---
slug: "empower-field-at-mile-high"
title: Empower Field at Mile High
depth_tier: venue
side: UNIVERSAL
category: Venues
source_id: "CUL-0040"
created: 2026-05-12
updated: 2026-05-12
canonical: https://learningfootball.xyz/venues/empower-field-at-mile-high
aliases:
  - Mile High Stadium
  - Empower Field
  - Denver Broncos stadium
  - Mile High
---
# Empower Field at Mile High

## Short Definition

Home of the Denver Broncos at 5,280 feet above sea level—where altitude measurably affects kicking range, visiting stamina, and the physics of the game.

## Definition

Empower Field at Mile High is the home of the Denver Broncos, located in Denver, Colorado at an elevation of 5,280 feet above sea level—exactly one mile high, which gives both the stadium and the city their nickname. Opened in 2001 as the replacement for the original Mile High Stadium, it holds approximately 76,000 fans. The altitude is the defining physical characteristic of the venue—a measurable environmental variable that affects the game in ways no other NFL stadium can replicate.

At 5,280 feet, air density is roughly 17% lower than at sea level. For kickers, this means the ball travels farther on the same kick—Denver kickers historically attempt longer field goals than kickers at sea level, and the Broncos have benefited from this advantage in games decided by field goal range. Punts travel farther, affecting field position battles. For the aerodynamics of a thrown pass, the difference is measurable but smaller than the kicking effect.

The aerobic effect on visiting players is the less-discussed but potentially larger advantage. Teams that fly into Denver the morning of a game—rather than arriving days early to acclimatize—can experience reduced oxygen availability that affects conditioning in the second half. Teams that train at altitude or arrive early are better positioned; teams that arrive game day and push into overtime have shown performance patterns consistent with altitude fatigue.

The original Mile High Stadium, which the current venue replaced, held a louder and more intimate atmosphere that many Broncos fans still prefer in memory. The current stadium carries the name as a cultural inheritance—Empower Field at Mile High—preserving the altitude identity even as the specific structure changed.

## Example

"The kicker lines up for 53 yards—borderline anywhere else in the league, routine in Denver. Mile High gives the Broncos real estate other teams don't have. The altitude is in the game plan."

## Common Confusion

The altitude effect at Mile High is real but applies differently to different plays. Kicking is most affected—field goals and punts travel measurably farther at elevation because of reduced air resistance. Running and passing are less dramatically impacted than popular belief suggests, though visiting teams unaccustomed to altitude can experience reduced cardiovascular capacity in the fourth quarter. The kicking advantage is the most analytically documented effect.

## Related

- soldier-field
- lambeau-field
- arrowhead-stadium
- special-teams

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Source: https://learningfootball.xyz/venues/empower-field-at-mile-high