PHOENIX — Fresh off the pomp and circumstance rollout of new head coach Sean Payton, the Denver Broncos continued putting their 2022 season behind them this week by opening their season-ticket renewal window for 2023.
9NEWS obtained a letter the team sent to its season-ticket holders Thursday that included a message from team president Damani Leech. The Broncos’ 2023 season ticket packages include the added value of an added ninth home regular-season game as well as a market adjustment to ticket prices that ranked 17th in the NFL last season.
Consistently ranking among the league’s top three teams with a renewal rate of at least 98% in recent seasons, Broncos tickets remain in demand despite the on-field product coming off its sixth consecutive losing season.
The Broncos document a season-ticket waiting list north of 50,000 confirmed names and a sellout streak dating back to 1970 – the longest single-city sellout streak in sports.
On the secondary market, Broncos tickets this past season sold for an average of 40% more than the team’s average price of $116.15. The Broncos said that an independent, third-party firm showed the team was not pricing at fair market value relative to other NFL teams considering the demand.
The Broncos said they have also been one of the most conservative teams in recent years with ticket increases, with the average franchise increasing tickets by 25% over the last five years compared to Denver’s 14% increase over that time.
The added ninth regular-season game from last year, plus another 6% “market adjustment,” will move the Broncos’ projected ticket price to $132.05 in 2023.
Since the NFL expanded its regular season from 16 games to 17 games in 2021, teams rotate between having eight regular-season home games and two home preseason games one year and a 9-1 split the next. AFC teams get the ninth regular-season home game in 2023.
In a letter to fans, Broncos President Damani Leech stated, “Our 2023 season ticket prices reflect the additional regular-season home game along with a comprehensive review—done with third-party analysis—of the local and league ticketing landscape. We remain focused on offering a variety of pricing options for you based on fair market value while also ensuring we are competitive with other NFL teams.”
Sure, it’s a bump. But have you seen the price of eggs and red meat at the grocery store lately? And how the Avalanche raised ticket prices 42% this season?
Eggs, meat, Avs and Broncos tickets have become Colorado staples.
The team adds it has more than 25,000 tickets, or roughly one-third of the stadium capacity, available for less than $100.
The Broncos' 2023 home opponents include perennial contenders Green Bay, New England and NFC North Champion Minnesota Vikings as well as traditional AFC West rivals, highlighted by the AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs.
The hiring of Payton, one of the league’s highest-paid head coaches, should help the Broncos better compete against tough opponents in 2023.
The added ticket revenue promises to not go to waste both on and off the field.
The team’s new ownership recently allocated $100 million to an ongoing stadium upgrade project that is the single-largest capital improvement in the stadium’s 22-year history.
Empower Field scoreboard construction
“As a season ticket member, you are an integral part of our team and provide the best homefield advantage in the NFL,” Leech shared with fans. “We are consistently looking to bring you the best possible gameday experience, which this year will include $100 million in upgrades to Empower Field at Mile High that mark the largest capital improvement in stadium history.”
The stadium enhancement project is scheduled to be completed by the start of the 2023 season.
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