With one move to give the Denver Broncos a special variance, Jared Polis spits in the face of NIVA, Independent venue owners, and thousands of taxpaying Coloradans working in the live entertainment industry
It’s no secret that state and local governments have a downright unhealthy relationship with sports perpetuated by the cycles of building wasteful and architecturally challenged stadiums and gentrifying minority neighborhoods. All of this suffering then is subsidized by the taxpayer for wealthy loyalists to enjoy on a few Sundays each year. Denver and the Broncos are no exception to that.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis makes a point during a news conference on the state’s efforts against the new coronavirus Tuesday, July 21, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Given this trend, it was inevitable that the governor’s office approved a variance to the COVID guidelines allowing roughly 5700 tickets to be sold in “pods” of 175 people each for upcoming Broncos games.
What was a surprise, is that Polis and city offices approved the “Broncos Variance” ahead of any other submitted, showing off some blatant preferential treatment in the face of independent venues across the state hemorrhaging money during the pandemic.
I hopped on a Zoom call with the CEO/Executive Director Levitt Pavilion Denver Chris Zacher to talk about what’s happening in Colorado right now. Chris also is the NIVA (National Independent Venue Association) Captain State of Colorado and the Co-Chair NIVA Emergency Relief Fund.
“I remember saying to Evan Dryer, who’s the Mayor’s Deputy Chief of Staff a couple of weeks ago that the process has to be fair across the board. It just has to be, because if it’s not, what you’re indicating to all of us is that who you really care about are millionaires and billionaires.”