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DENVER- **About 45 percent of the NFL's fan base is women, according to an NFL-commissioned study completed in 2013. On Wednesday night, female Broncos congregated at Sports Authority Field at Mile High for the Broncos' fifth annual Crush Night Out.
The event included player and alumni autographs, pictures, demonstrations, shopping, drinks and dining.
Broncos fans came to Sports Authority Field at Mile High and enjoyed player and alumni autographs, pictures, demonstrations, shopping, drinks and dining.
"The NFL has a high percentage of female fans so it's important that we reach out to them and try to connect with them," said Broncos Manager of Fan Development Marisol Villagomez. "With this event, everybody enjoys a night out with their friends and I think this is a combination of enjoying that as well as being able to share your love and your passion for the Broncos and for football in general. I think it's a very unique event in that sense."
The event was put on for the Broncos' fan club for women, Crush.
Britton Colquitt, Brandon McManus, Lamin Barrow and Virgil Green signed autographs while Zac Dysert and C.J. Anderson took pictures with fans. Nate Irving also attended the event, demonstrating football equipment.
"It's been entertaining," Dysert said. "It's been an exciting night. Some characters, I would say. It was a great time, overall.
"As Broncos players, we're so blessed to begin with. Any time you can give back, I think it's important. I think to come out and help out in the community any way you can and I remember when I was a kid I loved that kind of stuff, seeing those guys."
Dysert enjoys interacting with fans and remembers when he was about eight years old, growing up in Ohio, and he met Peyton Manning.
Johanna Steward, her sister Janel and mother-in-law Debbie attended the event together, all clad in their orange and blue.
"We walked the field, got some autographs," Steward, who attended the event for the third time, said. "We love it. I think it's a great idea and it's a way to get women to come out, especially during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We always have a good time and it's so fun that the players come out and spend the evening with us."
