Editor's Note -- I added the poll, and the photo, to Nick's post because I have been wanting to discuss this as well an feel there is no need to re-invent the wheel. Great job, Nick! -- TSG
There has been a lot of clamoring about Denver's inability to win at home. What the heck happened to home field advantage?! Has Shanahan lost his touch? Is the new Mile High stadium not as good as the old Mile High? Does the mile high altitude really make a difference? Do the fans just not care as much? After looking at some statistics, there are some things that will not only surprise you about our home field advantage but hopefully will put this home field advantage debate to rest.
The lack of noise at Invesco Field has more to do with engineering than passionate fans
via www.geoeye.com
Mile High Stadium was constructed in 1948. The stadium, constructed for a paltry $500,000, was the home of numerous teams, including the Denver Broncos, until 2001. The stadium itself is resembles a phoenix; it was constructed on the site of a landfill and when it was demolished, it become the foundation of INVESCO Field's parking lot. On October 1, 2000, Mile High Stadium's 76,273 attendees "sustained the world's loudest roar for 10 seconds, with a reading of 128.74 decibels, beating the previous world record by 3.34 decibels."
INVESCO Field at Mile High replaced the old Mile High Stadium officially on September 10, 2001 as the Denver Broncos defeated the New York Giants 31-20. Times had definitely changed in the 53 years between construction of the two different stadiums; INVESCO Field was constructed for $364.2 million.
Since 2000, there has been an NFL ‘state of the art' stadium rebuilding craze - 10 stadiums have been rebuilt in the last 8 years. And while $364 million seems to be a staggering number, INVESCO Field actually ranks towards the bottom of the list in total construction costs of these newly built stadiums:
- Lucas Oil Stadium - $720 million - Opened 2008
- University of Phoenix Stadium - $455 million - Opened 2006
- Paul Brown Stadium - $453 million - Opened 2000
- Qwest Field - $450 million - Opened 2002
- Ford Field - $430 million - Opened 2002
- Soldier Field II - $365 million - Opened 2003
- INVESCO Field at Mile High - $364 million - Opened 2001
- Gillette Stadium - $325 million - Opened 2002
- Reliant Park - $325 million - Opened 2002
- Lincoln Financial Field - $320 million - Opened 2003
"So enough with irrelevant stadium costs and capacity," you say; "What about the home field advantage?!"
Denver Bronco Home Field Record at Mile High Stadium |
||||||||||||||
Year |
W-L |
Avg |
Year |
W-L |
Avg |
Year |
W-L |
Avg |
Year |
W-L |
Avg |
Year |
W-L |
Avg |
1960 |
2-5 |
.285 |
1970 |
3-4 |
.428 |
1980 |
4-4 |
.500 |
1990 |
4-4 |
.500 |
2000 |
6-2 |
.750 |
1961 |
2-5 |
.285 |
1971 |
2-5 |
.285 |
1981 |
8-0 |
1.00 |
1991 |
8-2 |
.800 |
|
|
|
1962 |
3-4 |
.428 |
1972 |
3-4 |
.428 |
1982 |
1-4 |
.200 |
1992 |
7-1 |
.875 |
|
|
|
1963 |
2-5 |
.285 |
1973 |
3-4 |
.428 |
1983 |
6-2 |
.750 |
1993 |
5-3 |
.625 |
|
|
|
1964 |
2-5 |
.285 |
1974 |
3-4 |
.428 |
1984 |
7-2 |
.777 |
1994 |
4-4 |
.500 |
|
|
|
1965 |
2-5 |
.285 |
1975 |
5-2 |
.714 |
1985 |
6-2 |
.750 |
1995 |
6-2 |
.750 |
|
|
|
1966 |
3-4 |
.428 |
1976 |
6-1 |
.857 |
1986 |
7-1 |
.875 |
1996 |
8-1 |
.888 |
|
|
|
1967 |
1-6 |
.142 |
1977 |
8-2 |
.800 |
1987 |
8-3 |
.727 |
1997 |
10-0 |
1.00 |
|
|
|
1968 |
3-4 |
.428 |
1978 |
6-2 |
.750 |
1988 |
6-2 |
.750 |
1998 |
10-0 |
1.00 |
|
|
|
1969 |
4-3 |
.571 |
1979 |
6-2 |
.750 |
1989 |
8-3 |
.727 |
1999 |
3-5 |
.375 |
|
|
|
The home record at Mile High Stadium, including the post season, stands at 197-123 or .615. However, since the AFL-NFL merger, Denver's home record at Mile High Stadium stands at 173-77 or .692. Since 1974, Denver's home record at Mile High Stands Stadium at 163-56 or .744.
Denver Bronco Home Field Record at INVESCO Field at Mile High Stadium |
||
Year |
W-L |
Avg |
2001 |
6-3 |
.666 |
2002 |
5-3 |
.625 |
2003 |
6-2 |
.750 |
2004 |
6-2 |
.750 |
2005 |
9-1 |
.900 |
2006 |
4-4 |
.500 |
2007 |
5-3 |
.625 |
2008 *Ongoing |
3-3 |
.500 |
The home record at INVESCO Field at Mile High Stadium, including the post season, stands at 44-21 or .676. In the last 3 years, the home record at INVESCO Field at Mile High Stadium stands at 12-10 or .545.
Mike Shanahan's overall home record as the head coach of the Denver Broncos stands at 64-26 or .711.
Now that everyone is up to speed on the actual facts, it is time for the speculation and opinions. Why has Denver's home field advantage been deteriorating? Granted we have gone through this kind of home field slump before but it has been a long time. Is it the influx of youth? Has Shanahan lost his touch? Did we skimp on the money on our new stadium? Does Jay Cutler not know how to win at home?
I'll leave you all to your own speculations but I want to take the opportunity to post my own; this slump is due to youth. I have stated in other posts and comments that this team is so young that the players are not career Broncos yet. No one likes to lose, especially at home, but these young players have not been a part of Denver's home field advantage tradition. They have to learn it and play with pride at home which they have not been doing. And it will come as the players get more experience and the rivalries heat up for them personally - specifically it will come as the players learn what it feels like to lose at home and be boo'd and have fans leave the game early. These players do not hate the Raiders, Chiefs, and Chargers like we do because they haven't been biased like we have been for as long. But have faith, it will come and our home field dominance will return.