Tag: Stadium

Broncos replace grass field ahead of Falcons game

The Denver Broncos used a local sod farm to replace the grass on the field at Empower Field at Mile High.

Prior to a matchup with the Atlanta Falcons in Week 11, the Denver Broncos gave the grass at Empower Field at Mile High a makeover.

The team’s stadium crew got the field replaced within 36 hours after playing the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 27, giving it three weeks to settle in before the Falcons game on Nov. 17.

The grass comes from Platteville, Colorado, which is approximately 45 minutes north of Boulder, via ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Chris Hathaway, the Broncos director of turf and ground at Empower Field at Mile High, wrote on Twitter/X that the main reason for the replacement is player safety.

The Walton-Penner ownership group famously trucked in a grass field before the 2022 season finale and replaced it again mid-season in 2023.

“[They] just told me,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said after practice Wednesday when asked about the grass being replaced. “You would have to ask Greg [Penner]. Meaning, our field has been in good shape. I don’t know what’s taken place since the last one. The one thing I do know is if Greg feels like it’s not to his liking, then he’s not afraid to do it. I literally just found out and [it’s] outstanding.”

The Broncos are one of 15 teams at 30 stadiums across the NFL to use a natural grass playing surface. After hosting Atlanta on Sunday, Denver will have three more home games remaining on their 2024 schedule.

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Broncos preparing for possible bad field conditions vs. Chiefs

Arrowhead Stadium is set to host a college football game on Saturday before the Chiefs host the Broncos on Sunday.

The Denver Broncos are preparing for the possibility of poor field conditions against the Kansas City Chiefs this week.

“I think the weather forecast Sunday [is] 59 degrees, 10 mile an hour winds,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said Wednesday. “I do think the field will be something we have to pay attention to. It rained last night. They also have a college game Saturday on this grass surface. The weather for Saturday is heavy rain forecast so we’ll have to make sure we’re prepared for that.”

The Kansas Jayhawks will host the Iowa State Cyclones at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Less than 24 hours later, the Chiefs will host the Broncos on the same field, one day after a storm.

The forecast is currently calling for rain on Saturday, but AccuWeather.com predicts a “sunny and pleasant” day on Sunday. KC’s weather and field conditions will be worth monitoring this week.

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What is the weather forecast for Wisconsin vs. Northwestern on Saturday?

What is the weather forecast for Wisconsin vs. Northwestern on Saturday?

Wisconsin’s biennial trip to Evanston, Illinois to face the Northwestern Wildcats is often impacted by the weather report.

The old Ryan Field’s place near the shores of Lake Michigan makes that the reality. Any wind or weather coming off the lake doesn’t have much interruption before reaching the stadium.

Related: 10 keys to a Wisconsin Badgers victory over the Northwestern Wildcats

This impact was assumed to only rise when Northwestern’s temporary lakefront stadium was announced — a location for some of the team’s 2024 and 2025 home games before the new Ryan Field opens in 2026. That stadium, pictured below, directly abuts Lake Michigan. Only a moveable scoreboard stands in the way of any wind or lake-effect weather reaching the field of play.

Aug 31, 2024; Evanston, Illinois, USA; A general view of the temporary Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium where the Northwestern Wildcats will play the Miami (Oh) Redhawks in a football game. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday’s matchup against Wisconsin will be Northwestern’s final game in the building of the 2024 season. It will move to play its remaining home games at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois.

The weather in the Midwest hasn’t quite turned toward the winter. Northwestern’s games in the temporary stadium thus far against Miami (OH), Duke, Eastern Illinois and Indiana have not been severely impacted by any inclement weather.

Saturday against Wisconsin looks to be no different. The weather forecast for Evanston, Illinois reads 70 degrees and sunny, with winds out of the southwest between five and 10 miles per hour.

In other words, the forecast predicts a perfect afternoon for football

Wisconsin and Northwestern will kick off at noon ET, 11 a.m. CT on the Big Ten Network and streaming on Fox Sports. The weather should not hinder a Wisconsin offensive attack that enters playing its best football of the Luke Fickell and Phil Longo era to date.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell discusses playing in Northwestern’s temporary stadium

Luke Fickell discussed the odd location of Saturday’s game:

This story was updated to correct a misspelling/typo.

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell is not concerned with the context or the setting surrounding his team’s trip to Evanston, Illinois to face the Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday.

That setting: Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium — a temporary facility built for the 2024 and 2025 seasons as Northwestern completes construction on the new Ryan Field.

Related: What Northwestern head coach David Braun said about Wisconsin football, Phil Longo and QB Braedyn Locke

For Badgers fans who haven’t followed this story, that means the days of a 3/4-empty Ryan Field with ankle-long grass are in the past. Wisconsin’s final game in that building was its 42-7 win over the Wildcats in 2022, Jim Leonhard’s first game as interim head coach.

Northwestern has since moved to this temporary setup. It is 2-2 in the new building this season with wins over Miami (OH) and Eastern Illinois, and losses to Duke and Indiana. Saturday will actually be the final game played there this season, as the Wildcats will move to play the remainder of its home games at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois.

Here is a look at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium, a 12,000-seat practice field with one sideline abutting Lake Michigan.

Aug 31, 2024; Evanston, Illinois, USA; A general view of the temporary Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium where the Northwestern Wildcats will play the Miami (Oh) Redhawks in a football game. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Fickell was asked about playing in the unique setting during his media availability this week. He did not want to buy into the new stadium as any significant storylines.

“Wherever they ask us to play or tell us to play, we’ll play,” Fickell said. “If it’s a parking lot, we’ll play in a parking lot. I don’t think we got a whole lot to say after how we performed and how we played [against Northwestern] last year. So I couldn’t care less where we’re playing at and what the situation is.”

That performance he references is a 24-10 loss to the Wildcats at Camp Randall Stadium. The loss was the low point of the 2023 season for the Badgers, and was the game that led Northwestern to remove the ‘interim’ tag from head coach David Braun.

Fickell expanded on his message to the team and how the players should handle the trip.

“Anytime you go on the road in the Big Ten you’re going to have to handle some things,” Fickell continued. “Whether it’s a new stadium, whether it’s the wind. Whether it’s a locker room. It is what it is. Not going to spend a lot of time worrying about that. But obviously our guys will be aware that it’s not where they’ve probably played in the past or what they would expect. But again that can’t be any distraction or of any concern this week. Because we have a lot of work to do.”

Members of that 2022 team who currently start for the 2024 Badgers include WR Vinny Anthony, LT Jack Nelson, LG Joe Brunner, RT Riley Mahlman, TE Riley Nowakowski, DL Ben Barten and Curt Neal, OLB Darryl Peterson, ILB Jake Chaney, CB Ricardo Hallman and Austin Brown, and S Hunter Wohler and Preston Zachman.

A lot has changed since the 2022 Badgers led by Graham Mertz got Jim Leonhard his first win as a head coach. This trip to Evanston, Illinois guarantees to be different, both in the context surrounding the game and in its location.

All eyes should now turn to the weather forecast and the wind dial readings. Whether Fickell focuses on it or not, this new stadium setting has the chance to severely impact the on-field play.

Wisconsin and Northwestern will kick off at noon ET, 11 a.m. CT on the Big Ten Network.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

Broncos won’t host any of the next four Super Bowls (but keep an eye on 2032)

The Broncos won’t host the Super Bowl in 2028 (or the three years before then), but if the team builds a new stadium, who knows?

The Denver Broncos won’t host the Super Bowl in 2028 (or any of the three championship games before then).

The NFL had previously announced the Super Bowl sites for 2025 (New Orleans), 2026 (Santa Clara) and 2027 (Inglewood). Today, the league announced that the 2028 Super Bowl (LXII) will be held in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Because the Broncos play in an outdoor stadium, they probably won’t be seriously considered to host a February Super Bowl anytime soon.

The team’s current lease at Empower Field at Mile High runs through the 2031 season and there has been heavy speculation that Denver’s ownership group will want to eventually build a mega stadium in the coming years.

If the Broncos do build a beautiful new stadium, they would instantly become a top contender to host a future Super Bowl, especially if there’s a roof (which is a hot topic in Broncos Country).

Denver is also interested in hosting a future NFL draft, but the city won’t host in 2025 (Green Bay) or 2026 (Pittsburgh). The next possible draft that could be held in Colorado would be in 2027, two years before the next available Super Bowl.

Unless the Broncos end their lease early, the team seems unlikely to host a Super Bowl before 2032 at the earliest. So potentially hosting a Super Bowl is still quite a few years away from being realistic, but it’s a topic worth monitoring going forward as stadium talks begin to heat up in Denver.

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Will the Broncos build a new stadium? Greg Penner weighs in

“We’re evaluating options for a new stadium potentially and whether that’s on the current site or somewhere else,” Greg Penner said.

The Denver Broncos had a groundbreaking ceremony for a new headquarters and training facility on Thursday.

At the ceremony, Broncos owner/CEO Greg Penner was asked if the team considered building an entertainment district around the facility.

”There are a couple of things,” Penner said of the decision to not have entertainment around the practice facility. “One with just the timing, which is, as we talked about, we’re evaluating options for a new stadium potentially and whether that’s on the current site or somewhere else. We weren’t ready to make that decision at this point.

“The second thing is, some teams do have that (an entertainment district around the facility) with mixed results. I think in certain cases there are positives to having both in one location. There’s also something about coming to a place where, this is where we practice, this is our space.

“Sometimes we’ll have fans, as you all know, and partners here, but it’s really about work and practice. I think sometimes if you combine that with more entertainment, there can be some dangers with that.”

Not much of an update on the team’s stadium status, but Penner did confirm the team is “evaluating options.” Denver started surveying fans about the stadium’s future last year, and there’s been speculation that the ownership group could eventually build a mega stadium with an entertainment district around it.

The team’s current lease at Empower Field at Mile High runs through the 2031 season. With eight more years left at the current stadium, Denver’s brass hasn’t rushed into announcing any future plans. That won’t stop fans and media members from asking about it.

“I’ve been getting the stadium questions since Day 1 about two years ago,” team president Damani Leech said Thursday. “We’ll continue to get that. I think the answer is the same one. It’s a pretty long process. We’re still evaluating everything. Everything’s on the table. We’ll continue to explore it and make a decision at a time that makes sense for us.”

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Broncos adding players’ family room to stadium after poor NFLPA grade

The Broncos received a “D+” for family treatment on their NFLPA report card last season, in part because they did not have a family room.

In their NFLPA report card following the 2023 season, the Denver Broncos were given a “D+” grade for their treatment of families.

The biggest complaint players had was that there was no family room at the stadium, something that 20 other NFL teams provide for players on game days.

The Broncos took note of that low grade and they quickly addressed it. Before the team’s preseason game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night, 104.3 The Fan‘s Andrew Mason shared an image of a family room that’s “coming soon” at Empower Field at Mile High:

The graphic says the family room will arrive for the 2024 regular season. The amenities are as follows:

  • Private hospitality space for player and coach families
  • Complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages
  • Comfortable seating and furniture options and Game TVs
  • Dedicated heating and cooling
  • Men’s and women’s restrooms
  • Nursing mother’s suite

That’s quite an upgrade from previously having no family room at the stadium. Another smart move from Denver’s new ownership group.

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Broncos’ upgrades to current stadium don’t impact long-term stadium plans

The Broncos continue to make upgrades to Empower Field at Mile High, but they haven’t ruled out the possibility of a potential new stadium.

The Denver Broncos continue to make upgrades to Empower Field at Mile High. Broncos ownership spent $100 million on upgrades to the stadium last year, including a massive new scoreboard. The upgrades continued this year with a new “Club 1977,” a Stadium Artist Series, new food items, an expanded Ring of Fame Plaza and improved Wi-Fi.

So, does this mean the Broncos are settling in at their current stadium instead of making plans for a new venue down the road?

“No, we really see those as two different things,” team president Damani Leech said Tuesday. “I think what you’re seeing today, what you saw last year, is about this stadium’s immediate fan experience and what we’re focused on. Particularly this season the focus is on this season. Putting the best product on the field, but also giving out fans the best experience.”

Denver’s front office is in no rush to unveil any potential plans for a future mega stadium, but speculation remains such a plan is on deck.

“No real update there,” Leech said when asked about the team’s long-term stadium plan. “No new information. It’s certainly a complicated process, one that’s going to take a long time to figure out. Obviously we have a lease that runs through 2030. So we’re taking our time and doing all the research we can.

“Really, all options are on the table certainly in terms of what the future could hold, but as I said most of our focus right now is on this season, this team and this stadium.”

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A first look at the standalone field where Wisconsin will play Northwestern on Oct. 19

Seriously, there is going to be major college football played on this field…

Wisconsin will travel to play the Northwestern Wildcats in Week 8 of the college football season.

The Badgers and Wildcats have faced off in every season since 2013. Wisconsin has made five trips to Evanston, Illinois, in that time.

Related: Big Ten football offensive coordinator rankings for 2024 season

A road trip to play Northwestern used to mean a game at Ryan Field — a field known for abnormally long grass in a high school-like stadium atmosphere. That is no longer the case. Northwestern recently demolished Ryan Field and is in the process of building a new state-of-the-art facility.

The construction will not be completed until the 2026 season. In the meantime, the Wildcats are building a temporary solution.

Wisconsin will play in that temporary stadium when it travels to Northwestern on Oct. 19, 2024. Early reports pointed to Lambeau Field as a possible location. Those reports did not come to fruition. That led to the much-anticipated release of the actual location of the Badgers’ game against the Wildcats this season.

Turns out it is a remote turf field on the shore of Lake Michigan. That’s about it.

To be clear, this is just the location of the field. Northwestern is expected to put together a minor build-out that includes an area for the media and limited seating for season-ticket holders.

But the temporary stadium should take Northwestern’s atmosphere, or lack thereof, to the next level.

The Badgers will make the trip in mid-October looking to avenge a 24-10 loss to the Wildcats in 2023. Wisconsin is expect to improve upon a shaky 7-6 record from a season ago, while Northwestern will likely take a step backward after a surprising 8-5 2023 campaign.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

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Jake Butt hails Rutgers football – ‘they are tough and they are disciplined’

Jake Butt and Joshua Perry praise Rutgers football on Stadium.

With one of the top recruiting classes in the Big Ten and all of college football, Rutgers football is certainly trending in the right direction. Two national college football analysts who cover the Big Ten certainly see it that way.

Speaking on ‘Red Corner Blue Corner‘ on the Stadium streaming network, former Ohio State linebacker Joshua Perry and Michigan tight end Jake Butt discussed the Rutgers incoming class.

Asked if he is surprised that Rutgers head coach [autotag]Greg Schiano[/autotag] has pulled in one of the top recruiting classes in the nation, Butt said he wasn’t.

Also an analyst with the Big Ten Network, Butt sees this recruiting class as momentum for Rutgers, saying that “this is an extremely dangerous team.” Rutgers finished last year 7-6 (3-6 Big Ten) and with a win over Miami in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl.

“Rutgers is a low-hanging fruit and a punching bag for those that may not follow college football as a whole. But when you watch the tape, they – especially last year – were and are a good football team, and they are tough and they are disciplined,” Butt said on Stadium.

“And you’d be surprised. You cannot say that about everyone across the conference or across college football as a whole. You look at their toughest two opponents, they’re in that game, fourth-and-2 versus Michigan in the fourth quarter. There were a few missed opportunities versus Ohio State, where had they hit those, that game might be completely different.

“JP, they finished 7-6 and after the bowl game. ESPN, had them with the fourth hardest scheduled nationally, OK? Eight of their opponents finished with a bowl record. That’s pretty damn good. Okay, that’s good for a lot of teams, but that’s good for what Schiano is up against at Rutgers. I think he’s a great coach. I think he’s extremely honest with his players, and he’s shared that with us in some of our coaching meetings.”

In the updated rankings on Saturday, On3 has Rutgers with a top 10 class in the nation. Rivals and 247Sports also have Rutgers in the top 10 nationally.

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To watch the entire segment on Stadium, click here. Red Corner, Blue Corner also has a platform on YouTube that is loaded with Big Ten content and some really solid college football talk.