Mayor Mike Johnston establishes a new tradition for home playoff games
May 3, 2024, 4:18 PM
With both the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets officially on their way to the second round of the playoffs, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston established a new tradition to invigorate fans.
The event will start roughly an hour-and-a-half before each playoff game at home. Fans will meet Johnston in downtown Denver at Larmier Square for Avs games and Union Station for Nuggets games. Larimer Square is located on Larimer Street between 14th and 15th Streets, and Union Station at 1701 Wynkoop St., Denver, Colo., 80202.
For the Nuggets celebrations, Johnston, along with the Nuggets Skyline Drumline and Rocky the Mountain Lion, will guide a parade of fans. The march will start at Union Station, then go to Larimer Square and will end at Ball Arena, where the action will take place come game time. According to Johnston, the idea is that passersby will join the crowd along the way. Lucky attendees who enter online will have the chance to win a pair of tickets, autographed merchandise and gift cards at each festivity.
The Avs celebrations, dubbed “Party to Puck Drop,” include the chance to win two tickets to the game as well. To enter for a chance to win, attendees will need to enter by using a QR code at the event. Other prizes, such as player-autographed items, have been teased as well. Avs mascot, Bernie, and the Ice Patrol team will help to usher the fans to Ball from Larimer Square.
On the City Cast “Denver” podcast, featured below, Johnston noted, “It’s a playoff tradition we want to start for Denver, where every spring when we’re in the playoffs — which we will be for a long time — you come downtown, hang out, have a drink and then march over to the stadium.”
April 26 marked the inaugural Party to Puck Drop before the Avs game at home during the first round of playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets. The Avs ended up winning 6-2, which brought the series to 2-1. According to the mayor’s office, the event drew over 80 people.
The first Nuggets parade culminated just three days later with two dozen attendees. Afterward, the Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 in the series with a narrow 108-106 win.
The Avs will take on either the Dallas Stars or the Las Vegas Golden Knights in the second round. The Nuggets will kick off theirs against the Minnesota Timberwolves Saturday, May 4.
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