Folks in a tricked-out “Broncosmobile,” on crutches and on their feet showed up at the team’s Dove Valley headquarters to give the Broncos a hero’s welcome home.
The crowd started gathering nearly five hours before the team was even scheduled to arrive after its Super Bowl victory, many not even knowing whether they would get to see any of the National Football League champions.
“Just me and the news crew,” said Matt Gasca, who arrived at Dove Valley at about 1:30 p.m Monday. “I’m here just to feel the energy and see the buses, just knowing I was here when they got home from the Super Bowl.”
The team rolled up in several buses as fans started cheering, “CHAMP-I-ONS! CHAMP-I-ONS! CHAMP-I-ONS!”
And almost as soon as they arrived, the players got in their cars and were gone.
Among those spotted by fans were linebacker Shane Ray and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. Others were masked by tinted windows, but the fans cheered for them anyway.
“I got really excited,” said Viktor Tellez, who was on crutches after tearing the ACL in his right knee. “I had surgery last week, but I’m out here supporting.”
Cars and tractor-trailers honked their horns as Will Everetts waved a Broncos flag along Broncos Parkway. Everetts was hoping to see some players or get a glimpse of the Lombardi Trophy.
“Just celebrating the moment,” he said. “Waited 18 long years for this one.”
Ariel Roselle of Golden took Monday and Tuesday off of work so she could celebrate the team’s third Super Bowl victory in eight tries.
“I knew we would win,” said Roselle, 25. “I do remember the first two and all the years in between.”
Among those waiting were José Garcia and his wife Megan, who arrived to pick up some Broncos T-shirts for the kids and photos for the players to autograph.
They got there in José’s tricked-out 2001 Dodge Durango, which is painted from top to bottom in orange and blue with matching upholstery, and also painted with Broncos logos past and present.
The Garcias hope to get some of the players to sign the hood of their “Broncosmobile.”
“We’re hoping,” Megan Garcia said.
“We’re proud of it,” José Garcia said, adding that he spent $10,000 to $11,000 over the years to outfit the ride.
Broncos fans hoping to get a glimpse when the team plane landed in Denver on Monday afternoon weren’t allowed onto the grounds of the chartered flight’s landing, but some turned out to try to get glimpses of the landing and arrival from a distance.
At Dove Valley, the Broncos Team Store saw a steady stream of people Monday, purchasing Super Bowl hats and T-shirts. The hats, in fact, have already sold out, said sales associate Andrew Bacan.
Tuesday will be the big chance for fans. A parade in downtown Denver is scheduled for noon, followed by a rally at Civic Center park at 1 p.m.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175, cillescas@denverpost.com or @cillescasdp
