Last week’s fire took a “significant” toll on the Denver Broncos‘ Mile High Stadium. So much so, that the repairs may not be done by the time the next NFL season rolls around.
On Monday, Broncos CEO Joe Ellis said that it will be a “real challenge” to replace the damaged seats and charred suites that were burned up in the blaze. According to Ellis, about 14 luxury boxes were damaged, and “a couple hundred seats.”
#DenverFireDepartment crews are extinguishing a fire at Mile high stadium, 1701 Bryant. Unknown cause at this time, but fire affected has affected the suite are and the third level seating area. pic.twitter.com/vjnLaQg55X
— Denver Fire Department (@Denver_Fire) March 24, 2022
“At first glance, we thought it wasn’t much of a big deal, but after going to see the damage and witnessing it in-person and spending time with fire inspectors and people from our stadium and the reclamation team that came in, it was a significant event,” Ellis told the Denver Post.
The CEO says the damage wasn’t just on the surface, but it also harmed the structure of the stadium itself.
Joe Ellis said couple hundred seats, 14 suites affected by fire. Challenge to get them up and running by start of regular-season. Big issue is steel risers supporting seats buckled. #9sports
— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) March 28, 2022
“The heat from the fire, once it got going, those risers buckled,” Ellis explained. “We’ll have to re-fabricate those steel risers in those particular sections and with supply-chain issues around the world and each one is a different dimension because of the way the seating bowl is constructed and contoured, it will take some time to get those replaced and they will have to be replaced.”
It should also be noted that Mile High hosts events other than NFL games; including concerts.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported in the fire. But it’s certainly not what anyone wants to see. Especially prospective buyers of the franchise.
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