A half-million people celebrate the Avs
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Colorado Avalanche player Erik Johnson kisses the Stanley Cup during a victory parade in downtown Denver on June 30, 2020. Photo: Esteban L. Hernandez/Axios
Downtown Denver was awash with burgundy and blue on Thursday, as thousands of fans stood shoulder to shoulder to watch the Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup victory parade.
Details: The celebration showcasing the oldest trophy in North American sports started in Denver's historic Lower Downtown, with players and coaches atop slow-rolling fire trucks.
- The trophy passed the Oxford Hotel, which was built just two years before the Stanley Cup was first awarded in 1893.
- The parade featured University of Denver and Denver East High School hockey players, both national champions.
- The National Lacrosse League champions Colorado Mammoth were also present.
By the numbers: The city expected at least 200,000 people along the parade route and at the Civic Center Park rally — nearly a third of Denver's population — while the Denver Fire Department estimated that 500,000 ended up attending.
- You couldn't move an inch without bumping into adults, kids, toddlers and even some dogs sporting Avs gear.
- Both Mayor Michael Hancock and Gov. Jared Polis appeared at the rally, and were greeted with boos.
- Colorado Avalanche player Erik Johnson led the rally in a rendition of Blink-182's "All The Small Things."
What they're saying: Victor Rogers and Gabrielle Dewberry brought their four children — Carlos, Lila, Camila and baby Benecio — from Centennial to watch the parade.
- Rogers grew up in Denver and saw the Avs win previous titles. "It's just a life-changing event, so I wanted to make sure they had the opportunity to experience it," he told Axios Denver.
