Denver fans haven't lost their affection for "Mile High Stadium" even though the place the Broncos play has been known as Invesco Field at Mile High since 2001.

Interviews with a sampling of Broncos fans Thursday afternoon suggest they still like the name of the old stadium that was replaced 11 years ago.

Sports Authority, an Englewood-based sporting goods company, is in negotiations with Invesco Ltd., the Broncos and the Metropolitan Football Stadium District to assume naming rights of the venue. If the stadium district approves the deal during a public meeting Tuesday, Sports Authority will pay $150 million over the next 25 years for the right to have its name on the Broncos' stadium.

"I've always called it Mile High Stadium," Micabla Klimzler of Denver said. "Having another name to it is kind of silly, in my opinion. I don't think it sounds good."

The Broncos began as an American Football League franchise in 1960, playing home games at the venue that was then known as Bears Stadium. It became Mile High Stadium in 1969, and the Broncos played there through the 2000 season.

"There's a lot of history with the name Mile High," Paul Trevino of Denver said. "It should be retained."

In 2001, the Broncos moved into a new stadium named Invesco Field at Mile High. It appears that name is about to change.

"I think what's going on is the ad men taking it too far," said Dillon Walls of Denver. "I didn't like Invesco from the first. This is even worse."


Sean Guffey of Denver took a practical approach, saying: "The team has to make money. If they're getting more money from Sports Authority, that's fine. But Mile High should be in there."

Invesco Funds Group, a Denver- based mutual fund group, signed a 20-year, $120 million deal for naming rights that was set to expire in 2020. From those naming-rights revenues, 50 percent goes to the stadium district and 50 percent is allocated to the Broncos. That same split would be retained in the proposed deal with Sports Authority.

"I don't have any problems with changing the name as long as they retain Mile High," said Dwight Draper of Colorado Springs. "I don't care about the name in front of it as long as they win and start Tim Tebow at quarterback."

Said Don Hoch of Denver: "I didn't like Invesco from the beginning. Maybe the team will play better. I have a lot of interest in the Broncos with a new coach and seeing who the quarterback will be."

Said Chris Kilkenny of Denver, "I've never picked up on Invesco, and I won't pick up on Sports Authority."

Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or