Who’s ready for some football?! The Denver Broncos’ first home game of the season is Sept. 15 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. If you’re planning on heading out to the Mile High stadium, I’ve got you covered on where to park, where to pre-game, and how to enjoy a whole day in the neighborhood.
🚘 Where to Park
At the Stadium
There are over a dozen official stadium lots, boasting some 6,500 spaces. The stadium’s website lists them all, complete with detailed directions and maps to each. However, only a limited number of spots are available to the public on gameday on a first-come, first-served basis. The rest are reserved for season ticket holders with pre-purchased parking permits.
Official Off-Site Parking
Nearby venues — including Ball Arena, the Auraria Campus, the Denver Aquarium, Riverside Church, and Elitches — offer gameday parking for a fee of around $15-35 and a 20ish-minute walk to the stadium. These lots typically open to the public about four hours prior to kickoff.
Local Parking Hacks
- 🔎 Find public lots and garages using SpotHero, which provides details on rates and distance and allows you to reserve in advance.
- 🚏 The Empower Field at Mile High and Decatur-Federal RTD stations provide direct access from the light rail to the stadium.
- 🚃 The historic Denver Trolley shuttles event-goers from Confluence Park to the stadium for only $10!
- 🚶 Street parking near Sloan’s Lake is usually cheap or free, and the walk to the stadium is less than a mile. Similarly, the walk from Platte Street is easy and enjoyable when you take the South Platte River Trail.
Empower Field is at the northern end of the Sun Valley neighborhood. (Denver Maps)
Where to Pre-Game
Depending on where you park and how much you’re willing to walk, here are a few spots to grab a bite and brew before heading to the stadium.
Right Outside (2-5 minute walk)
Near Jefferson Park (10-15 minute walk)
Near Sloan’s Lake (20-25 minute walk)
Near Platte Street (20-30 minutes walk)
Make a Day of It
The only problem with snagging an awesome parking spot five hours early is that you’re five hours early 😅 Here are a few ways to kill some time and make the most of your day in Denver.
Relax at a Park
Explore a Museum
