SportsQuest
All games

Week 18, Sun, Jan 10, 11:00 AM local

Los Angeles Chargersat Denver Broncos

Empower Field at Mile High, Denver. Fly into DEN.

Build the quest

Kickoff slot

Early

Lots open before breakfast.

Lots open

7:00 AM

Local time on game day.

Where to stay

Near the stadium

Tailgate from 7:00 AM, then the game.

The matchup

Form, ESPN's model and the stat leaders
Form

The Chargers are 0-3 after 3 games, 4th in the AFC West.

They have lost 3 in a row.

They are 0-1 on the road.

The Broncos are 2-1 after 3 games, 3rd in the AFC West.

They have won 2 in a row.

They are 2-0 at home.

What we know about Empower Field at Mile High

Where visiting fans stay

From a specialist guide
  • LoDo / Union Station. RTD E or W light rail from Union Station to Empower Field at Mile High station, or a 1. 5-mile walk. The correct base. Union Station is the terminus of the A Line from the airport AND the departure point for the E and W light rail lines that stop at Empower Field at Mile High station, so one hotel serves both journeys with no transfer of your own. It is 1.5 miles from the stadium, about a 30-minute walk if you want to do it on foot, and it is where Denver's bar and restaurant density actually is.
  • Downtown Denver / 16th Street. RTD light rail C, E or W to Empower Field at Mile High station. Larger hotel inventory than LoDo proper and still on the light rail spine. Slightly further from Union Station but the same two-train logic from the airport applies.

Around the stadium

From a specialist guide
Staying near the stadium itself is not really an option. Sun Valley, the neighborhood around the stadium, is parking lots, Interstate 25 and the South Platte River. There's no hotel cluster and no bar district there, and all the official RTD and stadium transport guidance is built around bringing people in from downtown rather than housing them locally.

Getting in from the airport

Checked at the source
DEN Denver International, 37 minutes via RTD A Line train direct from the airport to Denver Union Station

Getting to the stadium

Checked at the source
RTD light rail C, E and W lines to Empower Field at Mile High station. The station is adjacent to the stadium, direct access from the platform. Decatur-Federal station (W Line). 0.3 miles, about a seven-minute walk. Useful as the less-congested alternative to the stadium's own station after the game. RTD A Line (University of Colorado A Line), about 37 min. Terminates at Union Station; transfer to the E or W line for the stadium. Walk from Denver Union Station, about 30 min.

Tailgating

Checked at the source
You need a car for this one. Tailgating at Empower Field is a big part of the culture here, but it only happens at your own parking space next to your own vehicle. If you come in on light rail, you won't have a lot to tailgate in. Tailgating is also banned in the carpool section of Lot A. The stadium's rule is that tailgating is allowed, but you need to be mindful of other fans and only use parking spaces for vehicles.

Getting in

Checked at the source
  • Bag policy: You get two options for bags: any bag no bigger than 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches with or without a strap, or any clear bag no bigger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches. Diaper bags themselves aren't allowed, so diapers and wipes need to go inside an approved clear bag instead. Medically necessary items get in after inspection, and the venue asks for at least two business days' notice at 720-258-3000.
  • Re-entry: Re-entry is not allowed. This is stated flat out in the venue's own A-Z guide. If you leave the building, you lose your entry no matter what ticket you hold.
  • Prohibited items: Outside alcohol gets you ejected immediately. You also can't bring stainless steel or glass bottles, cans, coolers, thermoses, large umbrellas (small collapsible ones you carry in hand are fine), artificial noisemakers, camera lenses longer than 6 inches, camera and binocular cases, backpacks, or non-compliant purses. What you can bring: empty transparent plastic bottles up to 1 liter, portable phone chargers, and one-piece foam seat cushions under 18 inches wide with no cover, zipper or pocket.

Touring the stadium

Checked at the source
There's no public stadium tour on game day. The tour is run by the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame, not the Broncos, and it only runs on scheduled non-event dates. The operator notes that some areas may be unavailable depending on stadium events. Empower Field at Mile High Stadium Tour (Colorado Sports Hall of Fame). Tours run on scheduled non-event days, and you need to check the FareHarbor booking calendar for each game to see if a date falls on the Saturday before it. Book through coloradosports.org (FareHarbor) or call 720-258-3537. Groups of 25 or more get a discount but have to book two weeks ahead. It costs $52.43 for adults 13-64, $41.73 for kids 6-12, $47.08 for seniors 65 and up, $47.08 for military with ID, and kids 5 and under get in free with a limit of two per paying adult. The tour runs 75 to 90 minutes, covers half a mile on foot, and takes you through the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Museum, the executive suites, the locker rooms, and the production areas. It's fully accessible by wheelchair and stroller, with lift access. https://www.coloradosports.org/stadium-tour/

After the final whistle

Checked at the source
RTD does not run a dedicated shuttle fleet after games. It just runs its regular scheduled service and adds extra rail cars to lengthen trains on the E and W lines for Broncos games, so trains hold more people but do not come more often. RTD warns fans to expect crowds. The two-station setup helps though: if the line at Empower Field at Mile High station is bad, walk 0.3 miles to Decatur-Federal on the W Line instead. Rideshare is the slow option here because of the 15-minute walk to the Ball Arena pickup lot.

One thing to avoid

From a specialist guide
Do not plan to leave by rideshare without knowing this: the drop-off point and the pickup point at Empower Field are not the same place. You get dropped off at the NE corner near Gate 5 on Mile High Stadium Circle, but after the game, pickup is at the Ball Arena Rideshare Lot at 5th and Walnut Street, about a 15-minute walk east of the stadium. Fans who expect a door-side pickup end up walking in the cold anyway. Take the train instead.

Bars near the stadium

Checked at the source

  • The Original Brooklyn's

    2644 W Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80204 (Sun Valley)

    This is the closest thing Denver has to a bar right at the stadium gates, a three-story building with a bar downstairs, upstairs, and on the rooftop patio, right in the stadium's shadow. On a normal Tuesday it runs with one bartender, but on a playoff Saturday it staffs 30 to 40 people, with two bartenders working each of the three bars.

    Away fans: mostly home fans.

  • Little Machine Beer

    2924 W 20th Ave, Denver, CO 80211

    This is the other option to Brooklyn's, a working Denver craft brewery instead of a sports bar. It's close enough to the stadium to work as a pre-game stop, but calm enough that you can actually talk.

    Away fans: mixed crowd. It's a neighborhood craft brewery, so away colors won't stand out.

  • Jackson's LODO

    1520 20th St, Denver, CO 80202

    Jackson's is the big LoDo sports bar, packed with screens and a large patio, with enough room that it works as downtown Denver's default pre-game spot rather than a neighborhood bar. What sets it apart for traveling fans is that it splits up by team, and the clearest example is the 'Steelers Country' back room, so if you're wearing away colors, this is a much safer bet than a bar right outside the stadium.

    Away fans: welcoming to away fans. It runs a dedicated back room called 'Steelers Country'.

What to eat

The local food this city is known for: green chile.

Inside the stadium, 2026 season

  • Green chile runs through the menu, on nachos and a Philly-style sandwich. It is New Mexico's Hatch chile, not Colorado's own Pueblo. Reported, not confirmed by the stadium. Source

Stand line-ups change every season.

Sidequests in Denver

Listed in the order they happen. Each one earns points.

  1. Tour100 points

    Empower Field at Mile High stadium tour

    This guided walk runs 75 to 90 minutes through suites, club levels, locker rooms, the press center and the Hall of Fame museum. Adult tickets run $52.43, and since Broncos home games affect availability, book a non-game day.

    $$. The day before. Bookable

  2. Eat65 points

    Mercantile Dining and Provision at Union Station

    This spot inside Denver Union Station runs as a cafe by day and a seasonal American restaurant by night, in the same building where you board the light rail to the stadium. It's open Monday to Saturday.

    $$$. The day before

  3. Outing40 points

    Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus

    This hands-on kids museum sits by the South Platte, about a 15 minute walk north of the stadium. It's open daily 9am to 4pm, free under 1 and $19.75 for ages 2 to 59.

    $$. The day before

  4. Landmark65 points

    Colorado Sports Hall of Fame museum

    This free museum sits inside Gate 1 on the stadium's west side, with inductee panels, a Broncos franchise exhibit and a kids zone. It doesn't open on game days, so plan to visit Friday or Saturday.

    Free. The day before

  5. Landmark65 points

    Larimer Square in team colors

    This downtown block between 14th and 15th streets gets decorated in Broncos colors each fall, lined with restaurants and coffee shops. It makes a good short walk before you catch the train to the stadium.

    Free. The day before

  6. Eat65 points

    Buckhorn Exchange, Rocky Mountain oysters

    Denver's original steakhouse has been open since 1893, serving Rocky Mountain oysters, elk, buffalo and rattlesnake under a wall of taxidermy. A light rail stop sits across the street, and reservations are recommended.

    $$$. 18 hours before kickoff

  7. Eat65 points

    Sam's No. 3 green chile breakfast

    This downtown Denver diner has been open since 1927 and ladles out gallons of green chile a day. Order the green chile breakfast burrito; it opens 7am Sunday and sits two light rail stops from the stadium.

    $. 5 hours before kickoff

  8. Drink25 points

    Tom's Watch Bar, LoDo

    This downtown sports bar is wall-to-wall screens and calls itself Denver's Broncos football headquarters. It opens 10am Sunday for fans heading to Empower Field and also shows AFC West rivals' games.

    $$. 3 hours 30 minutes before kickoff

  9. Tailgate65 points

    Mane Street festival area, south end

    This outdoor festival area at the stadium's south end has activities, music, food and drinks. It opens three hours before kickoff, an hour ahead of the general gates, and you can walk in straight from the light rail with no car needed.

    Free. 3 hours before kickoff

  10. Drink25 points

    Little Machine Beer, two blocks from the stadium

    This neighborhood brewery taproom sits at 2924 W 20th Ave, a short walk north of Empower Field. It's open Sunday 11am to 10pm, though parking runs paid on stadium event days.

    $$. 2 hours 30 minutes before kickoff

  11. Ritual25 points

    Light rail from Union Station to the stadium

    Board the E or W line at Union Station and ride to Empower Field at Mile High Station, an 8 minute walk from the gates. RTD adds extra cars on Broncos game days.

    $. 2 hours before kickoff

  12. Ritual25 points

    Walk from LoDo over the river

    It's about 25 minutes on foot from Union Station, or just one stop on the light rail. Either way beats dealing with the car parks.

    Free. 1 hour 40 minutes before kickoff

  13. Photo25 points

    Ring of Fame Plaza and the Broncos Horse Fountain

    There are steel monuments for every Ring of Fame inductee, made from the old Mile High Stadium's steel, set beside the horse fountain outside the south end behind the main scoreboard.

    Free. 1 hour 30 minutes before kickoff

Seats and views

Where each part of Empower Field at Mile High sits, and what you see from it.

What kind of game day do you want?

Pick one and Scout shows you where to sit.

Lower level, end zoneLower level, corner, west sideLower level, west sidelineLower level, corner, west sideLower level, end zoneLower level, corner, east sideLower level, east sidelineLower level, corner, east sideClub level (Level 3, United Globe Club) with the Level 2 suites and seats, end zoneClub level (Level 3, United Globe Club) with the Level 2 suites and seats, corner, west sideClub level (Level 3, United Globe Club) with the Level 2 suites and seats, west sidelineClub level (Level 3, United Globe Club) with the Level 2 suites and seats, corner, west sideClub level (Level 3, United Globe Club) with the Level 2 suites and seats, end zoneClub level (Level 3, United Globe Club) with the Level 2 suites and seats, corner, east sideClub level (Level 3, United Globe Club) with the Level 2 suites and seats, east sidelineClub level (Level 3, United Globe Club) with the Level 2 suites and seats, corner, east sideUpper level, end zoneUpper level, corner, west sideUpper level, west sidelineUpper level, corner, west sideUpper level, end zoneUpper level, corner, east sideUpper level, east sidelineUpper level, corner, east sideWest sideEast side
Lower level100 to 135Club level228 to 236 and 316 to 330 are the non suite, general seats on these levelsUpper level500 to 542Tap any part of the stadium to see its view.