Parade, Celebration For Broncos Planned For Tuesday Expected To Be Huge
DENVER (CBS4/AP) - All of Denver is equally excited following the Broncos 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 and now it's time to celebrate.
The festivities are scheduled to begin Tuesday at 10 a.m. in Civic Center Park, featuring Colorado native bands Big Head Todd and The Monsters, 3OH!3 and Funkiphino.
The parade will start at noon from Union Station. The team will head down 17th Street to Broadway, Broadway to 13th Avenue, and then finally to the City and County Building for the rally.
PHOTO GALLERY: Super Bowl 50: Broncos 24, Panthers 10
About 375,000 people attended the city's celebration after the Broncos beat Atlanta in 1999, police said at the time.
"We don't have a hard number" for this year's celebration, said Mike Stott, a spokesman for Mayor Michael Hancock. "We're probably expecting hundreds of thousands."
In 1998, when the Broncos brought home the first Super Bowl trophy in franchise history, the crowd was estimated at 650,000. Denver has grown since then, so this time planners expect more than a million people to attend.
Crews began setting up the stage at Civic Center Park Monday morning. They were off-loading sound equipment and bringing in lights.
On Broadway crews painted the road orange and blue in honor of Broncos Country.
Pat Karney, a rancher from Southern Colorado, says he wouldn't miss the parade for anything.
"We raise black angus cattle, we've got about 500 of them," he told CBS4's Suzanne McCarroll.
McCarroll asked if he was used to being around a half million people or more.
"It's going to be different -- culture shock," he replied.
Those making plans to attend are encouraged to use public transportation and be ready for large crowds.
"We're expecting great weather ... it will be a national audience who are watching us celebrate the Broncos bringing home the world championship. It's just great to have Denver showcased on such a national stage," Brea Olson with the Downtown Denver Partnership said.
Because it will be so crowded the city is asking people not to bring folding chairs or large backpacks because they'll have to be checked. No alcohol or marijuana will be allowed.
At Common Grounds coffee shop near the parade route, extra baristas are being called in.
"Craziness, probably; a lot of hot chocolate because of all the kids. We have extra staff coming in, so we'll see how it goes. We're excited," an employee said. She said happy Bronco fans usually tip well.
Downtown workers and students are already planning to play hooky Tuesday.
"I'm supposed to be in a class of statistics and psychology, but I'm probably going to be at the Bronco parade," a student said.
If the Downtown Denver Partnership is correct, another 999,999 will be along the route to join her.
Gov. John Hickenlooper and the Denver mayor will also be in the parade, which is expected to take an hour to arrive to the rally.
Police spokesman Doug Schepman wouldn't discuss the security specifics but said plenty of officers will be present. He said the city is in regular contact with state and federal law enforcement officials, but he wouldn't discuss any conversations they have had about Tuesday's events.
CBS4 will broadcast the parade and rally live starting at 11 a.m.
LINK: Downtown Denver Partnership
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