Basking in football euphoria and sunshine, a surge of orange-clad fans estimated at more than 1 million poured into Civic Center and lined a downtown Denver parade route Tuesday to celebrate the Broncos’ 24-10 Super Bowl 50 victory two days earlier over the Carolina Panthers.
Warm February temperatures and the fulfillment of championship dreams brought Broncos Country together to revel in a singular success that had been missing for 17 years.
There was so much to share: The team’s third Super Bowl title under the ownership of Pat Bowlen, the crowning achievement of a Broncos defense for the ages and perhaps the last dance for 39-year-old quarterback Peyton Manning.
By the time the parade launched around noon from Union Station, fans had packed themselves dozens deep along 17th Street, where a procession of 22 firetrucks, five flatbeds and a variety of other vehicles rolled to Broadway, where it turned toward Civic Center to join a massive rally.
In Bowlen’s absence, because of Alzheimer’s disease, his wife, Annabel, held aloft the Lombardi Trophy, signifying the Super Bowl champion, from the lead fire engine. She shared that moving stage with game MVP Von Miller, Manning and others as a roar of approval moved like a wave through the downtown route.
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Coaches, players’ family members and VIPs also perched on the vehicles as they approached Civic Center, pulling thousands more fans with them.
“How sweet it is!” said Mayor Michael Hancock from the stage on the steps of the City and County Building. “The Lombardi Trophy is back in the Mile High City!”
Hancock and Gov. John Hickenlooper then announced what they claimed was a first: a joint city-state resolution declaring Feb. 9, 2016, Pat Bowlen Day.
Coach Gary Kubiak emphasized a theme that would be repeated by several of his players: This edition of the Broncos exuded an attitude that transcended individual contributions.
“It took everybody on this stage. Everybody on our football team contributed to the cause,” said Kubiak, who joins an exclusive club of former players who have won a Super Bowl as head coach for the same team. “Nobody in the NFL played harder than the Denver Broncos, and I’m proud of them.”
Linebacker and MVP Miller, asked if the Broncos had another Super Bowl victory in them, harkened to the 1998 and ’99 repeat championships.
“I think so … back to back, right?” he said, eliciting another roar from the crowd.
Manning shared the stage with defensive stalwart DeMarcus Ware — both are destined for the NFL’s Hall of Fame — and thanked the fans for their contribution.
“It was definitely a team season; everyone did their part,” Manning said. “No question, the defense led the charge. The offense did our part, made plays at critical times. All 53 guys on the roster helped us win the Super Bowl.”
In that same vein, Ware gave a shout-out to backup quarterback Brock Osweiler — prompting another hearty cheer — who secured five crucial wins after Manning was sidelined by injury.
“When Peyton goes down, Brock goes in and does what he needs to do,” Ware said. “It was a team effort, not an individual thing. That’s the reason we’re champions.”
Hancock brought the half-hour event to a loud conclusion.
“Let the nation hear you! You are world champions!” he bellowed. “Make … some … noise!”
And after hours of anticipation and celebration, the ovation — and the sheer numbers — reached a crescendo.
With city officials estimating the turnout at more than 1 million, Tuesday’s event far exceeded the estimated 650,000 who cheered the Broncos’ 1998 Super Bowl win over the Green Bay Packers. And it obliterated the 375,000 who rallied after the 1999 championship win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Just as mind-boggling as the attendance figure: Police reported only one arrest. The person was charged with making a threat for showing a weapon, said police spokeswoman Raquel Lopez.
“That just shows what a good crowd we had,” she said.
For all the noise fans eventually generated, the day began in relative quiet. Nearly from sunrise, specks of orange filtered into downtown streets, and the convergence never abated.
Valerie Inzinga guided several family members into prime position near the stage at Civic Center more than an hour before bands would kick off the event. She made the trip from Commerce City with siblings, nieces, nephews and her own kids — including Demario, who was marking his 12th birthday.
Last time Inzinga stood in this same spot to honor a Super Bowl champion — after the Broncos beat Atlanta in 1999 — her son wasn’t even born.
“What I want is for the kids to remember that time in 2016 when we made a day of it,” she said. “We’re basically making good memories for our family.”
Tens of thousands of others had the same idea as they claimed spots along 17th Street and Broadway to watch the parade pass. Even more staked out mostly snow-packed territory in Civic Center, sporting jerseys honoring Broncos present and past.
They came clothed in replicas boasting Elway, Davis, Tebow, Thomas, Talib — and at least one fan even showed the offensive line some love with his Louis Vasquez jersey.
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Others arrived in utterly unique outfits — like Russell Urban, a longtime fan who left Albuquerque around midnight and pulled into Denver at 6 a.m. sporting his custom-made white suit with tails, airbrushed with colored flames and Broncos insignias.
Underneath, he wore an orange dress shirt and a tie emblazoned with Broncos logos.
“I wanted something a little different,” he said of his attire, which drew admiring glances and even folks who asked to pose for pictures with him. “Next year, though, I’m getting an orange tux — white is too hard to keep clean.”
Nearby, young Keenan Leonard of Broomfield took a minimalist approach. He stood shirtless in the morning chill — insisting he wasn’t the least bit cold — with a Denver Broncos barrel covering his midsection.
He wore it as a tribute to the beloved Broncos Barrel Man, Tim Mc Kernan, a super-fan fixture at games for 30 years before he died in 2009.
“I’m carrying on his legacy,” said Keenan, 13.
His mom, Val Martinez, noting that her son is “well-educated in Broncos history,” had no problem allowing him to skip classes for the event. His status as a true orange-and-blue fan is no secret at school.
“I’m sure most of his teachers knew even before the game was over Sunday that they would not see Keenan today,” she said.
Flags flew. Banners waved. Fans captured the unifying moment in selfies or took in the scene from windows along downtown corridors. And as the crowd swelled, police kept a watchful eye.
A motorcycle cop cruised the parade route exchanging high-fives with onlookers.
“It should be illegal to have this many Broncos fans,” said Larry Bickell, one of the faithful from Greeley.
Entrepreneurs hawked buttons and pennants. One strolling salesperson flashed a sign: Make some noise, save your voice. Cowbells, $5.
Always more cowbell.
In a sea of humanity, orange dominated. But lots of green changed hands.
“Business is booming,” said vendor Antonio Brown.
Around 10 a.m., musical performances struck the first chords of the hours-long lovefest with Colorado acts Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Funkiphino and 3OH!3 playing on the steps of the City and County Building.
Between the music sets, waves of cheers greeted Broncos highlight videos on jumbo screens. Kids and adults alike tossed footballs on the Civic Center grounds, re-enacting the exploits of their heroes.
As streets gradually shut down and sidewalks teemed with people, making movement almost impossible, some simply held their cellphones aloft to record the atmosphere in video or photos.
Fans seemed to feed off the shared emotion of the moment. Anne Raskey of Denver held back tears of joy as she soaked in the atmosphere at Union Station.
“This is once in a lifetime,” she said. “It makes me want to start crying to be here.”
Tilman Adair, who moved to Denver nine years ago from — wait for it — Omaha, enjoyed the buildup to the parade almost as much as watching the now-iconic players roll by on firetrucks.
He pronounced the day off from work totally worth it. “Let’s do this again next year,” Adair said. “Same time, same place.”
Staff writers Elizabeth Hernandez, Jesse Paul and Jon Murray contributed to this report.
