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By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
DENVER, COLORADO — The Raiders’ stadium situation in Las Vegas should be set for the next two decades. In fact, Allegiant Stadium’s revenue-generating power has helped crank up the Raiders’ value to a stunning $6.2 billion.
But here in Denver where the Broncos play at Empower Field at Mile High, the Broncos’ 22-year-old venue is apparently lacking because the NFL franchise is looking to build a new stadium. While spending $100 million on Empower Field improvements, the Broncos are also in the “first quarter” of the stadium process.
This stadium replaced old Mile High Stadium, an old-school stadium with stands built close to the field and a place where former Broncos great John Elway was a hometown superstar.
The Broncos’ current stadium has a modern, metal architectural look. It’s unclear to LVSportsBiz.com how the architecture speaks to Colorado’s spectacular Rockies or Denver’s outdoor lifestyle. It’s a functional stadium, but lacks the distinctive energy and sheer intimidation factor of old Mile High.
The Raiders are in Denver for their season-opener Sunday and play again on the road in Buffalo next Sunday.
While the Raiders stadium is just west of the Strip and just across Hacienda Avenue from Mandalay Bay hotel-casino — part of the Las Vegas entertainment corridor — the Broncos stadium is also part of an entertainment corridor along the Platte River valley in downtown Denver that includes Ball Arena (home of NBA Nuggets and NHL Avalanche) and Coors Field (home of MLB Rockies).
The Broncos have asked their season ticketholders for their thoughts on a new stadium and location.
If the Broncos do build a new stadium, it’s safe to say the team’s NFL record for consecutive sellouts will continue at any stadium location. The Broncos have more than 400 straight sellouts.
The Broncos showed hospitality toward the Raiders with this suite for the Raiders execs and guests.
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A technology company called LONG Building Technologies out of Littleton in metro Denver enjoys tailgating before Broncos games. The company’s tailgating setup in the parking lot looks like the pregame merriment enjoyed by the dozens of other tailgaters at Empower Field at Mile High. They have a cool company-theme wrapped vehicle, a nice tent and TVs broadcasting NFL games. They’re drinking beers and schmoozing it up with friends.
And here’s the catch.
There’s one distinctive marketing feature about LONG Building Technologies’ experience: When tailgating ends and the Broncos home games start, the company’s tailgating organizers pack up the tent and TV screens and head home instead of going through the stadium turnstiles. The company sales staff uses tailgating for marketing to connect with customers in a fun setting.
In this unique marketing tactic, LONG Building Technologies sales staffers pay for the tailgating spot and use the pregame festivities to chat up customers in an informal setting without the formality of offices and business blazers.
“It doesn’t have the pressure of going into a guy’s office. This thing is relaxed,” said Bill Roan, one of the company sales staffers who helps organize the LONG Building Technologies tailgating marketing tactic.
“It’s great customer relationships,” Roan noted. “It’s a way to spend fun time with customers outside of the business office at a personal level. It takes relationships to a new level.”
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The Broncos started the 2023 season with what someone called was the most exciting play in three years — an onside kick that Denver recovered against the Raiders.
But a Broncos penalty on the kickoff recovery negated the play and the Raiders took over at the Denver 44.
The Raiders proceeded to move the 44 yards in ten plays, with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo tossing a short TD pass to receiver Jakobi Meyers.
The Broncos countered with a 14-play, 86-yard drive that took 8:44 off the clock, with quarterback Russell Wilson looking sharp on seven for eight passing, including a TD pass.
A missed point after attempt left the score Raiders 7 Broncos 6 after one quarter.
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The Raiders moved 70 yards on ten plays. But failed to punch in for the TD score, settling for a Daniel Carlson 24-yard field goal.
Wilson, playing well and choosing his targets wisely, connected with receiver Courtland Sutton on a TD pass in the back of the end zone and the Broncos went into halftime with a 13-10 lead thanks to the nine-play, 75-yard TD drive that consumed 2:18.
Wilson was 17 of 19 on his passes, including one that he spiked.
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The Broncos converted a short field goal to lead, 16-10, before Garoppolo threw his second touchdown pass of the game to give the Raiders a 17-16 lead.
Late in the fourth quarter, Garoppolo ran for eight yards to pick up a first down with only 1:42 left in the fourth quarter.
That was the ballgame.
Final: Raiders 17 Broncos 16.
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Postgame:
Raiders coach Josh McDaniels rattled off things to clean up after the one-point win: getting running game going with Josh Jacobs, stopping bad throws like Garoppolo’s ill-advised toss into the end zone and cutting penalties like running into the punter.