Broncos Fanzone: Mary Vaccaro’s First Home Game
By Tylor Walden
Sep 13, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos fans react to a pass inference call on Broncos strong safety David Bruton (not pictured) in the fourth quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos won 19-13. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
It has been quite some time since we have seen the Broncos play a home game. In fact, when the Broncos take on the Packers, it will be the first home game since October 4th when the team faced another NFC North opponent, the Minnesota Vikings.
The Broncos get the luxury of playing six of their final ten games at home this season. While it will only be every other week until after Christmas, it will give the Broncos faithful a weekend to meet up and connect with other friends.
Back during the Vikings matchup, I had a good friend of mine make her trip to Denver and watch her first home game. Being fans on the east coast makes it difficult to go to a game that the Broncos are at.
In fact, unless the Ravens or Steelers can win the AFC North, the Broncos will not be traveling to the east coast during the 2016 season. So, it will make it difficult for those fans. But true fans will travel, and that is exactly what my friend has decided to do.
Mary Vaccaro is a huge Broncos fan who lives out on the east coast. She had decided to go to her first home game back during the offseason and in the month of October took off to Denver to see the sights and to see a Denver Broncos home game.
The visit also allowed Mary to meet some friends who lived in the Denver area as well as those who have traveled as well. It was definitely an experience one will never be able to forget.
I sat down with Mary and got to talk to her about her experience during the week she was there. Our main point of conversation was about the game. We began by talking about her experience of her first home game.
General view of Aqib Talib as he gets ready for the Broncos game against the Minnesota Vikings. Photo Credit: Mary Vaccaro
“My experience of the game began at six in the morning. I was excited knowing that my first Broncos home game day had arrived. I felt like a five year old on Christmas morning. I got ready in a hurry and proudly displayed my Manning jersey.”
“On the way to the stadium, the excitement was at an all time high. When we drove into the stadium parking lot, seeing all the fellow Broncos fans tailgating and getting pumped, I felt like I was home.”
“I was able to get pre-game field passes, so I was off to claim my spot in line for the best viewing spot. Walking out onto the field at Mile High, viewing the stadium as not many others get to, That was my favorite moment of the game. Never would I thought in my wildest dreams, did I imagine that I would be within feet of the Broncos, let alone have some of them acknowledge me.”
“It was an experience that I will never forget and I am very blessed to be able to say that I lived it.”
Sounds like Mary had quite an interesting time. I will admit, I am a little jealous about those field passes. She did manage to snap the photos of the Broncos acknowledging her. Aqib Talib and David Bruton Jr. made her day.
General view of David Bruton Jr. as he acknowledges fans on the sideline. Photo Credit: Mary Vaccaro
I asked Mary if it was her first trip to the Mile High City. While she has never been to a game up until that point, she did mention that she has been in Denver before. She talks about how amazing it was to meet people there too.
“This was not my first trip to Denver, but it was my first one to Sports Authority Field. Besides the game, I loved that I was able to meet up with some great people from Broncos Country whom I have gotten to know through Twitter.”
“It was amazing to feel such a connection with people who I had never met before in person. There was no awkwardness and it felt like we were good friends for years already. The group that I spent that weekend with were so generous and had huge hearts. I made new friendships that I am sure will last in the years to come. I can’t wait to see them again.”
One thing that I enjoy about social media is getting to meet fans from all over. It is a good thing that Mary got to meet such great fans who have the same likes as she does as far as NFL teams go.
Being a fan of the Broncos on the east coast, many of them get questions as to how they became fans of a team halfway across the states. So, I wanted to see how Mary became a fan of the team.
“I get asked that question a lot. No one in my family was a Broncos fan. But I did watch games with my dad on Sunday afternoons. My love affair for the Broncos began in 1986 when they faced off against the Cleveland Browns in the AFC Championship Game.”
“Being in Jersey, it marked the first game I saw of the Broncos due to geographics. They were trailing in the game, so I wanted to root for the underdog. And that is when “The Drive” began. After that, I was instantly hooked. I remember my dad saying “That’s a great quarterback there.” Despite them losing the Super Bowl that year, they gained a fan for life.”
Nice memory Mary! Not a bad first Broncos memory. The win against the Browns was perhaps the biggest one in franchise history. She also mentions that she got to drive past Mile High Stadium when the family traveled cross country every summer.
With all of those experiences, including getting to see Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders make catches within feet of her, I asked her if she planned on coming back to Sports Authority Field. Needless to say that it was foolish of me to ask her such a question.
“I know my experience at a Broncos home game is skewed being as I live in New Jersey. I envy my fellow Broncos fans that live in Colorado. If I could afford to fly out for every home game, I would without question. I’ve been waiting for “some day, some day” and then some day finally happened.”
“The day far exceeded my expectations. The feeling of being “United in Orange” was the best feeling in the world. You want to know if I will be back? I am already planning ahead for next year!”
Awesome Mary! We look forward to seeing you in Denver next year. Until then, keep representing the orange and blue on the east coast!