One of the service academies will have some very famous, albeit temporary, visitors next week.
The New England Patriots will face the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High this Sunday night. Instead of heading back to Foxborough ahead of its Nov. 19 game in Mexico City, however, the defending Super Bowl champions will set up camp at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, academy and NFL officials confirmed to the Denver Post.
From the Post‘s report:The Patriots are holding over in Colorado Springs as opposed to returning to New England as part of their preparations for a Nov. 19 game against the Oakland Raiders in Mexico City. Beyond team-building prior to an international trip, the move also allows the Patriots to train at altitude. The Air Force Academy is located 7,258 feet above sea level, just shy of Mexico City at 7,382.
The football facilities at Air Force include three outdoor practice fields (two grass and one AstroTurf), two 10,000-square-foot weight rooms, two training rooms, and a 92,000-square-foot indoor practice facility (The Haladay Athletic Center).Air Force plays host to Wyoming this weekend before traveling to Boise State Nov. 18. The newspaper writes that, "[a]s of Wednesday afternoon, Air Force did not have an itinerary for the Patriots’ practice plans.”