Elmer Gonzales Jr.'s Denver basement, full of more than 26 years of Broncos memorabilia, has seen approximately 1,000 visitors.
“My dad’s a huge fan and he started the collection before I was born. And as soon as I knew what a collection was, I started collecting,” said Gonzales, 26, who won one of two pairs of playoff tickets in YourHub.com’s Broncos playoff ticket giveaway on Jan. 13.
“If it’s got a Broncos logo, he collects it,” said Gonzales’ mother, Shirley Gonzales.
He can also make it, with the help of his mother. Gonzales said he made a “Mini-Miles”, complete with homemade shoes featuring Denver Broncos logos.
He said he used an old Bronco horse head hat and tilted it onto a kid-sized manikin to create the three-and-a-half-foot miniature Broncos mascot.
“Miles fell off of his chair laughing,” said Elmer Gonzales, of the team mascot’s reaction when he saw “Mini-Miles”.
His mother said that Miles took a picture of himself with the miniature mascot and autographed it, “To Mini-Me, Love, Miles.”
Gonzales believes his post won the Broncos playoff ticket giveaway because he posted pictures and a story that proved he was a bigger Broncos fan than everyone else.
“My basement is probably the biggest asset. Even Raiders fans comment on how they wish they had that much memorabilia,” said Gonzales.
Gonzales said that he’s been told many times that he should charge admission to his basement museum.
“I love the Broncos and I’d share my museum with anyone who’d like to see it,” he said.
Gonzales shares his love for the Broncos by also giving away Broncos autographs, his mother said.
“I like to get their collections started,” said Elmer Gonzales. He said he also helps other fans at training camps and other Broncos events to “show them how it’s done.”
Gonzales’ pair of playoff tickets came with two pregame field passes and he said he will take a lot of pictures and find the fifth level of seats at Invesco Field while he is on the field, so he can point toward his friends who will be sitting there - a bit of justice after they have given him a hard time for not having tickets to the Jan. 14 playoff game against the New England Patriots.
He said he is taking his father, Elmer Gonzales Sr., to the game.
You may view Gonzales’ winning submission and share your opinion on his passion for the Denver Broncos by visiting <http://denver.yourhub.com/Story.aspx?contentid=42206>