The Broncos mascot name is Thunder. Thunder is the official mascot of the Denver Broncos, a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. The current version of Thunder, Thunder III, made its debut in 2009. The original Thunder mascot was a live Arabian horse named Thunderbolt, who first appeared in 1993. Thunderbolt quickly became a fan favorite and served as the team's mascot for 13 seasons. In 2004, Thunder II took over as the mascot.
A. The Denver Broncos mascot Thunder is a purebred Arabian horse.
Miles is one of the rare mascots that has traveled to countries in Europe such as Italy, Germany, Spain, and Portugal to perform for American troops at overseas bases. Originally a show horse, he was the original mascot from 1993 until his retirement in 2004, and continued to make community appearances until his death in 2009.
In 2004, Thunder II took over as the mascot. Thunder II was also a live Arabian horse and continued to entertain Broncos fans with its spirited performances during home games. However, due to concerns about the well-being and safety of live animals in crowded football stadiums, the Denver Broncos organization decided to transition to a new type of mascot.
Thunder (Denver Broncos)
Thunder is the stage name for the horse who is the official live animal mascot for the Denver Broncos football team. Three purebred Arabians have held this position, all gray horses whose coats lightened with age until they were completely white. Thunder has appeared in four Super Bowls with the Broncos, including an appearance by "Thunder III" at Super Bowl 50 in 2016. Thunder shares mascot duties with Miles, a human who wears a fake horse head and a Broncos uniform.
Thunder's job usually includes leading the team onto the field at the start of every home game and running from one end of the field to the other when the team scores a touchdown or a field goal. He and his rider also interact with fans prior to each game; the horse is particularly popular with children, who are allowed to pet him. The horses who have served as Thunder are trained to trust their handlers and to remain calm in situations that would normally frighten horses, including being inside loud football stadiums filled with thousands of fans and performing in the presence of exploding pyrotechnics, loud music, cheerleaders waving pom-poms, skydivers landing on the field, and other spectacles common to both American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) games. The first Thunder performed at two Super Bowl games during his career, and, as of 2016, Thunder III has appeared at Super Bowl XLVIII and Super Bowl 50. In 2014, Thunder III also made promotional appearances in Times Square and on television morning news shows in New York City. Thunder is routinely asked to appear in parades and at many other public functions. He has needed to travel in airplanes, ride on elevators, appear indoors for press conferences, visit hospitals and schools, and on at least one occasion, walked amongst banquet tables in a hotel ballroom.
The first Thunder, later named "Thunder, Sr.", was a stallion whose registered name was JB Kobask. Originally a show horse, he was the original mascot from 1993 until his retirement in 2004, and continued to make community appearances until his death in 2009. He was succeeded by the gelding Winter Solstyce, foaled in 1994, the personal pleasure riding horse for his owner, who took over as "Thunder II" in 2004. Thunder II retired from performing in games in early 2014 after the Broncos won the AFC Championship for the 2013-2014 season, but continued to make public appearances. "Thunder III", whose registered name is Me N Myshadow, was the understudy to Thunder II, specifically trained to become the next Thunder, beginning when he was started under saddle at age three, and began performing at preseason games in 2013. Although Thunder II was the mascot for the 2013-14 season, Thunder III went to Super Bowl XLVIII because he was younger and better able to handle being shipped by air to the east coast. Each mascot had a different personality: JB Kobask was very bold, while Winter Solstyce was more timid at first but grew into the role, being notable for his friendliness to people and for his tendency to pose for cameras. Me N Myshadow is laid-back and would prefer to doze off during games when he is not performing; he wears ear plugs to protect his hearing. Sharon Magness-Blake has owned all three horses. The trainer and rider of Thunder is Ann Judge-Wegener.
Miles is the costumed white stallion who has orange hair and eyes. He typically wears the Broncos orange jersey with the number 00 and white pants. Miles is the one entertaining the fans and getting them ready for the game. He celebrates the points and can be seen dancing around to great plays by the team. According to his backstory, Miles was born on January 31, 1999, but he started appearing as a mascot from 2001 onwards.
This led to the introduction of Thunder III, a costumed mascot who represents the spirit of Thunderbolt and Thunder II. Thunder III is a muscular, anthropomorphic horse who wears the Broncos' team colors and sports the team's logo on its chest. The mascot interacts with fans, performs at games, and participates in various community and charity events. The mascot's name, Thunder, is fitting for an athletics-focused team like the Denver Broncos. It conveys a sense of power, energy, and excitement, which aligns well with the team's image and brand. Broncos fans eagerly anticipate Thunder's appearances and performances, which add an element of entertainment and enthusiasm to the game day experience..
Reviews for "Making a Statement: How the Broncos Mascot Name Represents the Team's Identity"
- Sarah - 2/5 - I am a die-hard Broncos fan, but I just can't bring myself to like the new mascot name. It feels like a cheap gimmick and lacks the originality and creativity that I expect from my beloved team. I understand the attempt to create a connection to the local community, but "Broncos mascot name" just falls flat for me. I hope they reconsider and come up with something that truly represents the spirit and history of the franchise.
- John - 1/5 - I find the "Broncos mascot name" to be utterly disappointing. It sounds like a generic, generic name that lacks any originality or meaning. The Broncos deserve a mascot name that evokes power, strength, and fearlessness, but this name fails to capture any of those qualities. It's a shame to see the team settle for something so unimpressive. I hope they realize their mistake and choose a better mascot name in the future.
- Emily - 3/5 - While I appreciate the effort to involve the local community in selecting the mascot name, I have to admit that "Broncos mascot name" is not what I had in mind. It feels somewhat uninspired and doesn't really capture the excitement of being a Broncos fan. However, I can understand why some people might like it for its simplicity and straightforwardness. Overall, it's a decent name but not one that stands out or makes me particularly enthusiastic.
- Michael - 2/5 - The new Broncos mascot name just feels lazy and unimaginative. It's as if they couldn't think of anything better and settled for the most basic option. As a longtime fan, I expect more from my team, especially when it comes to something as significant as a mascot name. I hope they reconsider and come up with a more creative and engaging name that truly represents the team's spirit and legacy. "Broncos mascot name" simply doesn't do it justice.