Arrowhead Pride
Arrowhead Pride’s Dakota Watson was in the stands for the Kansas City Chiefs’ 22-19 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday. We asked him to report on his experience in Colorado’s mile-high city.
I wanted this article to be different. I hoped to write about the Chiefs reclaiming AFC West glory. I hoped to write about the Broncos’ fans leaving their own stadium with their heads low — and doubts about both their second-year quarterback and their place in the AFC playoff picture.
I hoped for what we used to believe was a given: head coach Andy Reid’s dominance after a bye week.
Instead, it was I who left the stadium with my own doubts about a Chiefs team that has spoiled me with their dominance over the past eight seasons. It was I who struggled to defend the performance of an inept Chiefs’ offense to the Denver faithful around me. It was I who just tried to hold my head low and get as far away from Empower Field at Mile High Stadium as fast as humanly possible, while I heard chants of “Chiefs suck” rain down around me.
While the team’s performance has sometimes been difficult to watch this season, my doubts and frustration about this Chiefs team did not stop me from traveling roughly 600 miles to Denver, Colorado for what felt like the renewal of one of the great NFL rivalries.
Mile High is the sixth stadium in the NFL that I have visited. Overall, I would rate the stadium as positive and right in the middle of the pack among personal experiences. It was Denver’s “Salute To Service” game. Throughout the day, there were great moments honoring the men and women of the United States military.
The public transit options to arrive or depart the stadium are strong. We utilized the RTD (Regional Transportation District) public rail system, which was very affordable and easy to use — even though the train was naturally crowded after the game. As much as I love GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, the public transportation options in Kansas City are lacking compared to other cities — but on the other hand, that contributes to Arrowhead’s amazing tailgate atmosphere.
The pregame festivities in the parking lot and areas surrounding the stadium were lacking compared to the Arrowhead experience. There were certainly tailgaters and nice setups, but nowhere near what I’m accustomed to; the smell of barbecue wasn’t strong near the stadium.
The stadium feels somewhat dated, although that didn’t dampen the experience. Based solely on my experience, it is surprising that Denver is seeking to build a new stadium. I feel this has more to do with new ownership than the actual quality of the current stadium.
Food and beverage options were strong: there was good local fare, as well as a five-dollar menu that was affordable and higher quality than expected at a stadium. Before the game, the Broncos had a flyover of four F-35...
