Sports Authority Field Expands NFL Stadium Guidelines To All Events

DENVER (CBS4) - One week ago Denver Broncos fans experienced the new NFL policy on bags at Sports Authority Field at Mile High -- no purses, no backpacks and no camera bags. Now it turns out those football fans aren't the only ones impacted.

The stadium has expanded the NFL guidelines. Any fans walking through the gates for any public event will only be allowed to carry a clear bag no bigger than 12x6x12 inches, or a one-gallon plastic baggie. Fans can also bring a clutch purse, but only as big as a hand.

Stadium officials say extending the policy across the board just made sense.

"Be Clear" signs can be found propped up all around Sports Authority Field. They explain in detail the NFL new bag policy.

"We think it's important to be consistent between all of the events that happen at the stadium, so we are going to be implementing it for all other events," said Andy Gorchaov, Stadium Management Company General Manager.

Gorchaov says although the idea was prompted by the NFL, they want to keep fans safe in every situation.

"We've got obviously the Denver Outlaws that play here in the summer, we do concerts, any public ticketed event," he said.

The first test for the new policy outside of an NFL game was the Rocky Mountain Showdown football game between the University of Colorado and Colorado State University on Sunday. Gorchaov said they've worked closely with both CU and CSU officials to make sure students knew the policy is in place, but some were still not aware when they showed up for the game.

"I had no idea, I guess it's a little inconvenient, you don't know when you show up," CU student Lauren Krzyminski said. "My purse is pretty small but it won't be able to get in."

CSU graduate Ali Little was also unaware of the new policy.

"If it's for safety concerns or if there have been issues in the past I can understand that, but otherwise it doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense," Little said. "I don't know how many girls come to events without purses."

Since it was the first non-NFL event, stadium management offered four bag check areas around the outside of the stadium.

"The importance of this is safety," Gorchaov said.