When meeting Pat Bowlen, one gets the impression that he is a man on a mission. Since his purchase of the Denver Broncos in 1984, Bowlen’s determined competitiveness has allowed a once overlooked team to win Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII.

His willingness to take risks has drawn respect from the league, along with many honors and awards, including his 2007 induction into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.

According to the Broncos website, Bowlen’s reputation for bold decision-making has made him the go-to person for major contracting negotiations, such as the most lucrative sports contract in history, an $18 billion television contract for the NFL.

As Bowlen continues his leadership of the Broncos, he talked to the Arapahoe Herald about his experiences as the owner of a major sports franchise.

AH: What first interested you in the thought of purchasing a football team? What drew you to the Broncos in particular?

PB: Well, number one, I’ve always been interested in football. I played in high school and college. I was educated in the U.S., so I’ve always been a big fan of the NFL, and then when I had my business in Canada, I watched the Canadian league there.When I was in my mid 30s, I had several opportunities to buy [the] San Diego [Chargers]. They were my first choice because I had business in San Diego, but they were sold. In 1982, Edgar Kaiser, an associate of mine, owned the Broncos. In 1984 he offered to sell the team to me because he knew of my interest. It was a big lifestyle change.

AH: The 2008 season marks your 25th year as owner of the Denver Broncos. What are some of the positive changes that have occurred for the team since you bought it?

PB: You know, we’ve been to five Super Bowls and obviously we’ve won two. Interest in the game has continued around Denver, and Invesco [Field] was definitely a huge accomplishment. We really needed to replace Mile High [Stadium] with a modern stadium, and now Invesco can be considered one of the best, if not the best, stadium in the league.

AH: What would you say is your greatest contribution to the team?

PB: I can’t really define that. That will have to be defined by other people after I’m gone. Really, every year is different. Some seasons you win the Super Bowl; others you have a losing season. I guess you could say that since I’ve owned the team, football has become a strong sport. There is such strong support among the people of the Rocky Mountain region for the team; it’s really great to see.

AH: Have there been any negative changes since then? Have salary caps and free agency been a detriment to creating a strong franchise?

PB: Those kind of changes are inevitable. Obviously it was more comfortable back in the day, but you learn to adapt. Back in the 1980s and 1990s, players were on a team for their whole careers, but it’s not really a negative change. It gives new opportunity. Jason [Elam] was kind of an exception in this case. He was here for 15 or 16 years, but he wanted to go back to Atlanta, where he grew up, for the one season he feels he has left to play.

AH: Has the concept of “Mile High Magic” changed at all during your time with the Broncos? What is the role the fans play in the Denver Broncos’ world?

PB: “Mile High Magic” hasn’t changed at all. We’ve been in the new stadium long enough that the fans have been able to adapt, and, overall, “Mile High Magic” will always be there. Even though the fans have gotten older (like me!) they’ve passed it on to their kids and grandkids. Grandparents, parents, kids—they’ve all gotten involved.

AH: According to the Broncos’ website, you have donated more than 25 million dollars to charities in Denver since 1993. In what ways do you hope your contributions help the community?

PB: I’ve always been a substantial contributor to young people in things like the Denver Boys and Girls Club. I think that personally contributing to a cause that has an impact on young people growing up, allowing them to succeed later in life—that’s the most important cause that you can give to.

AH: What is your favorite part about the Denver Broncos as a whole?

PB: That’s so hard to say. Running a football team is really a lot like running a family—a really, really big family. I’d say that getting to know and working with the coaches and the players, that’s probably the best part.