FBI DENVER WARNS DRONE OPERATORS OF STRICT GAME-DAY RESTRICTIONS AROUND EMPOWER FIELD AT MILE HIGH

DENVER, Colorado — September 18, 2026 — The FBI, Federal Aviation Administration, Denver Police Department, and Denver Broncos are warning drone operators that strict flight restrictions remain in effect around Empower Field at Mile High during NFL game days, with federal penalties possible for anyone who enters restricted airspace without authorization.

FBI Denver said the airspace surrounding Empower Field is restricted within a three-mile radius beginning one hour before an NFL event and continuing until one hour after the event ends. Temporary Flight Restrictions, or TFRs, may also be established for other major events held at the stadium.

For drone operators, the restriction applies regardless of whether the flight is recreational, commercial, or intended for photography. A person operating a drone must determine whether the airspace is restricted before takeoff.

FBI Denver said operators identified violating federal regulations can be referred to the FAA for investigation. Unauthorized flights can lead to confiscation of the drone, loss or revocation of pilot certificates, and civil penalties reaching $75,000 per violation. Certain conduct can also result in criminal prosecution carrying fines of up to $100,000 and as much as one year in federal prison.

Those penalties reflect an expanded federal focus on unauthorized unmanned aircraft near major public events.

Federal authorities also require most drones operating in U.S. airspace to comply with Remote ID requirements. Remote ID functions as a digital identification system that allows certain information about a drone and its flight to be broadcast while the aircraft is operating. FBI Denver warned that disabling Remote ID or failing to comply with applicable Remote ID requirements can result in a separate federal violation.

A lack of Remote ID does not make a drone invisible to law enforcement. FBI Denver said authorities use multiple detection methods when monitoring restricted airspace, including systems that do not depend exclusively on Remote ID transmissions.

Federal counter-drone operations have expanded alongside the rapid growth of commercially available unmanned aircraft. FBI Denver said the FBI and FAA work with other partners using authorized counter-drone tools to detect and stop unauthorized drone activity under the SAFER SKIES Act.

Those operations can involve trained personnel deployed near stadiums and coordination between federal aviation authorities, the FBI, and state and local law enforcement partners.

The FBI reported that more than 6.5 million spectators attended World Cup matches across the United States and that 53 FBI field offices participated in the security operation. The Bureau described the effort as the most extensive support it had ever provided for a global sporting event.

The World Cup enforcement also demonstrated that intent does not determine whether restricted airspace rules apply. FBI Denver cited an instance during the World Cup in which an operator was using a drone for legitimate photography but crossed into restricted airspace. Authorities confiscated the aircraft despite the absence of malicious intent.

That distinction is central to the Denver warning.

Most people who fly drones near restricted areas are not attempting to harm anyone. A recreational operator taking aerial photographs can still create a serious aviation and public-safety problem if the aircraft enters protected airspace above or near a stadium filled with tens of thousands of people.

Unauthorized drones can interfere with helicopters, emergency aircraft, security operations, television aircraft, law enforcement activity, and other authorized aviation. They can also force security personnel to determine quickly whether an unidentified aircraft represents an accident, a careless operator, surveillance activity, or an intentional threat.

FBI Denver also pointed to a disrupted July 2026 plot involving explosives allegedly intended to be carried by drones during an event at the White House. The Bureau cited that case as an example of why law enforcement cannot assume an unauthorized drone near a protected venue is harmless.

The federal security response therefore treats every unauthorized aircraft inside a restricted zone as an incident requiring assessment.

The FAA describes TFRs as temporary restrictions established for safety or security purposes. They can restrict drones and other aircraft from operating within designated airspace for a defined period, and pilots are responsible for checking applicable restrictions before every flight.

At Empower Field, that responsibility becomes particularly important on Denver Broncos game days. Stadium schedules, overtime, delays, and changes in event timing can affect exactly when a restriction begins or ends, making real-time airspace information more reliable than assumptions based solely on a published kickoff time.

The safest course for recreational operators attending a Broncos game is straightforward: do not bring a drone to the stadium area.

Anyone observing suspicious or unsafe drone activity during an event can report it to 911, on-site law enforcement, or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or through the Bureau’s tips system.

The Denver warning is part of a broader federal effort to make drone operators understand that unmanned aircraft are subject to the same national airspace rules that govern other aircraft. The technology may be inexpensive and easy to operate, but the airspace above a major stadium remains federally regulated.

At Empower Field at Mile High, once the game-day restriction takes effect, unauthorized drones must remain outside the protected airspace.

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