Manning, Broncos impress fans who traveled long way for opening game

DENVER — How ‘bout them Broncos? Not a bad start to new Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning’s season with his new team. 

The Denver Broncos have always drawn fans from the entire Rocky Mountain region. We caught up with a family from South Dakota who was at Sports Authority Field at Mile High for the opening night match up with the Steelers.

They are crossing off a ‘bucket-list’ item by attending an opening day game.

“We made a promise to my dad, who just died, that we would use some of his insurance money to head to Denver for a game with the Broncos,” said Lonnie Oxandaburu. “Sitting in the fifth row, right on the 10 yard line, it doesn’t get much better than that!”

Other fans from Wyoming and Utah stayed overnight and were at Sports Fan on Federal Blvd. where they were picking up Manning gear for the road. To a person, they are more than happy with the way the newest QB gunslinger in town showed up.

“Manning was awesome,” said Moneika Sullivan of Sheridan, Wyoming. “He just seemed to know how to throw the ball better than all of the other quarterbacks we’ve had since John Elway!”

“I liked the way he just managed the drives even though in the 2nd and 3rd quarters we only ran three plays to the Steelers’ 45,” said Brandon Sweeney. “He is a real quarterback!”

And as for the Manning gear, Sports Fan has good supply.

“We sold a bunch over the weekend, but we have new supplies heading in and not by Pony Express!” said manager, Jim LaRoche.