ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Empower Field at Mile High is set to receive the 1977 treatment.
The Broncos will honor their 1977 Super Bowl team throughout Alumni Weekend in a variety of ways, including painting the playing surface to match the design from when Denver defeated the Raiders in the 1977 AFC Championship Game. The field will be painted to look as it did on Jan. 1, 1978, when the Broncos earned a win to advance to the franchise's first Super Bowl.
The end zones at Empower Field at Mile High will both be painted blue, with "Broncos" painted in white letters. Unlike the Broncos' current field design, there will be no midfield logo for Sunday's game against the Raiders.
During the Broncos' game against the Raiders — and throughout the weekend — the organization will honor its 1977 AFC Championship team, as well as new Ring of Famers Riley Odoms and Steve Foley and Hall of Famer Randy Gradishar. In addition to the field painting, the Broncos will debut their 1977 throwback jerseys and also feature game-day elements that will help transport fans back to the Orange Crush era. The in-game experience will feature a throwback theme, including 1970s-inspired music and throwback design elements on scoreboards and stadium signage. The first 25,000 fans through the gates will also receive a vintage Broncos belt buckle, courtesy of ENT Credit Union. The belt buckle features a retro design with the classic Denver "D" logo.
Odoms and Foley will have their Ring of Fame pillars unveiled to the public at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday at Ring of Fame Plaza, and their names will be revealed on the Ring of Fame facade at halftime of Denver's Week 5 game. Gradishar will receive special on-field recognition for his recent Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement during a pregame ceremony on Sunday.
The Broncos are expected to welcome back more than 120 alumni for the Alumni Weekend festivities, which begin on Friday with a private reception for the franchise's Pro Football Hall of Famers and Ring of Famers and members of the 1977 team.
Alumni will also be invited to attend a private practice on Saturday at Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit before volunteering at a local community event. Those in attendance will work to pack more than 300 flag football equipment kits, which will be distributed across the state.
Denver's matchup against Las Vegas kicks off at 2:05 p.m. MT and will air on FOX.
