If Broncos and Denver Host NFL Draft, Thank Brittany Bowlen by Woody Paige KMGH Feb
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If Broncos and Denver host NFL draft, thank Brittany Bowlen By Woody Paige KMGH Feb. 17, 2018 The potential managing general partner of the Broncos’ ownership was a principle reason Denver is a finalist to host the 2019 or 2020 draft. This story never has been told. The three-day late April “NFL Woodstock” is the prize plum Denver can pick. The metropolitan area and (This Space Available) Field at Mile High Stadium never will be the site for the Super Bowl because the facility is not domed, and Denver is considered a “cold-weather” stadium. Temperatures the first weekend of February sometimes can be pleasant, but, more likely, could be dicey or icy. When the state legislature began in the mid-1990s discussing and researching the possibility of a new stadium to replace the original Mile High Stadium, a proposed bill included a “retractable dome.” As one representative said then, a domed stadium would provide the city with the opportunity to be the location for the Super Bowl, an NCAA Final Four, a Big 12 championship game (when Colorado was in that conference), winter concerts and other major events that would produce tens of millions of dollars in new revenue. However, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, who was agreeable to putting up to $100 million into the investment, opposed a dome stadium – because of more than double the cost (perhaps to $400 million). Bowlen had made veiled threats that if the old edifice, which truly was costing tens of millions in upkeep and was in danger of severe structural issues (because of the weakening steel), wasn’t replaced, he would have to consider other options. Then-Gov. Roy Romer was favor of a new stadium, but said, “Take the roof off,’’ meaning he, too, was against a retractable dome. Eventually, in 1998, a six-country metro-area ballot measure was passed – extending a sales tax (10 cents on $100) that had been approved by voters to construct what became Coors Field for Major League Baseball. It was the Stadium John Elway built. Coloradans were euphoric over the Broncos’ first Super Bowl victory in early 1998 (following the ’97 season), and Elway, of course, was not only the team’s star player for 15 years, but the spokesman for the pro-stadium campaign. After winning another Super Bowl title, Elway retired in 1999 – before the stadium with an obscene corporate name was opened in 2001 (to an Eagles concert, then the football season). Even though the Broncos bid on a Denver Super Bowl a couple of times, the owners were not about to let the event happen without a dome here. Sure, there have been Super Bowls in cold-weather cities (Minneapolis for the second time this month, Detroit and Indianapolis, and even Dallas and Atlanta -- which had low temperatures during Super Bowl weeks). But they share a common bond – domed stadiums. And Super Bowls were promised if those places did raise the roof high. The other NFL prime event is the NFL Combine, which annually is held in Indianapolis and won’t be moved. But the college draft interest became so extreme the league decided to take it on the road away from New York City, where it had been held in hotel ballrooms (the New Yorker Hotel, where I would much later appear on a daily ESPN program, and for years at the Marriott on Times Square.) The draft became so popular it moved to Radio City Music Hall, but another event displaced the vent. Chicago took over two years, then Philadelphia last April. And the Draft Party during the three days of selection has become a Big Deal. This year it will be staged at AT&T Stadium outside Dallas. The league announced on Wednesday that the finalists for 2019 and 2020 are Denver, Cleveland-Canton (Canton because of the Pro Football Hall of Fame), Nashville, Las Vegas and Kansas City. Vegas is highly likely to be the site in ’20 because the Raiders will be transferring to the new stadium there that season. So, Denver has at least a 25-percent chance for next year. While everybody in Denver sports and politics seems to be taking credit for the city being on the short list, there is one person who deserves the most credit. Brittany Bowlen. What? Brittany is the third oldest of Pat Bowlen’s four daughters (and there are two sons). She and older sister Beth Bowlen Wallace, who both have worked for the Broncos in the past, are the prime candidates to eventually assume the leadership role of the Broncos. Beth earned her law degree at the University of Denver, and Brittany is in the MBA program of the Fuqua School at Duke. She has interned in the "junior rotation” program with the NFL at the league office in New York, and with McKinsey & Company, an international corporation that serves as consultants for a multitude of new and established businesses. McKinsey has a Denver office. Two years ago, when Brittany served as a business analyst with the Broncos, she was put in charge of developing and designing the franchise’s presentation to attract the NFL draft to Denver. According to those who know, she did an exceptional job on the bid. It apparently was impressive enough that the NFL will bring the draft, which could be attended by 100,000 fanatics, tourists and looky-loos, to Denver next year or in the next three or four years. You can thank her later. Obviously, Brittany Bowlen is on a track to have an important role in the Broncos’ future. ESPN willing to “back up the truck” to lure Peyton Manning to “Monday Night Football” booth, per report By Daniel Boniface Denver Post Feb. 17, 2018 ESPN is aggressively pursuing former Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning as an analyst on “Monday Night Football,” according to a report by the New York Post. The report, citing an unnamed source, says the sports network is willing to “back up the truck” in order to land Manning as the replacement for Jon Gruden, who left the network to coach the Oakland Raiders. Gruden reportedly earned $6.5 million annually at ESPN. Manning has done some work in the past for ESPN, serving as host of the 2017 ESPYs. The report says Manning is also being courted by Fox. Manning has turned down TV offers in the past and the report says his long-term goal is to “be like John Elway and have an ownership stake in a team, while running football operations.” The report says ESPN is considering a complete overhaul of its “Monday Night Football” franchise, which could include a split with current play-by-play man Sean McDonough. Recapping the Broncos' Random Acts of Kindness Week activities By Staff DenverBroncos.com Feb. 17, 2018 Feb. 12: Passing out Valentine's Day cards to senior citizens at Forest Street Compassionate Care Center Jeff Heuerman helped the Broncos kick off Random Acts of Kindness Week by joining 10 kids from the Denver Broncos Boys & Girls Club and two cheerleaders to deliver homemade Valentine’s Day cards and treats. The group distributed the cards and spent time interacting with residents at Forest Street Compassionate Care Center, which is predominantly an Alzheimer’s and memory-care facility. Feb. 13: Visiting Children's Hospital Colorado Heuerman and Corey Nelson continued Random Acts of Kindness Week with a visit to Children’s Hospital Colorado. Heuerman, Nelson, their significant others and Miles the Mascot delivered Valentine’s Day candy and Thank You notes to caregivers (nurses, doctors, etc.) at the Highlands Ranch location. Feb. 13: Thanking nurses at UCHealth Trevor Siemian participated in Random Acts of Kindness Week by visiting UCHospital. Siemian was joined by two cheerleaders and Miles the Mascot to deliver Valentine’s Day cupcakes and Thank You notes to the nursing staff in four units (Internal Medicine and Transplant, Surgical Specialties, Inpatient and Ambulatory, and STICU) at the hospital. Feb. 14: Rose Andom Center Valentine’s Day party The Broncos hosted a Valentine’s Day party for families served by the Rose Andom Center, which is a place for domestic violence victims to find the safety, support and services needed to rebuild their lives and heal their families. The team supplied food and beverages for the party, as well as gifts for all the parents in attendance. Feb. 15: South Metro Fire & Rescue Visit Kicking off a day dedicated to first responders, Siemian and Ring of Famer Billy Thompson visited South Metro Fire Station 35 to deliver coffee and breakfast items to the firefighters and tour the station. That specific station serves the area around UCHealth Training Center and is key to our team’s safety. Feb. 15: Douglas County Sheriff’s Office visit Casey Kreiter and his family visited the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office to deliver cake and coffee to the officers on-site and tour the station and jail. Kreiter had visited injured Deputy Jeff Pelle in the hospital after the tragic shooting on New Year’s Eve, and this was a continuation of his and the team's outreach for the county's officers. Feb. 15: Visiting the Denver Police Department Todd Davis, Thompson and Miles the Mascot visited the Denver Police Station in District 1. They delivered cake to the officers on-site, learned more about the day-to-day duties of Denver Police Officers and toured the station. Feb. 15: “Early Man” movie screening The Broncos hosted an advance screening of the movie "Early Man" in partnership with former Broncos safety David Bruton Jr.