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| Monday, December 25 Associated Press | |||
| DENVER -- As the seconds ticked down on a 52-year love
affair between a stadium and its fans, residents of Mile High
Stadium's rowdy South Stands ripped apart the bleachers and hoisted
them over their heads in triumph.
No need to settle for ticket stubs as souvenirs. The diehards
took home 30-foot fiberglass party favors Saturday after the
Broncos played their final regular-season game at Mile High.
"If we have another game at home, we're going to have to ask
those people to bring the seats back," coach Mike Shanahan joked.
Amid a sea of flashbulbs reminiscent of a Mark McGwire at-bat,
the Broncos defeated the San Francisco 49ers in what could be the
last NFL game at Mile High, originally called Bears Stadium when it
was built on a landfill in 1948.
The gates will remain closed unless Oakland loses at home
Sunday. A Raiders loss would give Denver (11-5) the AFC West title
and guarantee the Broncos one more playoff game in front of their
home fans.
"We might have one more game here, so I don't want to say we're
closing it out yet," Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith said.
"Hopefully we can have another little party like this again."
The party started early as fans began filling the seats more
than two hours before kickoff. Souvenir shops were swamped with
people seeking something to commemorate one of the most anticipated
events in Colorado history.
"It is sad because of all the history this place has," said
Victor Marquez, who has sat in Mile High's rowdy South Stands for
33 years. "That history and the memories can't be taken to a new
stadium."
Marquez said he looks forward to moving into Denver's new $364
million stadium, which looms next door. The stadium has not been
named, but public sentiment has called for retaining some form of
the Mile High name.
As a symbolic gesture, the final steel beam closest to the
existing stadium was set in place about 90 minutes before the game.
"Progress goes on," said season-ticket holder Patti Toft of
Sterling, a rural town about 125 miles northeast of Denver. "It
looks like a nice stadium, but you get used to this one, and it
feels kind of funny to be in the other one. It's hard to believe
it's the last time."
Fittingly, the final game was announced as the 250th consecutive
sellout (78,098), and the crowd was characteristically noisy during
the blowout. Various handmade signs paid homage to Mile High and
its fans' indomitable spirit.
"U can bulldoze the South Stands but not the fans," one sign
said.
Others were more gracious, signifying simple appreciation for a
steel-and-concrete monument that will become a parking lot within
the next year.
"Thanks for the magic," read a banner hanging behind the north
end zone.
After the game, the Broncos returned the gratitude by taking a
victory lap around the field, saying one last good-bye -- just in
case the Raiders spoil a playoff encore.
"The crowd was just crazy," receiver Ed McCaffrey said. "It
definitely made for a great memory."
| ALSO SEE
Broncos bid farewell to Mile High with rout of 49ers | ||
Coach Mike Shanahan comments on fans taking parts of the bleachers home as souvenirs.