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Will the Broncos dominate the AFC West division this season with rookie quarterback Bo Nix? Only time will tell. But what our scouting report did reveal is that attending a home game in 2024 or 2025 should be a delicious experience, especially if you’re a fan of burgers or have a sweet tooth. Case in point: There’s an on-the-go cinnamon roll option called “Buns on the Run” this year for fans as they empty out of the stadium after home games.
The Broncos’ first home game of the season is Sunday, September 15, at Empower Field at Mile High against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Next up at home, the Broncos take on longtime rival the Las Vegas Raiders on October 6. While it’s all eyes on Nix this season, some other rookies you’ll spot making their debut at Empower this season are a strong lineup of Colorado restaurants, such as chef Troy Guard’s Tag Burger Bar, Blue Pan Pizza, Lucy’s Burger Bar, Renegade Burrito, and more. Thirsty? Drink local with Breckenridge Brewery at the Cable Car Bar in Section 233.
If you scored tickets to the first home game or any others this season, here are our top picks for what to eat and drink inside Empower Field. Note: Concessions in the United Club Lounge are only available to special ticket holders.
Lucy’s Burger Bar
Lucy’s Burger Bar brought its cheese-stuffed, Minnesota-style burgers to Tennyson Street back in 2021. Now, it’s serving the beloved Juicy Lucys to the masses at Empower. Sink your teeth into one of these burgers, brace for a molten pool of hot cheese, and grab extra napkins. (Section 111)
Thunder Crunch
Clued in on the Mile High’s obsession with all things green chile this time of year, Aramark Sports and Entertainment created a riff on a fast-food favorite. The Thunder Crunch is made with ancho chicken and green chile queso, plus pico de gallo and lettuce, swaddled in a tortilla and then wrapped again in a spicy tortilla and served extra crunchy. (Sections 327 and 525)
Tag Burger Bar
Chef Troy Guard is opening an outpost of his Tag Burger Bar at Empower this season. The burger spot will rotate its signature stackers throughout the season, but the Old School burger will always be on the menu. The classic is served with American cheese, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, and a secret sauce. Also look for the Tijuana Burger smothered in pork green chile; the Blind in Texas with an onion ring, applewood-smoked bacon, and Coca-Cola barbecue sauce; and the Big Kahuna with grilled pineapple and teriyaki among the fixings. (Section 127 and United Club East and West)
Better-Off Burgers
We told you Empower was serious about its burgers this year. Better Off Burgers serves plant-based stadium grub like burgers topped with vegan cheese and pickles and shakes. (Section 327 and 525)
Blue Pan Pizza
You don’t have to be a Detroit Lions fan to love Detroit-style pizza. Blue Pan Pizza is a Denver-born shop serving the Motor City’s signature square pies with crispy, caramelized crust here in the Mile High. A newbie to Empower, Blue Pan’s pizza will be available in cheese or pepperoni. If Empower is your introduction to the pizza shop and you want more, Blue Pan offers extensive toppings and monthly pizza specialties at its locations in West Highland, Congress Park, and Golden. (Section 127 and United Club East and West)
Renegade Burrito
Colorado Mexican restaurant Renegade Burrito—which has locations in Arvada, Westminster, and Thornton—will open alongside Blue Pan and Tag Burger Bar in the stadium’s mini food hall. The menu offerings include chicken burritos and carnitas bowls. (Section 127)
Orange Thunder
Every stadium needs a cocktail that’s concocted with mixers to match the team’s colors. The Broncos have Orange Thunder, which is made with Deep Eddy orange vodka, orange juice, and Triple Sec (an orange liqueur often used in margs) and capped off with lemon-lime soda. It’s fizzy, citrusy, and spirited. (Plaza Level Concourse)
Duck’s Dozen
An Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts graduate, Colorado pastry chef Wesley Duckworth’s résumé includes the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse and the Patterson Inn. His Duck’s Dozen cookies in flavors like lemon poppyseed and salted chocolate mudslide have garnered a following. Now, his scratch-made goodies, like sugar cookies with orange and blue candies and chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches, will be available at Empower, providing a sweet treat for Broncos fans this season. (Sections 326 and 525)
Buns on the Run
Win or lose, you can leave Empower on a sweet note. New this year, Hall & Worth (Duckworth’s local stadium concession company) is serving “Buns on the Run” as a post-game snack. The warm cinnamon rolls are ready-made for fans on their way out of the stadium. (Gates 2, 4, and 10 exits)
Pint’s Peak Ice Cream
Pint’s Peak chef-owner Caitlin Howington is bringing her small-batch ice cream to Broncos fans this season. Vanilla bean ice cream packed with honeycomb candy and chocolate ice cream with ripples of peanut butter and Oreo chunks are on the scoop menu. For a fall-centric dessert, the doughnut sundae is made with apple cider donuts, honeycomb vanilla ice cream, and caramel sauce. (United Club East and West)
