Sports Climate
Denver is Sports
The City of Denver is well known as a playground for winter sports, but winter sports are not the extent of it by any means. Denver has developed an extensive resume as a host city, and in every case has demonstrated excitement and enthusiasm for hosting the events. In 2008 Denver hosted the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Rounds 1 and 2 (and we will host them again in 2011), the NCAA Hockey Championship – the Frozen Four and the Democratic National Convention. The U.S. Curling Championships and Olympic Trials, SportAccord and the National Association of Sports Commissions Annual Symposium all made their way to the Mile High City in 2009.
Denver’s passion for sports runs deep. Whether it’s competing in a local triathlon or attending a major athletic event, the community continuously supports both national and international sports. The Sporting News declared, “The Best Sports City (1997) is Denver, where the sun shines 300 days a year and the sports possibilities are cloudless year-round … Denver comes together as a unique setting for sports of all kinds.”
With seven professional sports teams and seven college programs, there is a strong, established base of season ticket holders and fans that know the value of supporting sports in the Metro Denver area. The full compliment of professional franchises includes the Denver Broncos, the Denver Nuggets, 2007 National League Champion Colorado Rockies and the Colorado Avalanche. There are also two lacrosse teams, the Colorado Mammoth and the Colorado Outlaws, and the MLS’s Colorado Rapids.
The success Major League Baseball’s Colorado Rockies have enjoyed since they were an expansion team in 1993 is indicative of Denver’s great sports following: the opening game in April 1993 had the highest attendance in baseball history and went on to break 11 Major League attendance records. Additionally, in 2007, Denver broke the attendance record for the most fans at an NCAA Hockey Regional and is consistently one of the fastest cities to sell out the regionals for the NCAA Basketball tournament.
Denver’s ability to host sporting events encompasses both domestic and international events of all types. From grassroots youth tournaments to the World Series, the Mile High City is dedicated to producing high quality sporting events.
Not many cities can boast of having seven major league teams, let alone the sheer number of other professional league and college teams. Our community is proud of its ability to support all the teams that call Denver home, including:
