As Cliff Colson stood at the gameday viewing party for the Browns' Week 17 matchup against the Dolphins, an individual approached him to share her gratitude for the Mile High Browns Backers Chapter.
Colson said the individual reached out in early August to the chapter, sharing her recent move to Denver and looking for information on where Browns fans watched games each Sunday. Colson replied, telling her of their two viewing locations for each game and inviting her to join the Mile High Browns Backers.
"She said, 'I just wanted to thank you, because what you provided here to me for the games on the days that I've come to is a little bit of home,'" Colson recalled.
That moment – along with others over the years of meeting fans from Cleveland who traveled to Denver, or having two members from the London Browns Backers Chapter attend a viewing party – remind Colson of why he works to build an inviting atmosphere for the Mile High Browns Backers.
"It's heartwarming and it helps me to feel good that maybe I've helped someone have a better day or a better transition when they moved to Denver," Colson said. "There's experiences like that all over the place and all over the years, of people that have reached out to us, and we've helped to make their transition a little bit easier when they've moved here."
And the Mile High Browns Backers Chapter is being recognized for their efforts. The Browns officially announced the Mile High Browns Backers Chapter as the Browns Backers' annual Chapter of the Year by Browns Backers Worldwide, awarded to a chapter that embodies its passion for Browns fandom in their corner of the world, while also completing influential charitable efforts.
Browns Backers Worldwide exists as a non-profit organization to actively support and positively promote the Browns. It's officially recognized by the Browns organization and is considered to be one of the largest organized fan clubs in professional sports.
The award is officially voted by the Presidents Leadership Council, which consists of the top 10 chapter presidents, and an internal vote from the Browns. There were over 300 chapters apart of Browns Backers for 2024 worldwide, representing members from all 50 U.S. states and 14 countries.
When Colson became the president of the Mile High Chapter in 2020, one of his goals was to be named the Chapter of the Year. He believed that through their charitable efforts and the events they hosted, they deserved the recognition. And now, they have.
"I've put a lot of sweat into this over the last several years and before I officially became the president in 2020, I was doing a lot of work before that as well," Colson said. "So, it felt like an accomplishment – one of my best accomplishments of my life, to be perfectly honest."
Colson submitted the application for Chapter of the Year on behalf of Mile High because of the money they've raised both for local charities and the Cleveland Browns Foundation, and holding two viewing locations for watch parties on gamedays. They've also expanded their reach through their use of social media, which has drawn in people from out-of-town for gameday viewing.
"It's that creation of a game being an experience," Colson said. "And it's not necessarily all the time about the football, but I'll tell you, my attendance goes through the roof when we're doing well. But that game day experience, making it an opportunity to have fun, be around people and enjoy yourself on that Sunday – whether we win or lose – and at the same time, make some money for local causes."
The Mile High Chapter was first chartered in 1983 and had 393 registered members in 2024. Colson has been a member since 1988 and has seen the chapter grow and evolve over the last 37 years.
Over that time, they expanded to have two viewing locations in the Denver area – one at Stoney's Bar & Grill and another at Alpha Charlie's Tap & Tavern. Over the past two seasons, Colson said they have had around 8,000 Browns fans attend gamedays between both viewing locations.
On gamedays, Colson said they have a DJ at their viewing locations, helping to create an inviting and entertaining atmosphere. Colson will hop on the microphone to share stories, help promote raffle ticket sales and energize the crowd in attendance.
They also incorporated themes into two of their gamedays during the 2024 season, including a classic rock day and a classic funk music day, to add a special twist to the gameday experience.
And when the Browns traveled to Denver and faced the Broncos on Monday Night Football, they hosted a pregame party that drew around 75 people – mostly out-of-town fans who traveled for the game.
Through their gameday raffles and other charitable efforts, the Mile High Chapter raised $6,000 during 2024 – donating to three local charities in Freedom Service Dogs, Senior Support Services and Angel Eyes, as well as donating to the Cleveland Browns Foundation. Since 2018, Colson said their chapter has raised over $46,000 for donations.
"I think around the country, we're kind of well-known as a chapter that people want to be a part of and that they just want to join us on Sunday," Colson said. "I've come to the conclusion that it's not about the football sometimes – in fact, most of the time, it's not about the football. It's about getting together on Sundays and enjoying the company of people that, most of us are all from Ohio at one time or another, or our parents raised us Browns fans, wherever we may come from in the country. So, it's fantastic to get together and enjoy the company of each other."
