Broncos Season in LoDo: Where to Watch Every Game
The Denver Broncos are coming off a 14-3 season in which they secured the AFC West title and hosted the AFC Championship Game, so expectations are high this season for the Sean Payton–led team. If you don’t have tickets to Empower Field at Mile High for home games—or if the Broncos are on the road—you can’t find a better place to take in the action than LoDo. Here’s your list for finding the ideal watch spot.
McGregor Square offers free, DJ-hosted Broncos watch parties on its 66-foot jumbotron for all Broncos games. Seating in the plaza is first-come, first-served, and the viewing parties are free and open to everyone. You can find a bunch of food and beverage options at McGregor Square Food & Drink—or just about anywhere in McGregor.
The Celtic on Market, located at the corner of 14th and Market streets, offers a different vibe on football game days. The Celtic is one of Denver’s best-known soccer pubs, but the boys in blue and orange get plenty of screen time here, too. The Irish pub decor, 20 taps, strong whiskey list, and off-track betting room, make the Celtic distinct from every other place on this list.
The Cherry Cricket, a few blocks northeast of the heart of LoDo on Blake Street, has been serving one of Denver’s best burgers since 1945. Build your own with more than 40 topping options, order a cup of green chile on the side, and, if you’re feeling adventurous, try a boozy milkshake to round out your game-day menu.
Hopdoddy Burger Bar, situated just a few steps from Denver Union Station, cooks up tasty burgers, pours goblet-size beers, and offers enough TVs for folks to enjoy the game. Happy hour runs Monday through Thursday from 3 to 6:30 p.m., and for just $5 you can get a craft draft brew, a glass of wine, or a signature cocktail, plus there are $5 fries and select burgers. It’s a great spot for small groups—no reservation required.
Jackson’s LoDo sits directly across from Coors Field and has built its reputation as the place out-of-town fans claim as their own, with watch parties for the Bills, Steelers, Cowboys, and a handful of college programs. So, it’s, ahem, safe to say this isn’t a Broncos bar. But Jackson’s is still a great place to watch the game, with drink specials that include Tito’s and Red Bulls for nine bucks and a Bud Light bucket for $20.
Terminal Bar, inside Union Station, isn’t a sports bar, per se, but it’s still worth considering if the game isn’t necessarily the main event for your group. The menu—upscale pub standards like crab dip, croquettes, and wings—is displayed on a vintage train departure board, the cocktail program is more ambitious than most game-day spots, and there are a couple of TVs if you want to check in on the game between rounds.
Tom’s Watch Bar, across the street from Coors Field and steps from McGregor Square’s plaza, has wall-to-wall screens, which makes it the choice for anyone who wants to watch the Broncos—and all of the other games that are taking place at the same time.
ViewHouse Ballpark, on Market and 20th streets, runs an yearly promotion called the Great American Tailgate Party, and the specials rotate by day: wings on Monday, a burger-and-beer combo on Thursday, a pizza-wings-and-beer combo on Saturday, and tacos with a margarita on Sunday. Plus, on every game day you can get a $40 sampler platter and $3 shots for five minutes after every score. If you bring a same-day Broncos ticket to Saturday or Sunday brunch, your table drinks for free.
Wynkoop Brewing Co. doesn’t have a dedicated Broncos promotion like ViewHouse—but it doesn’t really need one. Denver’s first brewpub pours its own renowned brews, and the upstairs pool hall is exactly the kind of low-key hangout that’s fun whether the Broncos are winning or losing. Happy hour on weekdays runs from 3 to 6 p.m., and free pool on Monday afternoons means there’s a reason to be at the pub well before Joe Buck and Troy Aikman get things started on MNF.