Broncos should explore hosting preseason games in regional cities

Good morning, Broncos Country!

There is no doubt the event was downright bizarre.

Fifty years later, that still is the case.

It was on this date in 1967 the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders played a preseason game at North Platte High in North Platte, Neb. The Omaha World-Herald had a fun story on this on Saturday, and fans should read about the history.

From the story:

Kent McCloughan, the Broken Bow, Nebraska, boy who played cornerback for the Raiders in the 1960s, recalls how odd it was.

“I can remember people saying ‘What the hell are we doing here?’ ” said McCloughan, now 74.

The Broncos need to do this again; especially since training camp is no longer in Greeley. Yes, they do tours of different parts of the state, but expand on that.

The organization would pick a city with facilities and amenities capable of holding an event like this and give the fans/community the chance to experience the Broncos. My thought was to use communities with college stadiums, so Laramie, Wyo., Spearfish, S.D., Missoula, Mont., Chadron, Neb., Salt Lake City or Provo, Utah, Albuquerque and even Grand Junction.

Let’s say War Memorial Stadium is the choice for a preseason game. Imagine what that would do for Broncos fans from Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and perhaps Montana. Imagine what that would do for the Laramie economy as well.

Let’s say Spearfish and Black Hills State is the choice. The people of West River wouldn’t know what to do with themselves if the Broncos came to the Black Hills to play a preseason game. It would give fans from across South Dakota, northern Wyoming, Nebraska and perhaps North Dakota a chance they may never get. Looks like James Merilatt and Andrew Mason agree.

These locales have the facilities/amenities to support the games, teams and fans to pull this off. In terms of the game, it could be the first or fourth of the preseason. On top of that, the Broncos also could hold practices at high schools in the area and open them up to the public like they do training camp.

If Broncos Country knows no bounds, this is the perfect way to continue to grow the fanbase but also help local economies in the process.

It worked 50 years ago, so at least look into it and see if it’s possible today.

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