Broncos new stadium name is an easy call

Just say Mile High.

What's in a name? In this case, a lot.

"We got tickets for the Broncos. We're getting to go to Mile High."

"Wasn't that a great comeback victory yesterday by the Broncos at Mile High?"

"Are you ready for some football? Welcome to 'Monday Night Football.' We're excited about tonight's matchup between the Broncos and the Raiders at Mile High."

My full name on my birth certificate and some credit cards is Woodrow Wilson Paige Jr. Nobody, including my mother, calls me Woodrow Wilson Paige Jr. or Woodrow W. Paige or even Woodrow Jr. My names are Woody Paige or, to my close friends, Drow.

The official name of the Broncos' executive vice president of football operations is John Albert Elway Jr. He is John Elway, The Duke or, yes, really, Woody (based on the nickname given him in an old Denver Post column called "Pikes Peek," in which the rookie quarterback was referred to as Biff Elwood. (Gary Kubiak began calling him "Woody.")

John's (Woody) wife's name is Paige. "We've talked about that 'Woody and Paige' thing," Paige Elway told me last year. She seemed only mildly amused.

International Business Machines is IBM. Where the University of Tennessee plays its home games is Shields-Watkins Field at Neyland Stadium. Shields and his wife, Watkins, were donors long ago. That mouthful of a moniker almost is never used. Neyland Stadium is.

Not a soul in this town ever utters the authorized name "The United States Mint at Denver." It is, appropriately, "The Denver Mint."

But because some corporation pays millions of dollars to the Broncos and the Metropolitan Football District to slap its name on the football stadium, you and I and this newspaper and TV anchors and the networks' broadcasters constantly are ordered to say "(Fill in the blank company) Field at Mile High."

Mile High what?

Mile High Stadium. That's a traditional, meaningful, championship name — unique to Denver.

How many Super Bowls have the Broncos won in the 10 seasons since the new stadium opened and the old name was left behind?

None.

Division titles? One. Playoff victories? One. Winning seasons? Five.

Under the banner of Mile High Stadium from 1969-2000, the Broncos won 71.1 percent of their home games.

In the past five seasons the Broncos have lost 50 percent (20-20) of their home games.

Just a mere coincidence? I don't think so.

The once dominant Broncos of Mile High Stadium have become a wimpy team at "(Fill in the blank) Field at Mile High," which no longer feels the thunder.

From the 1970s-90s, opponents were frightened to play at Mile High Stadium. Did the pitiful Raiders seem slightly scared in last year's 59-14 blowout of the Broncos on Whatever Field?

"We must return to our dominance at home," said Elway, who played his entire career at Mile High Stadium. "It starts with defense."

Or name-calling.

Never once in print, public or private have I said that dreadful tag bought by a stock investment management company.

The good news is that the con- glomerate is negotiating to sell its naming rights to the stadium to a locally based sporting goods company — Sports Authority (whose Denver roots can be traced to the upstanding Gart Bros. family). I applaud Sports Authority's chief marketing officer Jeff Schumacher's idea to at least make the name more palatable and sports-sounding.

Inves-Go Away. Goodbye, good riddance.

The bad news is that the Broncos' home will not rightfully be called Mile High Stadium (as it became in 1969 when the name was changed from Bears Stadium).

John Hickenlooper's own unusual last name became known throughout Colorado as he fought the eradication of the name Mile High Stadium. After he was elected, Hickenlooper agreed, alas, to identify the stadium by its offensive name. Now he is governor. Wonder how Hickenlooper would feel if the legislature sold the naming rights for the state Capitol to a chain of hamburger restaurants?

"Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs Yankee Stadium" wouldn't happen.

Sports Authority is offering to pay $150 million over 25 years — until about the time the Broncos will need another stadium. It won't matter to me in 2036. I will be dead.

The entire complex name doesn't have to be stated. A shortened nickname is acceptable.

The People's Choice at 5,280 feet forever will be Mile High. Say it loud, say it proud. This article was written by Woody Paige and appeared in The Denver Post.