On This Day in Broncos History: December 23

December 23, 2000 - This was the date of the final Denver Broncos game played at Mile High Stadium. The Broncos routed the San Francisco 49ers 38-9. Mile High Stadium started as a venue for the minor league Denver Bears baseball team in 1948. It was built by Bob Howsam and originally seated 18,000. Through the 1950s the stadium was gradually expanded until it seated over 34,000. When the MLB chose to not place a major league team in Denver in the late 1950s, Howsam was stuck with a stadium and debt. It was this situation that led Howsam to join with Lamar Hunt, Bud Adams and George Halas to form the American Football League, and hence led to the founding of the Denver Broncos.

The Broncos were the primary users of Mile High Stadium from 1960 to 1992. In 1992, Denver finally received their MLB franchise and the Broncos shared the field with the Colorado Rockies until 1995 when the Rockies moved to Coors field. The Broncos continued to play their home games in Mile High Stadium until the end of the 2000 season. They began playing in Invesco Field at Mile High -- now known as Sports Authority Field at Mile High -- in the 2001 season. The old Mile High Stadium was officially closed in 2001.