You’re sitting on your couch, watching the orange and blue blur across the screen, and you think, "I should be there." But then you look at ticket prices. Ouch. Checking secondary markets like StubHub or SeatGeek can feel like staring at a mortgage payment just to sit in the 500 level. Here’s the thing most people don’t realize: the Denver Broncos actually have a mandate to keep football accessible. It’s part of their agreement with the Metropolitan Football Stadium District. Basically, they have to sell a couple thousand tickets at a massive discount every single year.
It's the Denver Broncos half off tickets program. It’s real. It’s competitive. And if you don't know the specific window when they drop, you’re basically donating your money to a billionaire's pocket instead of keeping it for beer and nachos at the stadium.
The ADA and Public Funding Factor
Why does a team that sells out every game bother with half-price seats? It isn't just out of the goodness of the Walton-Penner group’s hearts. When Empower Field at Mile High was built, taxpayers chipped in. A lot. Part of that deal requires the team to offer a specific allotment of tickets—usually around 2,000 per game—at a price that is 50% of the face value.
These aren't just the "nosebleed" seats either. While a lot of them are in the 500 level, they are distributed across various sections. You're getting the same view as the person next to you, but you paid half. It feels like a heist. Honestly, it kind of is.
When Do They Actually Go on Sale?
Timing is everything. If you show up in September looking for these, you're months too late. The Broncos typically release the Denver Broncos half off tickets in late July or very early August. This coincides with the start of training camp.
Mark your calendar for the last week of July. The team usually announces the exact date and time via their official social media channels and email newsletter about 24 to 48 hours before the window opens. If you aren't signed up for the "Broncos Promos" email list on the official website, you’re already behind. You need to be at your computer, logged into Ticketmaster, at least 15 minutes before the clock hits 10:00 AM MST.
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The Ticketmaster Hunger Games
It’s a frenzy. Seriously. You’ll be placed in a virtual waiting room. Do not refresh. I repeat: Do not refresh. The system will kick you to the back of the line, and by the time you get back in, the games against the Raiders or the Chiefs will be long gone.
Usually, there is a limit. In recent years, it’s been four tickets per household for the entire season. You can't buy four tickets to every game. You have to choose. Do you want to see a division rival, or do you want the best chance of actually getting a seat by picking a lower-demand matchup like a cross-conference game against a struggling NFC team?
Why You Can’t Find Them on Resale Sites
If you see a ticket on a third-party site claiming to be a "half-price ticket," be very careful. One of the ways the Broncos prevent scalpers from ruining this program is by making these tickets non-transferable.
They use digital-only delivery through the Broncos 365 app. You can’t just email the PDF to a buddy or list them on an exchange. You have to be the one walking through the gate with that phone. This keeps the tickets in the hands of actual fans rather than bots looking to flip a $60 seat for $150. If you can't go, you can usually return them to the box office for a refund, but you aren't going to make a profit on them.
Strategy for the Mid-Season Lull
What if you missed the July frenzy? Don't give up hope. Sometimes, returned tickets or unused allotments from visiting teams trickle back into the system. It’s rare, but checking the official Ticketmaster map on a Tuesday or Wednesday before a home game can occasionally yield a "Verified Ticket" that isn't at a resale markup.
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Also, keep an eye on the "flexible" pricing. The NFL uses dynamic pricing now. While the Denver Broncos half off tickets are a fixed discount on a set face value, some of the upper-deck seats for late-season games—especially if the weather looks like a blizzard or the team is out of playoff contention—can drop significantly. It’s not a formal "half off" program, but the math ends up looking pretty similar.
The Single Game Ticket Trap
Most fans go straight for the big games. The home opener. Monday Night Football. Christmas Day games. If you want to actually secure the discount, aim for the preseason games or the early October slots. The demand is slightly lower, giving you those extra few seconds in the checkout process that make the difference between "Order Confirmed" and "Sorry, another fan beat you to it."
Nuances of the Seating Chart
The 500 level at Empower Field is steep. I mean, really steep. If you have vertigo or hate heights, even a half-price ticket might not be worth the stress. However, sections 501-505 and 538-542 (the north end zone) offer a "Madden-style" view of the plays developing. You see the holes opening up for the running back before he even hits them.
The half-price seats are scattered, but a large chunk is in these high-altitude sections. You’re paying for the atmosphere, the "Incomplete!" chant, and the sound of the thunder coming off the stadium floor. You aren't paying for a cushioned club seat with a personal waiter.
What About Fees?
Let’s be real: Ticketmaster is going to get their cut. Even when the ticket itself is 50% off, you’re still paying service fees. A $60 ticket (which would normally be $120) might still end up costing you $75 after all the digital "convenience" charges are tacked on. It’s still a steal, but don't expect the final price to be exactly half of the total price a full-payer pays, because those fees are often flat or percentage-based on the original value.
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Real-World Example: The 2024 Drop
Looking back at the most recent cycles, the Broncos released their half-price inventory in late July. They sold out of the entire season’s allotment in less than 20 minutes. That is roughly 18,000 to 20,000 tickets gone in the time it takes to grab a coffee.
If you weren't one of the lucky ones, your next best bet is the "Power Hour" at certain local partner locations or secondary promotions through team sponsors like King Soopers or Coca-Cola. Sometimes they run "buy one get one" deals for specific "Community Days," though these have become increasingly rare as the team’s valuation has skyrocketed.
Actionable Steps to Get Your Seats
Stop waiting for a miracle and start prepping. If you want to actually sit in those seats next season, here is the exact protocol.
- Create your Ticketmaster account now. Don't wait until the day of. Ensure your credit card info is updated and your phone number is verified for two-factor authentication. That 60-second delay waiting for a text code is how people lose their tickets.
- Download the Broncos 365 App. This is the only way you’re getting into the stadium with these specific tickets. Familiarize yourself with the interface.
- Sync with the Schedule Release. The NFL schedule usually drops in mid-May. Pick three "target" games. Don't just have one. If your first choice is sold out when you get through the queue, you need to instantly pivot to your second choice.
- The "Two-Device" Rule. Have one person on a laptop and another on a tablet. Don't use two browsers on the same device (Ticketmaster often flags this as bot behavior). Use two different internet connections if possible—one on Wi-Fi and one on 5G.
- Watch the "Verified Resale" Toggle. When the map opens, make sure you are filtering for "Standard Tickets" and specifically looking for the half-price designation. Sometimes the resale tickets (which are way more expensive) are turned on by default to clutter your view.
Getting Denver Broncos half off tickets is a bit of a sport in itself. It requires reflexes, a bit of luck, and a solid internet connection. But when you’re standing in the stands, the Rocky Mountains are purple in the distance, and the Broncos just scored a touchdown, knowing you paid $60 while the guy next to you paid $180 makes the beer taste just a little bit better.