Zero Week might be the start of high school football season tonight, but Denver’s value has greatly increased thanks to its professional teams.
The Avalanche, Broncos, Nuggets and Rockies have combined to sponsor lower-level sports teams, improve facilities and start a program to check younger competitors’ grades and attendance.
This year, the unique union has produced a much-needed face-lift at All-City Stadium, the district site and all-purpose field. The improvements were finished this week, including a new field.
For more than a decade and with approximately $2.75 million donated in that time, the pro teams’ touch has been evolving locally. Those teams have helped 32 Denver middle schools to offer 11 sports.
“The middle school kid in that age group needs something to do after school, and this is the one thing I know that can work,” said John Andrew, the city’s middle school manager of athletics.
Over more than two decades, middle school sports programs across Colorado have struggled or been discontinued, but Denver’s are rising. From cross country to volleyball, there are three city middle school seasons, just as in high school, with a much-needed addition of contact football — complete with Broncos-replica uniforms — that will begin this spring so as not to conflict with youth leagues. The district also offers flag football in the fall.
“I get some letters from coaches and they say, if not for sports, even in middle school, their kids would drop out,” said Deb Dowling-Canino, vice president of community relations for Kroenke Sports. “It’s very important.”
The Broncos’ recent efforts in football play off those of the Rockies’ long-term commitment to city baseball and softball, which include new fields across the state and summer leagues in Denver.
“It’s wonderful to find something we can all do together,” Dowling-Canino said.
Cindy Kellogg, vice president of Broncos community development, said the organization “is just thrilled to be a part of it.”
For years, the Broncos have hosted upper-level prep football championship games at Invesco Field at Mile High, and the Rockies have hosted regular-season prep baseball games at Coors Field.
“This has helped us keep more of our (middle school) kids in our high schools,” Andrew said. “In every sport, you can see it.”
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
