ARTICLES :: There's no place like (Invesco) home :: Costs reined at Broncos' new stable :: Invesco Field documentary relies heavily on Mile High :: More elbow, leg room? Invesco has it :: Cheerleaders corral Grade A locker room :: Goal posts will frame name of famous Bronco :: Pittsburgh stadium's reviews underwhelming :: NFL stadiums planned or under construction :: Mile High Stadium won't go out with a bang :: Sports Hall of Fame honors state's greatest :: Stadium project links companies :: Traffic, parking changes in store for Invesco Field :: Stadium milestones :: Field's TVs: All that's missing is the recliner :: Turnstiles turn back counterfeiters :: A park instead of a parking lot :: Broncos fans to be wired into the latest NFL data :: Broncos football will be tastefully done :: New south stands are plush :: From kegs to toilets, stadium flush with funky accouterments :: Invesco field one tough turf :: 'It's beautiful' seems to be consensus of Broncos fans :: Longmont family grew with Broncos :: A palace of parts :: Broncos big fans of Raiders stadium :: Stealing 'Rocky Mountain Thunder' :: Horse whisperers :: Krieger: Do you Denver, take this stadium? :: Crowd pleaser :: More food, higher prices at Invesco STADIUM UPDATES, BY DATE Follow the construction progress of the stadium with our semi-monthly updates. Select an update here ---- 2001 ---- Jan. 6 Jan. 20 Feb. 3 Feb 17 March 3 March 17 April 1 April 14 April 30 May 16 May 29 June 9 June 25 July 9 July 16 July 23 July 30 Aug. 6 ---- 2000 ---- Feb. 12 Feb. 26 March 18 April 1 April 15 April 29 June 3 June 17 July 1 Aug. 5 Aug. 19 Sept. 2 Sept. 16 Sept. 30 Oct. 14 Oct. 28 Nov. 12 Nov. 25 Dec. 10 Dec. 23 :: Click here for recent stadium stories

Longmont family grew with Broncos

Rich Sharp was 16 years old when his father, Art, first bought his family season tickets to the Denver Broncos.

It was 1971. Over the next three decades, the Longmont family's four seats gradually improved to where they had a fairly decent view from Mile High Stadium's north stands.

But asthma and heart problems had limited the number of games Art Sharp was able to attend.

And under the new stadium's configuration, their old seats were now part of an aisle. Their seats had been shifted closer to the south stands.

So it was with considerable trepidation that Rich and his wife, Paula, and Art and his wife, Phyllis, trekked to Invesco Field on a warm July morning to check out their new seats.

"Dad, I don't think we have to go up. This is the level we're on," Rich said.

Once inside and up a few steps, they were sitting in seats considerably more comfortable than their old spot.

Phyllis Sharp quickly put her approval on the facility.

"I was always worried the other one was going to fall down," she said, recalling the pounding that Broncos fans and their stamping feet placed on the old stadium.

"And I like that they have a lot more rest rooms."

Paula Sharp had a slightly different measuring stick.

"I want to see if I can stand up and yell and cheer without knocking my neighbors over."

One of their neighbors, Denver police Detective John Schnitgrund, said there would be plenty of room. "This is like sitting in a Cadillac," he observed.

The big test, however, was Art Sharp, who said he would have no trouble reaching these seats when the Broncos open their regular season with a Monday Night Football game Sept. 10.

His asthma might still keep him away from games when it gets colder, he said. But even then, he has a backup plan.

For his birthday, his family bought him their old seats from Mile High Stadium.

He intends to install those seats in his house.

"I'm going to sit and watch football with them," he said.

Contact John Ensslin at (303) 892-5291 or ensslinj@RockyMountainNews.com.