DENVER — Fans tuning in to watch the defending champion Denver Nuggets in the NBA Playoffs may notice the number "5280" written on the hardwood of the Denver court and featured prominently on one of the team's uniforms.
The meaning of "5280" is simple. It's the number of feet in a mile, and Denver is famously nicknamed the "Mile High City" for its elevation. At 5,280 feet, it's the highest of any NBA city.
The number is written just above the free-throw lines on the Nuggets' home court at Ball Arena. Upside down, it looks like "0825."
Two of the Nuggets' uniform designs also pay homage to the city's elevated status.
One of those designs, a blue and gold Statement Edition uniform emblazoned with the phrase "MILE HIGH CITY," debuted for the 2018-19 season, with some tweaks made since.
The other mile high design is new for this season. The 5280 City Edition uniforms feature a bright yellow "5280" on a black jersey, with dim mountains in the background.
"5280 is a badge of honor. 5280 is a competitive advantage for us, and this City Edition uniform is an opportunity to reinforce that competitive advantage... It's our rallying cry," Nuggets Chief Marketing Officer Declan J. Bolger said when the design was unveiled.
A sign that greets visiting teams entering Ball Arena lists the elevation. Before games, the stadium announcer proclaims the challenges of playing at altitude.
The Nuggets aren't the only Denver sports team to make note of the city's elevated status. At Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies, the seats are green — except a row of purple seats near the top of the stands at exactly 5,280 feet, known to fans as the Purple Row.
The Denver Broncos' home stadium is named Empower Field at Mile High, paying homage to the iconic Mile High Stadium, where the team played for decades before it was closed in 2001.
The Broncos, too, are adding a few "5280"s to their uniforms next season. The new threads, unveiled last month, feature 5280 insignia on the front of the helmets and the stripe of the pants.
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