ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Broncos fans apparently are ready to party like it’s 1977.
The team launched its throwback jerseys over the weekend and fans showed up in record-setting numbers to purchase the souvenirs at both Broncos Park and Empower Field at Mile High.
In fact, team data shows the Broncos boasted higher jersey sales revenue in-store on Saturday (both at training facility and stadium) for their throwback event than they average for a typical home game that draws sellouts of about 75,000. Or put another way, there are more than 30 times as many people at Empower Field at Mile High for a game than those attending the launch event (2,300 fans).
Per the team, the Broncos sold nearly 350 throwback jerseys Saturday.
The top throwback jersey sales? In order, Pat Surtain, Bo Nix and Randy Gradishar. Not bad for a third-string quarterback and the team’s newest Hall of Famer.
John Elway and Terrell Davis rounded out the Top 5. In all, 20 current Broncos and alumni had at least one throwback jersey purchased by fans.
The Broncos say not only did the throwbacks total 142,000 social interactions on launch day Saturday -- among the most of any team for the day -- but that 96 percent of public sentiment was deemed positive or neutral.
The Broncos add the unveiling of new jerseys this year with their Mile High Collection in April have helped the team nearly triple their jersey sales through the first quarter of the year.
The top seller among the nearly 5,000 jerseys sold through the first quarter of the year? Nix, of course. He was the Broncos' first-round draft pick in April who has most recently been taking a substantial amount of the first-team reps in practice -- even if he is listed as the No. 3 quarterback behind Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson on the depth chart. Head coach Sean Payton put all rookies "at the back of the line" on the depth chart.
A pencil-pushing tactic that won't hinder jersey sales, apparently The Broncos will wear the throwback jerseys twice this season as permitted by NFL rules. The throwbacks will debut Week 5 (Alumni Weekend) against the Las Vegas Raiders and will be worn again during their Week 18 season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs. Both games will be at Empower Field at Mile High.
