Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos: Week 18 Game Guide (2026)
Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos is Denver's home game for Week 18 of the 2026 season on Saturday, January 9, 2027 at 9:00 PM PT at Empower Field at Mile High. Current status: upcoming. This page keeps the confirmed game facts and any maintained preview or recap together at the same URL.
Game facts
Confirmed details for Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos. NFL scheduling details can change; this page omits unverified broadcast and game-day information.
- Matchup
- Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos
- Season and week
- 2026 · Week 18
- Date
- Pacific kickoff
- Venue
- Empower Field at Mile High
- Home/away
- Denver home game
- Game status
- Scheduled
Where to Watch
- Kickoff
- 9:00 PM PT
Last updated
Game Day Guide
Last updated
This is a home game at Empower Field at Mile High, and the most practical plan is to arrive early if you want parking or tailgating access. The stadium’s parking lots open 4.5 hours before kickoff, while Lot C opens 6 hours before kickoff and is first come, first served with limited spaces. Fans should also be ready for a cashless, mobile-entry setup: tickets should be on your phone, and stadium purchases are by card or contactless payment only. If you are not driving, RTD’s stadium rail stop and the Broncos Trolley are the clearest transit options. For fans staying in Denver, the Broncos’ Bar Network is the best official place to find a game-watching venue with sound on. View Game Day Guide
This is a home game at Empower Field at Mile High, and the most practical plan is to arrive early if you want parking or tailgating access. The stadium’s parking lots open 4.5 hours before kickoff, while Lot C opens 6 hours before kickoff and is first come, first served with limited spaces. Fans should also be ready for a cashless, mobile-entry setup: tickets should be on your phone, and stadium purchases are by card or contactless payment only. If you are not driving, RTD’s stadium rail stop and the Broncos Trolley are the clearest transit options. For fans staying in Denver, the Broncos’ Bar Network is the best official place to find a game-watching venue with sound on.
Important Alerts
Info
General guidance: Ticket and payment setup is fully digital
Empower Field is cashless and uses mobile entry. Load your tickets to the Denver Broncos app and be ready to pay by card or contactless payment at parking, concessions and retail.
SourceInfo
General guidance: Tailgating stops before kickoff
The stadium tailgating policy says all tailgate activity must end 60 minutes before kickoff, so do not plan to keep a lot setup running up to game time.
SourceInfo
Game listing language was still pre-finalization on one Broncos page
A Broncos contests page still referenced "DEN vs LAC on January 9 or 10, 2027." Treat that as pre-finalization wording, not as a schedule change to this verified Jan. 9 home game.
Source
Getting There
Drive and park at the stadium
Best for fans who want the shortest walk to the gates and are willing to arrive early or pre-plan departure.
Official Broncos parking lots open 4.5 hours before kickoff. Lot C opens 6 hours before kickoff and is first come, first served. The stadium advises loading parking permits into Apple Wallet or Google Pay before arrival and using the venue’s directions tools for the exit plan.
Transportation detailsRTD light rail to Empower Field at Mile High Station
Best for fans who want to avoid stadium traffic and parking search stress.
RTD says Empower Field at Mile High Station serves the stadium. The transit agency has also used game-day notices to direct Broncos fans to that stop for Chargers games, showing it is the main rail access point for Broncos home dates.
Transportation detailsBroncos Trolley
Useful for fans parking or arriving near downtown and wanting a structured last-mile option.
The venue says the Trolley runs from the Confluence Park Trolley stop behind REI at 1416 Platte Street to the Broncos Bridge Trolley stop under I-25. Return rides begin at the start of the fourth quarter and continue until 30 minutes after the game ends.
Transportation detailsStadium-adjacent rail and bus connections
Best as a backup orientation option if you are matching a route to the stadium district rather than a single stop.
Empower Field’s directions page points fans to the Empower Field and Decatur-Federal stations for light rail access, and RTD route maps show stadium-area connectivity through the Federal Crosstown corridor.
Transportation details
Parking
Official Broncos parking lots
Lots open 4.5 hours before kickoff. Parking is cashless, and advance permits should be loaded to Apple Wallet or Google Pay before arrival. Drivers should follow the venue’s exit plan toward I-25 North and South.
Parking detailsADA parking
ADA spaces are limited, first come, first served and require a valid ADA placard or registration. The venue says ADA permits are not sold in advance. Published ADA locations include Lot L and ADA sections in Lots D and G.
Parking detailsOff-site parking lots
The stadium lists Ball Arena, Auraria Campus, Denver Aquarium and Riverside Church at 2401 Alcott Street as off-site parking options when stadium parking is gone. Availability can change if those properties have their own events.
Parking details
Game Day Timeline
Typical: 6 hours before kickoff
Lot C opens
The early tailgating lot opens first and is first come, first served with limited spaces.
Typical: 4.5 hours before kickoff
Main parking lots open
Standard stadium parking becomes available.
Typical: 3 hours before kickoff
Mane Street pregame area opens on select home games
The Broncos have published Mane Street as a pregame gathering area on the south side between Gates 9 and 10 when scheduled, with family-friendly entertainment, food trucks, games and mascot or cheer appearances.
Typical: start of fourth quarter
Broncos Trolley return rides begin
Return service from the Broncos Bridge stop starts at the fourth quarter.
Typical: 60 minutes before kickoff
Tailgating must end
All tailgate parties must conclude one hour before kickoff under the stadium rules.
Typical: 30 minutes after the game ends
Broncos Trolley service ends
The venue says return rides continue until 30 minutes after the game ends.
Tailgates & Pregame
Official listing
Recurring option: Lot C early tailgating
Location: Empower Field at Mile High, Lot C
Starts: 6 hours before kickoff
The official early tailgating lot. It opens before the other stadium lots and is first come, first served with limited spaces.
Event detailsOfficial listing
Recurring option: Mane Street Presented by Ford
Location: South side of Empower Field at Mile High between Gates 9 and 10
Starts: 3 hours before kickoff
A recurring Broncos pregame gathering area on select home games with food trucks, games and family-friendly entertainment when scheduled.
Event detailsOfficial listing
Recurring option: Official Broncos Bar Network watch gatherings
Location: Denver-area and other listed Bar Network venues
Starts: Check venue for this game
Broncos bar listings are the team’s official directory for places that show every Broncos game with sound on. Some fan clubs also use these spots for watch parties.
Event details
Watch Parties
Viewing option: Official Broncos Bar Network
Location: Denver metro and other listed Broncos Bar Network venues
Starts: Check venue for this game
The Broncos’ official bar directory is the clearest local guide for game viewing. Team policy says official Broncos bars show every Broncos game with sound on, and some clubs host watch parties there.
Event detailsSpecials
- Every Broncos game shown with sound on
Viewing option: Broncos Fan Clubs and Fan Groups
Location: Various public meetup venues in the Denver area
Starts: Check venue for this game
The team’s club and fan-group pages identify recurring community watch spaces for fans who want a structured local meetup rather than a one-off party.
Event detailsViewing option: Broncos events listings
Location: Denver and other listed event locations
Starts: Check venue for this game
The Broncos’ events page shows that the team does post watch parties and rally-style fan events. Use it to check whether a current meetup has been posted for this game week.
Event details
Stadium Tips
Bring only approved bags
Allowed: one clear bag no larger than 12 x 6 x 12 inches, or one one-gallon clear freezer bag, plus a small clutch up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches. Backpacks, camera bags, large purses, diaper bags, mesh bags and oversized totes are not approved.
Official informationKnow the no re-entry rule
Broncos ticket terms say there is no re-entry once you leave the stadium. Plan food, restroom and parking needs before you go through the gates.
Official informationSmoking and marijuana rules are strict
Empower Field is a non-smoking facility. Smoking and vaping are allowed only in designated smoking areas at Gates 4, 5, 9 and 10. Marijuana possession or consumption is prohibited on stadium property, including parking lots.
Official informationAccessible parking is limited
ADA parking is first come, first served and requires a state-issued placard or registration. The venue directs fans to its ADA hotline and accessible-route materials for accommodation questions.
Official information
Interactive price observations
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Supporting ticket information
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