DENVER | A tourist unfamiliar with football, or an alien on the wrong planet, would certainly wonder why so many happy-go-lucky people dressed in orange and blue invaded downtown Denver on a freezing Saturday.
• Also read: In Denver, we “play elbows” with Canadians against Donald Trump
• Also read: Gray Cup, poutine and nightlife in Montreal: there’s a bit of home with this Broncos captain
• Also read: Our Conference Finals Predictions: Heading to the Underdog Super Bowl?
Okay, we’ll get along. Maybe not freezing like Sibérie-en-Québec this weekend, but still very cold for Denver! No matter, Broncos fans organized a festive rally in the Larimer Square area, downtown, and the party barely went away!
Some Broncos fans bring out their special occasion clothes. – PHOTO STÉPHANE CADORETTE
Denver’s favorite team will face the New England Patriots on Sunday in the NFL’s American Conference final. The winner will inherit the privilege of going to the Super Bowl in San Francisco on February 8, while the loser will spend the next few weeks moping around.
Watching the festivities in town on Saturday, we quickly understand that Broncos fans are imbued with unshakeable faith.
There’s nothing like getting together in a group in your Broncos gear. – PHOTO STÉPHANE CADORETTE
“Where are we headed, Broncos Country?” ”, a cheerful fellow shouted, while people lined up to enter the site.
“To the Super Bowl!” “, responded in unison a large and heavily-haired crowd.
Several took the opportunity to put on their most eccentric clothes and the first one, who was politely asked to take a photo, had fun with it.
“You can, but I wouldn’t want it to be released publicly. I have just escaped from prison and I would like to keep a low profile,” he said, proud of his dark humor.
On the eve of the American Conference Finals, this Broncos fan happily walked around with his commands on behalf of his team. – PHOTO STÉPHANE CADORETTE
No problem with Stidham
You have to believe that even the fact that the starting quarterback of the last two seasons, Bo Nix, is on the sidelines, does not diminish the enthusiasm of the faithful.
Even several times in the heart of this surging wave of orange and blue, chants of “Stiddy!” Stiddy! Stiddy! » rang out, in honor of reserve quarterback Jarrett Stidham.
Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham has never started a playoff game, but Broncos fans have faith in him. – PHOTO STÉPHANE CADORETTE
When people celebrate like this, there’s no point reminding them that dear Stiddy hasn’t thrown a pass in 749 short days. A small detail that certainly wouldn’t have ruined this great party, anyway!
The less religious among the lot could always fall back on a bar set up in the middle of the street, just to drown their sorrows.
Sweet madness
The hair style here is matched to the Broncos colors. – PHOTO STÉPHANE CADORETTE
Even the mayor, Mike Johnston, came to make a splash, taking the microphone and asserting in passing that “an entire city is united behind the Broncos”.
The already naturally excited atmosphere was amplified by two or three notches with the presence of the Broncos marching band, which hammered out its tunes, while a DJ and a crowd entertainer added to it in another sector of Larimer Square, specially decorated with the image of the Broncos.
The official Broncos marching band came to bring some excitement to the streets of downtown Denver. – PHOTO STÉPHANE CADORETTE
Here was a crazy cacophony which gave a small idea of the electric atmosphere which will envelop Empower Field at Mile High, the Broncos stadium which will be packed with 76,000 fans.
It’s in these moments of sweet madness that we realize to what extent an NFL game, especially in the playoffs, surpasses anything else in igniting the unifying spirit in a city.
All that remains is to experience the match which, let’s hope, will be like this wicked party: crazy, colorful and memorable.
In collaboration with our partners
