The Broncos held an open tribute to late owner Pat Bowlen at their stadium on Tuesday with hundreds of pieces of memorabilia on display. The list of those in attendance included John Elway, Peyton Manning and over 5,000 fans.
All seven of Bowlen’s children attended the tribute and spoke with fans.
“It’s been very comforting,” said Beth Bowlen Wallace, one of Bowlen’s daughters. “It’s been an overwhelming time emotionally for all of us, but to see the fans and to see the players and the staff that have come through has brought great comfort because we realize, which we already did, it just solidifies how much my father meant to this community. It’s mirrored back to them how much this community meant to my father.”
Brittany Bowlen, Beth’s sister, said their dad would have been moved by the tribute.
“He’d be incredibly overwhelmed by all of the support and love,” she said. “And there would definitely be a small part of him that would be like, ‘What the heck?’ It’s pretty astonishing to see all of these artifacts and things that were important to him in life and meet all of these people that truly loved him.
“I think he’d be really incredibly overwhelmed by the support. I think it would be moving for him. It really would.”
