Fans of the old Mile High Stadium will be able to bring those memories to life when a small replica opens Saturday and season ticket holders get the first view.

On Thursday afternoon under a hot sun, workers labored at the finishing touches for the Mile High Monument, painting the field, which measures about 12 yards by 6 yards, and hoisting a replica of Bucky the bronco atop the miniature scoreboard.

“It’s been a dream of management … for several years to pay homage to what everyone loved,” said general manager Jay Roberts, standing before the rows of blue and orange seats in the tiny, 3,000-square-foot stadium.

The idea is for Broncos fans “to sit in the old stadium and memories will come flooding back,” he said.



Located in parking lot J, the exact site of the old stadium, Mile High Monument is one-eighth the size of the original, built to seat 241 people — with 165 seats that came from the original stadium.

There’s also a press box, and an 8-foot statue of the Barrel Man — otherwise known as Tim McKernan, the super fan who attended every home game wearing only an orange barrel, orange cowboy hat and orange boots — plus a replica of the legendary South Stand bleachers. Made of steel girders, “there was nothing luxurious about them,” said spokeswoman Rebecca Villanueva , remembering that fans who went for those seats were proud of “toughing it out.”

The loudest and most raucous fans always took those seats, calling themselves “South Standers,” usually leading the cheers and boos. And, in the earliest years, those tough South Standers did not hesitate to pelt “the visiting teams with whatever they could get their hands on,” according to the caption next to the stands.

For Broncos fans, it’s a stroll down memory lane, with labels and signs capturing snippets of history, with salutes to people such as John Elway, Pat Bowlen and Bob Howsam , the Denver native who built Bears Stadium as a minor league baseball park then grew it into the Mile High Stadium, where the Broncos attracted constant sold-out crowds.

Memories include the time Broncos defensive end Lyle Alzado fought heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali during an eight-round exhibition on July 14, 1979.

A video board will replay some of the Broncos’ greatest moments in Super Bowl history.

Entrance is free, a “tribute to all the amazing fans who made Broncos Country what it is,” Roberts said.