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Finally More Than a Stop Along the Way — Why Denver is Starting to Keep Its Sports Heroes

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WKND 20251031 ColoradoKeepsItsHeroes

Favorite people, favorite places,

Favorite memories of the past

These are the joys of a lifetime

Those are the things that last

– Henry Van Dyke

There’s no better place to be a fan of local sports than in Denver and in Colorado in general. Not only is Denver one of the few “four-sport” cities in the United States, but Colorado also blesses sports fans with a wealth of other options, both professional and collegiate. The mountains offer another bounty of winter and extreme sporting alternatives that very few other states can even attempt to match. That same set of goodness also offers some of the best golfing and hiking in the world. And then most all of that is tucked into one of the most beautiful (and advantageous) settings in the country. If you want to enjoy (almost) any sport on the planet, you can do so in Denver, and often enjoy your team winning due to their own home-court advantage. It’s no wonder folks who identify themselves as Coloradans tend to be a bit mental about their sports, and their home.

But it’s not just the fans that feel that way. Not any more.

While the players on Colorado’s teams have often lauded the fans and the beauty of the state, very few of them ended up wanting to stay, at least in the earliest days of those clubs. While Denver Broncos players have now long wanted to be with the club, there was a time pre-John Elway that Denver was as romantic-sounding a destination for free agents as Cleveland. It wasn’t until a singular player showed up and made his career here that the organization became a much more premier destination.

The Colorado Avalanche had a slightly different arc in that regard, coming to the city through relocation rather than expansion, and took that advantage to heart in bringing the city its first championship. But as that first key core started to age out and away from the game, there was a lengthy moment that the Avs took a moment away from being a for-sure top-tier destination. With the lengthy stay of the current core, there have been a lot more players (Hello, Martin Nećas) who see Colorado as a great place to be.

And that’s true for the Denver Nuggets as well, who have had their fair share of stars come and go over the years. but none who were looking at Denver as their forever place until this Championship core spent the last decade-plus here in town. Denver has become a serious destination for players who want a great and winning situation with guys who can elevate their game (and their paychecks).

Maybe that’s the real thread of it all for the players, still less about what a special place Colorado is, and more about playing in a winning situation. There might not be any appeal to playing in any beautiful spot if your team is guaranteed a last place finish every year as well. The competitive spirit can only take so much. It’s also probably why I had a lot tougher time finding Colorado Rockies examples for this next bit, but there has been a decided thread of Denver/Colorado players these last few months not only declaring their undying love for the place, but their desire to wrap up their careers here. To name a few…

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“I hope to end my career here… I wanna be in Denver. I love it here.”

– J.K. Dobbins, Denver Broncos running back

“Seeing how good the guys are and how special this group is, that was a big part of why I wanted to sign here. I want to be winning.”

-Martin Nećas, Colorado Avalanche forward, who just signed an eight year deal with the club.

"Seeing how good the guys are and how special this group is, that was a big part of why I wanted to sign here. I want to be winning."

Martin Necas speaks on the group and the trust that went into signing an 8-year deal, as well as his excitement about staying in CO. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/uomRcrDxAl

— DNVR Avalanche (@DNVR_Avalanche) October 30, 2025

“My plan is to be Nuggets forever…”

-Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets center

These are all within the last month. You can find several more examples from players on each of these teams over the last few years. Like I said, was unfortunately harder pressed to find a Rockies example, but… never say never. Over and above the commentary of those folks above currently playing in happy situations, there’s math to be had from the plethora of retired former Colorado athletes, Adam Foote, Eric Young, John Elway, and dozens more, who choose to keep Colorado as their home after they retire. The love goes full circle, from the moment athletes and fans find this passionate sports town, to the reasons they eventually decide to stay. I can understand. Even after living out of the state the last 17 years, it’s really the only place I feel right back at home.

So whichever side of the equation you’re on in Colorado – on the field or in the stands – this is one of the golden moments to be involved in Colorado sports. The place is always gorgeous. But rarely do expectations like these also get to be a Mile High.