Page
Every section below names the source it was read from and the day it was read. Where we could not reach a published figure, the page says so rather than presenting an estimate as a checked fact.
- Game day timeline
Gate opening time checked against the venue's own gate-opening policy: General gates open two hours before kickoff for Broncos games; eligible club and suite entrances open three hours before kickoff.
- Pregame
Empower Field at Mile High official site, Plan Your Visit: Directions & Parking (Broncos)
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
- Venue policies
Empower Field at Mile High A-Z, ADA, clear-bag, cashless, and dietary pages reviewed for Broncos visitor policies.