Why I Built a Community for Denver Broncos Tailgaters
Why?
That's the $100 question.
I'm retired. I have plenty of things to do. I camp. I fish. I golf. I scuba dive. I garden. I advocate for AARP at the state and federal level. I sing karaoke. I'm dating Colleen Costigan, Ms. Colorado Senior America. I have three children and four grandchildren.
So why, exactly, am I firing up a website and a Facebook group focused on Denver Broncos tailgating?
Well, let's go back 30 years.
I've been a Broncos season-ticket holder for 30 years, and in all those years I've missed exactly two games. One was for a funeral. The other was for a wedding.
I'm still not happy about the wedding thing.
But I digress.
I've tailgated for every one of those 30 seasons. I've been under Colfax Avenue. I've tailgated in Lot P, where the light rail station now sits. And I've been in Lot M since they opened it.
Over those 30 years, I've made a boatload of friends and burned more grilled food than you can possibly imagine.
I've tailgated through rainstorms and snowstorms. I've enjoyed a beer or two. I've watched games come and go, players come and go, coaches come and go, and Broncos seasons that ranged from unforgettable to...well, let's just say we don't need to talk about those seasons.
But there's something I've come to understand over all those years.
The first thing on my list isn't the food.
It's the friends.
And not just ordinary friends. I'm talking about people who are crazy, passionate, slightly nuts and stupidly enthusiastic Broncos fans.
That's what makes a tailgate special.
One of Those Friends Was Luke Hardy
My heart broke when one of those friends, Luke Hardy, passed away.
Luke was, without question, one of the craziest Broncos tailgaters ever.
He was the kind of guy who could turn a normal Broncos Sunday into an event.
And the tailgate crew didn't simply lose a friend when Luke died. We lost a part of what made our Broncos family what it was.
But something pretty incredible happened.
The people Luke brought together didn't just disappear.
We celebrated him.
We remembered him.
And we did what Denver Broncos tailgaters do.
We threw a tailgate.
We still celebrate our friend Luke Hardy!
This is the kind of thing that explains better than I ever could what Broncos tailgating is really about.
Tailgating isn't just about one generation.
It's something that gets passed down.
I've taken my grandchildren to multiple Broncos games. One of my grandchildren lives in Kansas City and is a huge Broncos fan—and yes, that grandchild wears a Broncos jersey around Kansas City on game days.
That's what this is about.
It's bigger than football.
It's about friends.
It's about family.
It's about traditions.
And it's about creating memories that stick with us long after the game is over.
Then the Broncos Announced a New Stadium
When the Denver Broncos organization announced plans for a new stadium, the first thing I thought about wasn't:
Will it have a dome?
How big will it be?
Where will it be?
My first thought was:
“What will happen to tailgating and my friends?”
That probably tells you everything you need to know about me.
I've spent 30 years watching Broncos games.
But I've also spent 30 years building relationships around those games.
And suddenly, something that has been part of my life for three decades could change.
I could sit around and fret about it.
I could complain every time I hear something about the new stadium.
Or I could try to influence the conversation.
I could try to share facts instead of rumors.
I could create a place where Broncos tailgaters could talk to each other about what matters to them.
So, I thought:
“What the hell. Get your retired ass in gear and focus on this.”
And that's what I decided to do.
It Became Bigger Than the New Stadium
Once I started thinking about it, I realized this shouldn't just be a website about a stadium.
It should be a place for Denver Broncos tailgaters.
A place where we can talk about:
Tailgate meals.
Recipes.
Themes.
Games.
Events.
Tailgate traditions.
New ideas.
Old stories.
And, yes, the future of tailgating around the Denver Broncos.
Most importantly, I want this to be a place where tailgaters have a voice.
Because we are a thriving, enthusiastic and important part of the Broncos fan base.
And I think we should have a seat at the table when the future of Broncos tailgating is being discussed.
So Here We Are
That's why I built this website.
That's why I started the Facebook group.
And that's why I'm asking you to get involved.
Share your stories.
Share your ideas.
Share your recipes.
Share your tailgate traditions.
Tell us what works. Tell us what doesn't.
And most importantly, help us shape the future of Denver Broncos tailgating.
Maybe you've been tailgating for 30 years like I have.
Maybe you're brand new to it.
Maybe your parents took you to Broncos games.
Maybe you're taking your kids.
Maybe you're taking your grandchildren.
Wherever you fit, you're part of this community.
And I'd love to hear your story.
Let's make sure the Denver Broncos—and everyone involved in planning the future around this team—understands just how much tailgating means to the people who do it.
Because this isn't just about parking lots.
It's about people.
It's about friendships.
It's about family.
It's about traditions.
And it's about what happens when a bunch of crazy Broncos fans get together on a Sunday morning and decide they're going to have a hell of a good time.
P.S. BEAT THE CHEFS! 🏈
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