As the final horn signaled on Thursday to sound the end of the Broncos’ 2012 training camp, the last group of fans that watched the team’s practices this summer headed for the exits.
A total of 84,380 fans took in the team’s 16 practices that were open to the public during camp, by far the most that have ever watched Broncos training camp.
The total attendance in 2012 nearly doubled the previous record of 45,124 that was set last season when there were 18 practices open to fans.
Fans’ presence not only helps give the players an extra shot of energy as they grind through the padded practices, but also helps them prepare for in-game atmospheres.
“It has been nice to get you through some of those dog days, you can feed off their energy a little bit,” wide receiver Eric Decker said. “They will be missed because it’s always nice to have support here.”
For fans, training camp offers a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with their favorite players.
“It’s awesome,” said Corey Fuller from Littleton, who watched his second practice of the year on Thursday. “You can’t get this close at the games.”
The Broncos averaged 2,872 fans for each full practice at Dove Valley this year, again nearly doubling the previous record of 1,597 that was set in 2011.
The Broncos attracted more than 4,000 fans to Dove Valley on five occasions, including a total of 5,034 fans on Aug. 2 that represented the largest crowd in the 10 seasons the club has held training camp at its training facility. On six instances in 2012, the crowd total surpassed the previous record of 3,103 fans set on Aug. 1, 2010.
Additionally, a record crowd of 41,304 fans attended the Broncos’ Summer Scrimmage at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Aug. 4 — the second-highest attendance total for a training camp practice in the NFL this year.
While some fans are disappointed to see the open practices end, that means that the team’s regular-season opener is just around the corner.
“The practices are cool to get to,” Brian Smith from Castle Rock said. “But to get to the live action and to get to people being able to hit other people versus our own guys, I think is a lot more fun to watch. We’ll get to throw the ball around a little bit, get to run the ball a little bit. I think we’re anxious for the season to get started.”
Tags: Fans, Training Camp 2012
I can’t wait until Saturday!! I’ll be in the midst of my fantasy football draft while watching the Denver Broncos kick some tail!!! Get some!!
SATURDAY!!! I’m so obsessed with football. My family thinks I’m crazy! LOL! GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!
Our wish is granted:
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000051150/article/terrell-owens-will-play-early-saturday-for-seahawks?campaign=Twitter_atl
Champ vs. TO? Florence vs. TO? I don’t care! I just can’t wait for it!
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000051154/article/john-fox-hasnt-decided-if-dj-williams-plays-in-preseason?module=HP11_headline_stack
Being obsessed with football isn’t crazy…………. not watching football IS crazy!!!
Is anyone going to be watching football tonight? I want to watch but I don’t care much about any of the games. What are you Bronco fans going to watch tonight?
Falcons! Cuz that’s the only game I get and we will play both teams!
You rooting ATL over CIN?
The Pack over Browns is kinda a no brainer even if the Browns win. So I guess I’ll watch the Falcons as well. I was born in GA…I guess that’ll have to get me through it tonight.
Matty Ice, bro! I’m all for good lookin’ football players and when they aren’t playin’ my team I root for them!!
But if the Packers game was on, I’d be watching it because I like the Packers .
Gotta pay your dues to the NFL – I know – sucks big time!
Could care less what they look like – they all look the same with the helmet on….but I get it.
Honestly – $20.00 when I will almost watch every game… is cheap.
You’re also not a girl so it’s not of importance to you. Not that I care if anyone on our team is good looking, but there are plenty of them that are. But I do like to watch good quarterbacks and I can’t really go wrong with the quarterback for the Falcons or the Packers if I want to watch good quarterbacks.
I don’t like the Pack though. Never could stand Farve , but I like AR. One of my best friends is a pack fans – we don’t hang out during the season. LOL
DB, if I didn’t get Broncos games on cable I would probably pay the $20, but I don’t mind watching whatever games they show unless it’s the Cowboys vs. Raiders. I have NFL Network so I can watch the Packers later this weekend or tomorrow when I have some free time.
I watched the Broncos game 5 times! LOL! They replayed it enough.
I don’t like Brett Farve at all. He’s a disgusting human being… but remember, I like the history of the Packers.
Man sometimes fantasy football ticks me off. So I have pick trading on and a few of us made a lot of trades then one “owner” quit after trading for the 1st adn 10th pick and not having another pick till round 10 and the owner who took his place didnt like it and ask me to reset so I did. Now im getting complained to for resetting them. In either case I was screwing someone over. I went with the new guy because he didnt make those trades and didnt deserve to be stuck with the crap picks he was left with.
I rewatched most of the Bronco game last night and was watching Tebow and Sanchez again this morning.
I don’t pay for cable, I like to watch online.
I can’t sit through another Jets game and I am over beyond over Tebow coverage. It makes me want to throw up.
What a bummer, AB! We can never make people happy.
Cat I know. Oh well. I did what to me was right.
I think it was right because it wasn’t fair for him to have to be stuck with what someone else had.
I agree Cat. And everyone else can remake the trades the made.
And I’m sure he’ll be fine with that as well, him being the newbie and all. Are you watching a game tonight?
Cat probably not live. Probably catch them on NFLN later.
Played fantasy for almost 3 seasons and did quite well – decided it took too much time – and the guys I was pitted against ended up acting pretty immature.
I like the coverage of Tebow and believe it to be justified. I still think some unique things are going to occur with his career, and they will be positive and extraordinary – not the stupid uniqueness that we have become accustomed to.
I just wish those great things could have happened in Denver instead of NY or elsewhere.
Oh, it’s not justified at all. No where near justified. It would be justified for Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Eli Manning or Aaron Rodgers. I am grateful for what Tim was able to do for us last year, but none of this is justified. They spent 10 straight minutes talking about his birthday on ESPN and I had to change the channel because I couldn’t deal with it anymore. Who knows how long they kept at it. At one point I was pretty sure they were trying to get Manning to wish Tebow a happy birthday. He wasn’t going to do it. And it’s obvious that Manningmania is a bigger deal in Denver than Tebowmania was, so Denver is still doing okay publicity wise.
Kinda sad when the ability to throw a ball ranks more than character. Just me I guess.
I know you are going to ‘throw-up’ Manning’s character. Don’t bother – I’ve seen the mans temper and his use of foul language. It’s not even close to what Tebow represents.
Daddy–I have seen EVERYBODY lose their temper, including Tim Tebow when he doesn’t get a call he wants. Peyton Manning is human and he makes mistakes, but everybody makes mistakes. Lord knows I do. Jesus didn’t make us to be perfect, He made us to strive to perfection, to be like him. And in my opinion, Peyton Manning’s generosity far out weighs the cussing and loss of temper.
But… wait. Apparently we can judge Christians against each other and say one is better than the other.
The reason the vultures are circling and they make the distinctions between Manning – whom they love – and Tebow – is they know the difference. I didn’t set up the standards. I simply state, it is justified.
Wow. I guess I’ll just keep sticking to my opinion that the media coverage on Tim Tebow is completely unjustified because I’m younger and just completely clueless.
I also don’t believe in judging others because I don’t know what’s in their hearts.
Last I checked, Peyton is getting plenty of coverage of his own and I’ve had plenty of NFL fans complain to me about it… Doesn’t bother me so much because it’s my team, but at least it’s not as overdone as Tebow coverage. IMO OH! And his is justified. He’s coming back from four neck surgeries and trying to prove to the whole world he really can play football again. But what do I know? He’s just a 4-time MVP, Super Bowl MVP, winning quarterback.
KOD! YOU WON!!!!!!!! I am so excited for you! GO BRONCOS!
If you can’t see that Tebow’s character is more unique than all of that – I don’t know what to do for you.
Try not to carry a former tease into a serious discussion – the topics are now where near the same level of import. I don’t devalue you or your opinions for any reason. I simply debate because we have a forum to do so, and I find it relaxing compared to the rest of what I do.
KK is probably in bed already since he is east of the east coast – but high fives to KK. (Who spilled the beans???)
GB is already up by 7.
Guess I watch GB game. The other has a blackout. Urgh!
Hey guys!
Wow what an off-season this has been, and of course I wasn’t able to be on here during most of it haha. I’m so disappointed I missed all of the training camps, but I’m really excited about the players we’ve got on this team, all of them, it makes all these cuts coming up so difficult haha.
DB- Let’s not forget that this is American Football.
I don’t see it your way because I see Tebow having an agenda that I don’t agree with. He likes the attention and has done many things this off season I don’t agree with. You seem to forget what a big Tebow fan I used to be and this off season has seriously jaded him IMO.
Please get the plank out of your own eye before you judge others my friend. Judging does not look pretty on anyone.
Football–that’s the most important part of this for me. Sorry. I love guys who have character and tend to think that Manning has plenty of it, but the most important part of this is the football. God is not giving Tebow anymore help than He’s giving anyone else who plays this game and those who think otherwise don’t realize that God loves us all the same amount. No more no less than anyone else.
CLE up 13 -7. AR is looking sharp – he’s trying out his inner Tebow tonight as well. His team – not so much. GB looking a little rough around the edges. The Brown’s – looking like they want to win.
Andy Dalton and A.J. Green continue to impress me. Well done! Glad we didn’t get Asante Samuel, he looked completely clueless on that pass.
GB punting again.
I really like Dalton. Sharp kid. My son-in-law is a Bengals fan. Still the ugliest uniforms in the NFL!!! LOL
’bout time – defense held. Browns punting
At least Andy’s hair matches the uniforms? LOL I loved watching Andy play for TCU… I hope he has a great career.
Matt Ryan is a fantastic QB too so this game is very fun to watch!
It’s tied now I think… 10-10. Fox has the screen messed up so I can’t see the score. They should put it at the bottom or top right instead of top left.