Sports Authority Field at Mile High Sports Authority Field at Mile High , previously known as Invesco Field at Mile High , and commonly known as Mile High , is a multi - purpose stadium , in Denver , Colorado . It replaced the identically sized , but commercially obsolete Mile High Stadium ( named for the fact that Denver is exactly one mile above sea level ) in 2001 . It is best known as the home of the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . Invesco paid $ 120 million for the original naming rights , before Sports Authority claimed the naming rights on August 16 , 2011 . Naming rights controversy . Many fans opposed a corporate name and wished to retain the previous venue ' s name , " Mile High Stadium . " " The Denver Post " initially refused to use the Invesco label and referred to it as Mile High for several years before changing their policy and adding Invesco to articles . On August 16th , 2011 , The Metropolitan Stadium District announced Invesco would immediately transfer the naming rights to Englewood , Colorado based Sports Authority in a 25 year agreement worth 6 million dollars per year . Usage . It is used primarily for American football games . It is the home field for Denver ' s National Football League team , the Denver Broncos . The stadium also hosts the city ' s Major League Lacrosse team , the Denver Outlaws . In college football it has hosted the rivalry game between the Colorado State University Rams and the University of Colorado at Boulder Buffaloes . It is also used for the CHSAA class 4A and 5A Colorado high school football state championship games , and has been used for the CBA Marching Band Finals . In addition , it has been used for the DCI ( Drum Corps International ) Championships in 2004 and the annual Drums Along the Rockies competition . It is also used for concerts , music festivals and other events . It was the former home of the city ' s Major League Soccer franchise , the Colorado Rapids . Location . It marks the completion of a six – year sporting venue upgrade program in Denver , including Coors Field and Pepsi Center . As with the other venues , the stadium was constructed to be easily accessible . It sits along Interstate 25 near the Colfax Avenue and 17th Avenue exits . It is also bordered by Federal Boulevard , a major Denver thoroughfare , on the west side . A dedicated light rail station also serves the stadium . The stadium is located in the Sun Valley neighborhood . Stadium culture and traditions . A home game tradition ( carried over from the original Mile High Stadium ) is the " Incomplete Chant " . At Bronco home games , when the opposing team throws an incomplete pass , the stadium announcer will state " Pass thrown by ( the opposing quarterback ) intended for ( the opposing intended receiver ) is . . . " at which time the fans complete the chant by saying " in - com - plete ! " . This is followed by the " sad trombone " sound effect . The stadium has sold out every Denver Broncos home game since its inception in 2001 , carrying over the " sold - out " tradition from Mile High Stadium , where every home game had been sold out since 1970 ( though due to NFL policy , local TV broadcasts did not start until 1973 ) . Another tradition carried over from Mile High Stadium is during halftime or towards the end of the game , the stadium ' s PA announcer will announce the actual attendance for the game as well as how many people didn ' t show up for the game , and if that number is generally over a thousand , Broncos fans chant a loud " boo " towards those empty seats . The empty seats should not be taken as the game not being sold out , it just simply means some fans with tickets did not show . During the stadium ' s first years , another tradition was carried over from Mile High , where Broncos fans on each side of the stadium would chant " Go " " Broncos " , and they would go back and forth chanting it for many minutes . That tradition has since died out . Another long term tradition is the " South Stands " , where it is known to be the loudest and most fierce portion of the stadium . Notable events . The first event held was a concert by the Eagles . The first football game held was the Rocky Mountain Showdown , when the University of Colorado Buffaloes defeated the Colorado State University Rams , 41 – 14 . On September 10 , 2001 , it hosted its first regular season game , in which the Denver Broncos defeated the New York Giants 31 – 20 . In a pre - game ceremony , Broncos legends John Elway , Steve Atwater , Randy Gradishar , Haven Moses , Billy Thompson , Floyd Little , Dennis Smith , and Karl Mecklenburg helped to " Move the Thunder " from the old Mile High Stadium to the new home of the Broncos . On August 1 , 2003 , Metallica played to a sold - out crowd of almost 100 , 000 people . In August 2004 , it hosted the Drum Corps International Division I World Championships . On July 2 , 2005 , it hosted the 2005 Major League Lacrosse All - Star Game . In 2006 , Major League Lacrosse placed the expansion Outlaws in Denver . It hosted the 2006 AFC Championship Game , which the Broncos lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers , 34 – 17 . The previous week it hosted the AFC Divisional Playoff , in which Denver beat the New England Patriots 27 – 13 . On October 29 , 2007 , a record crowd of 77 , 160 watched the Broncos lose to the Green Bay Packers 19 – 13 on Monday Night Football on the first play from scrimmage in overtime . On August 28 , 2008 , Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama accepted the Democratic Party ' s nomination for President of the United States here , moving the 2008 Democratic National Convention from the Pepsi Center . Approximately 84 , 000 people attended Obama ' s speech , exceeding the normal capacity of the stadium due to the placement of audience on the field . On November 26 , 2009 , it hosted its first Thanksgiving game , when the Denver Broncos took on the New York Giants . The game was televised on the NFL Network , which the Broncos won by a final score of 26 – 6 . U2 performed on May 21 , 2011 , during their 360° Tour . The show was originally to be held on June 12 , 2010 , but was postponed , due to Bono ' s emergency back surgery . On January 8 , 2012 , Sports Authority Field at Mile High hosted its third NFL Playoff game , an AFC Wild Card Weekend match against the Pittsburgh Steelers ( now known as the ) . The Denver Broncos won in overtime , 29 - 23 . Denver Broncos Ring of Fame . < nowiki > * Also in the Pro Football Hall of Fame < / nowiki > While the ring of fame was carried over from the old stadium to the new , the names were re - ordered to segregate the pre - Pat Bowlen ( the team ' s owner and founder of the Ring ) era and the post - Bowlen era . One of the most noticeable changes was the move of John Elway ' s name to the center of the ring , in - between the goalposts of the North endzone . Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Museum . The Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Museum opened in August 2001 . It is located at Gate # 1 on the west side of the stadium .