DENVER — A new fan experience is coming to Chopper Circle for Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche home playoff games.
The fan zones, named Base Camp 5280 for Nuggets games and Avs Alley for Avalanche games will have live broadcasts of the games from a 20-foot video board.
There will be DJs, food trucks, giveaways and even appearances from mascots and dance teams.
Director of Marketing Communications with Kroenke Sports and Entertainment Jim Mulvihill describes the space as “basically a whole game experience right outside the arena.”
"For the last few years, we have done parties on the plaza that are pre-game events," he said.
"This is the first time that we will have a viewing area with a 20-foot video board for people to come and watch the game as it's happening outside of the arena. So if you want to feel that game day excitement, if you want to come be part of that buzz that people feel outside of the arena, then this is the place you want to come watch with your fellow fans," he exclaimed.
- Watch the full interview with Mulvihill in the video player below.
Mulvihill said the space can hold close to 4,000 fans and the initial allotment of tickets have already been claimed. The space will be free for fans for the first two rounds of playoffs, but attendees must still secure a pass for entry.
“As we monitor the capacity here on site, we’ll be dropping more tickets because a lot of fans will be stopping by but then going inside if they have a ticket to the game. So then we’ll make more available so we can keep this space filled up,” Mulvihill said.
Mulvihill also touched on security for the fan zone, saying, "the key things to know about these watch parties are that they're on our property, so we are in control of the entire event," he said.
"There'll be a lot of security, both private and DPD, but also it's a ticketed event limited to 3,700 guests, so we know exactly how many people are going to come. We know what the footprint is going to be. It'll all be fenced in and secure. We think about safety all the time here, it's one of our highest priorities," he added.
The fan zones will open two hours before each home playoff game.
Mulvihill predicts the vibe in the new space will be “off the charts.”
Representatives for the Nuggets and the Avs also chiming in on all the excitement.
Kerry Anne Biren, the Director of Marketing for the Nuggets says, "Nuggets are surging at the right time. We're healthy, we're winning, we're really looking forward to playoffs, and we're really excited to just bring it alive for fans".
She encouraged fans to not only bring their cheer but their jackets as well Saturday with the colder temperatures.
She's optimistic that the Nuggets will be in the playoffs for awhile so she says Saturday shouldn't be your only chance to make use of the new fan area for Nuggets games.
And after Nuggets fans break in the new area, Avs fans will take over Sunday as it transforms to Avs Alley.
Kate Pettersen, a reporter for the Avs described the build up to Sunday's game saying, "it's been sort of this, like long drawn out last week and a half of the season because the Avs clinched the President's Trophy in first place".
"The way that the Avs faith will show up, it's great to have that home ice advantage," she added.
When the Nuggets take on the Timberwolves for Game 1 of the series, Base Camp 5280 will open at 11:30 a.m. Tip off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
Passes for Base Camp 5280 for Saturday's Nuggets game against the Timberwolves can be found here.
Avs Alley passes for Sunday's game one against the LA Kings can be found here.
Game two passes for Avs Alley can be found here.
