Empower Field at Mile High: Guide for Visiting Fans

The single best thing about this stadium — and it's not close — is that RTD built a dedicated light rail station literally at the door. The Empower Field at Mile High Station sits on the east side of the building, and E and W Line trains cover the four-minute hop from Union Station without breaking a sweat. That means if you're staying downtown, you're a short, painless rail ride from the gate and completely insulated from the I-25 parking-lot disaster that awaits drivers.

From the airport, it's a two-step process. The RTD A Line runs between Denver International Airport (DEN) and Union Station in about 37 minutes , and from there you transfer to the E or W Line directly to the stadium. The full airport-to-stadium journey takes roughly 75–90 minutes and costs about $10.50. Budget at least two hours if it's a noon kickoff and trains are packed.

The stadium sits along Interstate 25, near the Colfax Avenue and 17th Avenue exits, and is also bordered by Federal Boulevard on the west side. If you must drive from the airport, expect 30–45 minutes in normal traffic and considerably longer on game day. For rideshare, drop-off is at the northeast corner of the stadium near Gate 5 on Mile High Stadium Circle; rideshare pickup is at the corner of 5th and Walnut Street at the Ball Arena Rideshare Lot, about a 15-minute walk east of the stadium.

More than 10,000 on-site parking spots are spread across multiple lots surrounding the stadium. That sounds like plenty until you realize 76,000 fans are also trying to use them. The math doesn't work in your favor if you show up late.

Lot A is a $30 carpool lot — you need four people in the car — and no tailgating is allowed. Lot C is the $40 early tailgating lot and typically sells out within the first hour of opening. Parking lots open 4.5 hours before kickoff and usually sell out within the first two hours , which tells you everything about the strategy: if you're driving, arrive early or you're circling. With parking costing up to $60 in some lots , the calculus for transit gets more attractive fast.

Off-site permits are available at locations like Riverside Church Denver, which opens its lots three hours before kickoff. These off-site options can save $10–20 and usually have shorter exit queues after the game. Alternatively, parking at a remote RTD park-and-ride like Federal Center Station on the W Line and taking the train the rest of the way effectively solves both the arrival and departure problem.

Skip the stadium-adjacent hotels. The Sun Valley neighborhood around the venue isn't a dining and nightlife destination — it's a parking lot buffer zone. Instead, book in LoDo (Lower Downtown) or along the 16th Street Mall. Hotels downtown put you within easy reach of Empower Field by transit, typically 15 minutes or less. You'll also be within walking distance of Union Station's restaurant scene, which makes the whole weekend more enjoyable.

LoDo is the sweet spot: walkable, full of bars and restaurants, and directly served by the E and W Lines. Expect to pay $150–250/night for a solid mid-range hotel on game weekends. LoHi (Lower Highland), just across the Platte River from downtown, has a slightly more neighborhood feel and some excellent bars — it's also only a $10–12 rideshare from the stadium. Cherry Creek is an option if you want quieter surroundings and don't mind a 15-minute rideshare, and prices can run more reasonable there on NFL weekends.

Briar Common Brewery + Eatery (2101 Curtis St, about 1.5 miles from the stadium): Briar Common is more than your average brewery — brothers Kent and Greg Dawson spent years brewing small batches before opening this spot in 2016, and their goal of balanced beers paired with unique pub food has earned them consistent recognition as one of Denver's best. Briar Common also offers weekend brunch — just note that the bottomless mimosa isn't available on Broncos game days. A great pre-game staging point.

Chili Verde (2023 W 32nd Ave, LoHi): Chili Verde is a solid sit-down option for brunch or lunch before a game, equipped with a full bar for tailgating fuel. They've collected various accolades over the years, with their pozole and crepes among the top-rated dishes. Classic Colorado green chile in a no-pretense neighborhood joint.

Rioja (1431 Larimer St, LoDo): Consistently praised as one of the best restaurants in downtown Denver, the Mediterranean-leaning menu is bright and hearty enough to fuel you for a long game. Their brunch is particularly iconic — the Rioja Benedict with bacon, spinach, tomato, poached eggs, and parmesan sauce on a goat cheese biscuit is the move.

Tavernetta (1889 16th St at Union Station): Tavernetta brings Italian hospitality to the Union Station neighborhood, with handmade pastas and signatures like Burrata with Pesto Trapanese and Rigatoni with Lamb Ragu. It's been recognized by the Michelin Guide and James Beard Foundation — splurge-worthy for the pre-game dinner if you're doing this trip right.

The stadium encourages fans not to bring any bags at all, but if you must, one clear bag no larger than 12"×6"×12" — or a one-gallon clear freezer bag — is permitted. You can also carry a small clutch bag of 6.5"×4.5" or smaller. Everything else gets bounced at security, and there are no exceptions for style.

The entire stadium is cashless, so come prepared with a credit card, debit card, or contactless payment like Apple Pay. Cash-to-Card kiosks and reverse ATMs are available on-site if you need them. You can bring your own food as long as it's in a clear plastic bag; factory-sealed non-alcoholic bottles are also allowed, but frozen drinks are not.

Doors typically open between 90 minutes and two hours before event time , though some sources report gates open as early as 4.5 hours before kickoff for the parking lots. Plan to arrive at the gates no later than one hour before the event start time to ensure you're in your seat on time. For away fans, the upper deck tends to have a slightly more mixed crowd than the bowl — if your team has a dedicated visiting section, check your ticket, though the Broncos do not have a formally designated away end zone section in the traditional sense.

Empower Field at Mile High is fully ADA-compliant, with accessible seating available on all levels and in every price range — suites, United Club Level, and reserved seating alike. All ADA wheelchair spaces are accessible by elevator, escalator, or ramp. Twelve public elevators and fifteen escalators service all stadium levels; elevators are located at the 50-yard-line areas on both the east and west sides, and escalators are found in each ramp quadrant and in the United Club areas.

Patrons with disabilities and their guests have access to escalators or elevators located within the United Club Level and Suite lobbies at Gates 2 and 7. Assistive listening devices are available upon request. The stadium also has sensory rooms for guests with sensory sensitivities: the rooms are outfitted with bean bags, light panels, activity panels, and bubble walls, and are located inside Gate 6 on the Lower Concourse (available to all ticketholders) and on the Plaza Level adjacent to Suite 233 (available to suite and club ticketholders).

The stadium is designed in a horseshoe configuration with three tiers of seating; the lower deck fully surrounds the field, while the primary video scoreboard dominates the south end zone. That scoreboard orientation means the north end zone — the open side of the horseshoe — has the mountain views but slightly less scoreboard visibility. For visiting fans, the upper deck (500 Level) north end zone and upper sidelines tend to be where pockets of away fans congregate, partly because those seats are cheaper and partly because orange is less concentrated up there.

The United Club Level (Sections 300–344) offers premium indoor/outdoor seating with club access and upscale concessions. The 500 Level upper bowl delivers great value with expansive views of both the field and downtown Denver. If you're going purely for the game experience and want decent sightlines without paying sideline prices, Sections 508–534 on the upper deck give you a good angle on both end zones. Avoid the far corners of the upper deck (501–504 and 543–546) — the angle gets awkward for following play on the opposite end.

Concessions are run by Aramark Corporation, which took over at the start of the 2019 season and has partnered with several Denver restaurants to provide a more robust food selection. The most interesting of these is the local partnership angle: Denver restaurateur Frank Bonanno, known for his many popular restaurants around downtown Denver, is among the partners.

Look for the 505 Green Chile Cheese Dog — a hot dog with green chile sauce, cheese, and chips available at Sections 112 and 117 — which is the most Colorado thing on any concession menu in the NFL and genuinely worth the detour. Tenders Love and Chicken at Sections 103 and 122 serves chicken tenders, wings, and fries , and is one of the better non-hot-dog options in the lower bowl. The Drink MKT stands at Sections 116, 124, 321, 510, and 528 offer a wide craft beer selection — the right move at altitude. Expect to pay roughly $14–16 for a domestic beer, $12–15 for a standard hot dog or loaded dog, and $6–9 for soft drinks or water. The entire stadium is cashless , so tap your card and move on.

The Broncos fanbase is knowledgeable and loud — this is not a casual, show-up-for-the-social-scene crowd. On game days, fans keep long-standing traditions alive: chanting "IN-COM-PLETE!" whenever an opposing quarterback misses a pass, and creating the thunderous rumble known as "Mile High Thunder," the sound of tens of thousands of fans stomping their feet. You will hear that incomplete chant directed at your quarterback, and it will happen more than you'd like. What you're not always prepared for as a visiting fan: the stadium sits 5,280 feet above sea level, where thinner air reduces oxygen availability by approximately 17 percent compared to sea level , and after a few hours and a couple of stadium beers, you'll notice it. Drink water. The open-air bowl also means full exposure to whatever weather Colorado decides to produce — an October night game here can swing from 65°F to 35°F by the fourth quarter. Layers are not optional.

Transit: The light rail is your best bet. The post-game trip back to a downtown Denver hotel is a 5- to 10-minute ride , but the queue to board the E or W Line can stretch long immediately after the final whistle. Wait 15–20 minutes inside or just outside the stadium, grab a water, and let the first surge board. The trains run frequently enough post-game that you'll only lose a few minutes of your evening.

Driving: The lots surrounding the stadium create a predictable bottleneck on I-25 — expect 30–45 minutes just to clear the parking complex. Note that Auraria West Station is often closed during Broncos games and other big events for crowd control , which concentrates foot traffic toward I-25. Off-site lots toward Federal Boulevard tend to drain faster than the east-side lots. If you're on the north side of the stadium, Federal Boulevard heading north is faster than waiting for I-25 on-ramps to clear.

Rideshare: The rideshare pickup area is at the corner of 5th and Walnut Street at the Ball Arena Rideshare Lot — approximately a 15-minute walk east of the stadium. Surge pricing immediately post-game is real; if you can walk to Ball Arena's rideshare zone instead of requesting from the stadium perimeter, you'll get matched faster and usually at a lower price. Wait at least 25–30 minutes post-game before requesting — the surge drops noticeably.

Opinionated tip: Take the train. Seriously. There is a light rail station at the stadium door that will have you back at Union Station before most drivers have cleared the Lot C exit. It's the rarest thing in NFL stadium design — use it.

What's the easiest way to get to Empower Field from downtown Denver?

The RTD E and W Lines have a dedicated station on the east side of the stadium, just four minutes from Union Station. Buy a ticket at the platform kiosk and follow the orange jerseys.

What is the bag policy at Empower Field at Mile High?

The stadium encourages fans to bring no bags, but permits one clear bag no larger than 12"×6"×12" or a one-gallon freezer bag. A clutch purse of 6.5"×4.5" or smaller is also allowed.

How much does parking cost at Empower Field?

Lot A is $30 (carpool, four people required, no tailgating), and Lot C is $40 (early tailgating, typically sells out within the first hour of opening). Some lots can cost up to $60. Pre-purchase wherever possible.

What time do gates open?

Gates typically open between 90 minutes and two hours before event time. Parking lots open four and a half hours before kickoff.

Is Empower Field cashless? Yes. The stadium is fully cashless and accepts all major credit cards. You must use credit or debit cards for food, beverages, and merchandise. Cash-to-Card kiosks are available on-site if needed.

Where's the best seating for away fans? There's no officially designated visiting section, but the 500 Level (upper deck) north sidelines and end zones — Sections 508–534 — tend to have more of a mixed crowd and offer a strong view of the full field plus the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop.

How do I get from Denver International Airport (DEN) to the stadium?

The best route is the RTD A Line to Union Station, then transfer to the E or W Line to the stadium. Total travel time is roughly 75–90 minutes for about $10.50.

Are there sensory accommodations available? Yes. Sensory rooms are available inside Gate 6 on the Lower Concourse (for all ticketholders) and on the Plaza Level adjacent to Suite 233 (for suite and club ticketholders). Check in at Guest Relations near Section 121 or Gate 2 for access.