Relocating Broncos Camp Back to Greeley: Olfactory Nightmare or Genius?
“Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that Dove Valley is awful and that the Broncos have suffered greatly due to their choice of a training camp facility. However, in today’s NFL any edge and advantage is certainly a plus and the Broncos could be missing out by staying comfy at home.”
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For 21 straight summers from 1982 through 2002, the Denver Broncos held training camp at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. Though located only about an hour and a half drive to the north of their current Dove Valley facility, the impact of being away certainly had its benefits for the Broncos.
Denver’s front office has their reasons for the decision to move training camp back to home base in 2002. For the Broncos’ staff, the convenience of having their mainframe computers, video equipment, copiers and even the controversial fax machine on hand without having to lift a finger is certainly a plus.
They have also cited that granting the main sector of fans easier access to the camps’ practices is a huge advantage in building the relationship between the Broncos’ franchise and its fan base. Meaning, in turn fans will open their wallets and spend more cash on merchandise and concessions throughout the season if they feel emotionally invested in the team from the get-go.
At SSD, we feel differently about the move.
Taking the team away from the college dorm-like experience robs the players of the much needed bonding that is required to get through a rigorous NFL season. Being able to rely and depend on the other 52 guys on the roster is a necessity and it may not happen as easily based on the current conditions of training camp at Dove Valley.
In the old Greeley days, players lived in the UNC dorms with an assigned roommate. Coaches and staff paired players up with guys that could be mutually beneficial to one another. Having a veteran leader living with a young athlete that could potentially have character issues both on and off the field for a few weeks during camp could be a difference maker in a that young guys’ career. Being accountable for your actions to someone who you are sleeping, eating and brushing your teeth next to, has more impact than just showing up for practice and watching film.
The camaraderie that comes with being away from your family and friends and only having each other is a solid benefit to the old facility as well. The late-night pranks and card games are all part of the process that seems to be missing from the Broncos current training camp.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that Dove Valley is awful and that the Broncos have suffered greatly due to their choice of a training camp facility. However, in today’s NFL any edge and advantage is certainly a plus and the Broncos could be missing out by staying comfy at home.
The city of Greeley provides nothing but football, football and more football for the Bronco hopefuls. You can most definitely throw in the stench of cow dung as well, but you get the picture.
There are zero distractions that can take the player’s minds away from their task at hand. Whether it’s the veterans who are perfecting their skills and refreshing their minds on the complicated playbook, or the young rookies trying to prove themselves and make that final roster, the outside influences are minimal on the UNC campus.
There have been a few rumors floating around about the possibility of moving training camp to another facility again in the future. I would think that the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs or maybe even a mountain location could be beneficial. Imagine if the Broncos were to have camp up in Vail or Summit County? The altitude advantage and conditioning would be even greater if they trained at over 7,000 feet. Plus, it would make for a sweet place for the fans to come and check out the practices. Of course there is always somewhere on the Western slope where it is flatter and hotter if that’s the approach the front office wants to take.
They could also possibly get the best of both worlds by heading down to Durango and setting up Broncos’ summer activities at Fort Lewis College. The liberal arts school has both the dormitories and athletic field necessary to pull off a successful Broncos training camp.
Off the field distractions aside, this current group of Broncos seems to all share a common goal. The Super Bowl or Bust mentality has trickled down onto the field and these guys really believe in themselves and what they are capable of achieving this season.
In a game that can truly come down to inches, maybe it is about time to reap every benefit out there and get back to the Broncos original training camp roots. I am pretty sure that the overwhelming majority of fans would trade being inconvenienced and having to drive a bit to go see the practices in exchange for a Super Bowl win with zero hesitation.
Now we just have to get the front office on board to part with their luxury items, hire a moving company for those essential electronics and restore the old school training camp tradition of a remote location.
