Does altitude really give the Broncos a home field advantage?

[sneakers]

You always here from players that it does. Or is it just an urban myth?

But I got thinking, why don't the denver nuggets win every home game because the otehr team is so winded?

[Frenchy180]

It does as far as field goals go lol...

and the nuggets just have a bad coach is all.

[// / yardo]

Altitude has a huge effect on respiratory functions. I live at 7,500 ft above sea level in a city mostly driven by tourism and I see at least one or two tourists each summer carted out of restaurants because of breathing problems and lack if oxygen. Consider that and now try running.

Denver is at 5,500 and that's still a big difference for athletes used to performing at or around sea level. So it is a benefit to us. Especially with the bigger guys like defensive lineman.

[Remedy]

Altitude has a huge effect on respiratory functions. I live at 7,500 ft above sea level in a city mostly driven by tourism and I see at least one or two tourists each summer carted out of restaurants because of breathing problems and lack if oxygen. Consider that and now try running.

Denver is at 5,500 and that's still a big difference for athletes used to performing at or around sea level. So it is a benefit to us. Especially with the bigger guys like defensive lineman.

That is where I see the biggest advantage...

Basketball Players are going to be in much better shape as far as the cardiovascular system is concerned... where as a bigboy playing the line not so much.

[broncosking209]

I personally know Syd'quan Thompson and the 1st thing he told me about playing in denver was that the altitude there is no joke. He said they keep an extra 10 or so oxygen tanks on the sideline because so many players need them.. Factor in the no huddle peytons gonna be running and you got yourself a ball game

[Broncoholic3233]

You always here from players that it does. Or is it just an urban myth?

But I got thinking, why don't the denver nuggets win every home game because the otehr team is so winded?

Nuggets have dominated at home this past decade.

Just this year we haven't.

I'd say it helps a little but not a ton

[// / yardo]

I personally know Syd'quan Thompson and the 1st thing he told me about playing in denver was that the altitude there is no joke. He said they keep an extra 10 or so oxygen tanks on the sideline because so many players need them.. Factor in the no huddle peytons gonna be running and you got yourself a ball game

That was one of the first things I thought about. Peyton Manning running his no huddle offense in Denver wearing out defenses late in the fourth quarter.

[Papa-pwn]

The altitude is killer if you're not used to it. Personally, I love it because I know I'm working my lungs a lot harder than someone at sea level running at the same pace for the same duration. Therefore, if I were to go to sea level, I could probably outlast him as my muscles had become accustomed to receiving much less oxygen than is available at sea level.

So, yes, I believe the altitude can provide a conditioning bonus, but thats if you take advantage of it. In training camp, the conditioning test is weak and the conditioning they do in practice is even weaker.

[japfaff]

I personally think that it is a myth. I grew up at the beach in Cali......lived for years in Cali, and North Carolina. Running is a passion of mine. I train at roughly sea lvl......Some years ago I ran a marathon in denver....My time was a lil slower (about 5 to 7 mins)....But I was a mid 30's guy and not a 22 year old pro athlete........I just think that it is way overblown, as seen by how poorly we have done at home the last decade of so

[olgrouch]

Got a question for you.
You play a game in Oakland it kind of stormy the measured air pressure is 29.78" hg.
You play another game in Denver it's a warm sunny day the air pressure is 30.05" hg.
During which game do you have higher air density available for respiration?

[theMileHighGuy]

It just depends on whether you're playing Ryan Clark or not....

[milehighireland]

You always here from players that it does. Or is it just an urban myth?

But I got thinking, why don't the denver nuggets win every home game because the otehr team is so winded?

Because the Nuggets aren't very good anymore. So the same reason we struggled at home in recent years up to now basically. Rewind about two years when melo and chauncey were there and the nuggets dominated at home.

I'd imagine that with Manning running his hurry-up, fast tempo offence that we will be very difficult to keep up with in Mile High. If he's back to his old self and runs the same offence we'll be over 6 home wins a year as long as we have him.

[hardcorebronco]

Live in Georgia, been in Denver. Yes, it plays a huge difference. Watch opposing sidelines, when the defense gets off the field they all go plug in to oxygen tanks and the same for the other units. That said, most professional athletes are well conditioned and can handle it fairly well.

[JvDub95]

You always here from players that it does. Or is it just an urban myth?

But I got thinking, why don't the denver nuggets win every home game because the otehr team is so winded?

I think it's an advantage. I've been to Denver quite a few times and every time I go there the first day or 2 I get light headed. The thin air is something that you have to get used to if you are not from there.

[jarbronco]

I lived in Colo Springs for a good part of the 80's and then Denver for a few years in the 90's. Each time I had to adjust my workout routine for at least 2 months upon getting into town. Each time I became very ill within weeks, before I accclimated. These were the only two times in my life I had ever been that sick.

It is a fact that there is less oxygen in the air at that altitude due to atmospheric pressure being lower creating a less dense atmosphere.

My personal history tells me there are long term effects, whether or not this means it affects people in a short term, such as flying in and playing a 3 hour game, is another thing.

Either way, even if there isn't a short term physical effect, there is without a doubt a mental effect on a good sized proportion of the people involved.

There is a sucker born every minute....