Fans, Stadium Personnel Excited About Improvement Plans
DENVER (CBS4) - Denver is planning a bid to host the Super Bowl, and the newly announced stadium upgrade plan has fans crossing their fingers.
Some big changes are in the works for Sports Authority Field at Mile High. After the Broncos season ends, stadium officials will begin upgrading the game-viewing experience for fans in the stands.
"We're going to be doing some offseason improvements to the stadium," said Andy Gorchov, director of operations for the stadium. "About $30 million of improvements to the audio-visuals systems of the building."
How much of this is about the City of Denver and the Broncos' recently announced application to the NFL's Super Bowl Advisory Committee to bid on the 2018, 2019 and 2020 Super Bowls? Gorchov said on Sunday that it's not about that.
"I think if you think about it, the potential year, if we were fortunate enough to be awarded a Super Bowl would really be almost eight years from now, I believe," Gorchov said.
The major changes will be to the largest monitor inside the stadium -- above the south endzone. Next season it will be high definition and three times larger. The ribbon boards that that run around the stadium will also be HD.
News of the plan was certainly music to the ears of Broncos fans who came to the stadium to see Sunday's game.
"I come to the games but half the time I watch it on the screen anyway because of where we sit," Greg Gunther told CBS4.
"I think we should put a dome on it," one season ticket holder said.
Gorchov said he thinks the fans really appreciate a "constantly improving atmosphere."
The money for the upgrades will come out of the capital improvement fund.
Traditionally, Super Bowl host cities are chosen based on the stadiums that are equipped with covered or convertible covered domes, but the 2014 Super Bowl in New Jersey will be a break from that norm.
