Denver Broncos games rank among the NFL’s priciest, but the beer’s a bargain

Here’s something Broncos fans can brag about besides the defense. A new analysis of NFL game-day costs from the betting site Bovada found that a beer at Empower Field at Mile High costs an average of $8.29. That’s about $2.30 under the league average and the cheapest in the AFC West. Raiders fans pay $14.99 a beer in Las Vegas, and Chargers fans pay $14 at SoFi Stadium. Even Chiefs fans at Arrowhead pay $9.20. That’s one more category where we beat Kansas City.

It gets better. At $16.49, a beer at Washington’s Northwest Stadium is the most expensive in the NFL. That’s almost exactly what two beers cost at Mile High. Add the cheapest hot dog at Empower, $5, and a Denver beer-and-dog combo comes to $13.29. That’s still less than a single beer in Las Vegas, Tampa or Los Angeles.

There is a catch. Once you add everything up, a Broncos game is still one of the most expensive days out in the league. The study ranked Empower Field eighth for total game-day cost at $425.79. Most of that is the ticket: the median lower-bowl seat costs $387.50. Parking adds about $25. Basically, everyone wants to be at Mile High on Sunday, and that demand pushes prices up.

To put it in perspective, Eagles fans have it worst. A day at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field costs $585.85. Raiders fans pay $505.78, and Chiefs fans pay $460.63. So yes, a Broncos game will put a dent in your wallet. But at least the beer comes cheaper here, and you’re watching your team instead of theirs.