Companies are "already lining up" to be the next naming-rights partner for the Broncos' stadium in the event that the bankruptcy reorganization of Sports Authority forces the retailer to "yank its name off the stadium," according to Blevins & Wallace of the DENVER POST. Broncos Senior VP/Business Development Mac Freeman said, "We have already had some unsolicited calls inquiring about this deal. This is not the worst time in the world for the state of the brand in this marketplace." Freeman said the team has been in touch with Sports Authority, which "values the asset." Freeman: "They value this partnership. They are hoping that the other part of the reorg plan -- more to do with stores -- accomplishes what they need to accomplish." Denver Metropolitan Football Stadium District Dir of Stadium Affairs Matt Sugar said that the district's board "doesn't have any insight into the company's reorganization plan." Blevins & Wallace note Sports Authority is currently "in good standing with its naming-rights contract, which is paid through July 31." Officials for Sports Authority, the Broncos and the stadium district met Tuesday, but "no one is talking publicly about those discussions" (DENVER POST, 3/17).
SMALL WORLD: In Denver, Jason Blevins reports the Broncos plan to build an 11-foot-tall Mile High Monument, a "one-eighth replica of the old Mile High Stadium centered in the middle of Lot J northwest of Sports Authority Field." With 176 original seats "surrounding a 1,250-square-foot padded AstroTurf field, the venue could host as many as 300 people as part of the stadium's thriving special events program." Plans call for a "replica scoreboard topped with a dime-store-sized rearing Bucky, a Barrel Man statue, a working video screen and tavern-like tables" (DENVER POST, 3/17).
