Broncos Reveal New Indoor Practice Facility
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4) - The Denver Broncos unveiled a sparkling jewel of an indoor practice facility on a day when playing indoors certainly has its benefits.
As temperatures plunged outside into the single digits, team President Joe Ellis showed off the full field, which includes regulation goal posts and other amenities.
The team hasn’t had an indoor practice field at its Dove Valley location since 2003 when a wind storm destroyed the team’s bubble facility.
Because the Broncos play in a dome on Sunday in St. Louis — and given the freezing temperatures this week — it’s possible they’ll practice inside this week because it’s similar to a dome environment.
“That’s the coach’s decision,” Ellis said, “but I would guess given the climate and given what we’re going into on Sunday, we’ll utilize this right away.”
The Broncos will have treatment rooms and hot and cold tubs. The building also includes facilities for the media, a team store, video rooms, and locker rooms and meeting rooms for opposing teams.
“We’re one of the very few — and I think you can count on less than one hand the number of cold-weather teams — that do not have an indoor practice facility,” Ellis said.
He said it may help the team lure free agents.
“I think players that come in will be impressed by what they see,” Ellis said.
He said it’s possible the team will conduct fan tours of the facility at a later date. The store opens Nov. 17.
For now, Ellis said it’s an upgrade for everyone.
Except, maybe, for the punters.
“The only guy we really put the screws to is Britton Colquitt,” Ellis joked. “He can’t punt in here because he’s going to hit the roof, so he’ll have to go outside.”
Maybe when it warms up.
