Tyson Jost Diary

September 12, 2020

Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado

Day 2: Research!

"We've just got in touch with our researcher, Jeff Belanger, who's given us more insight into the Pepsi Center's history," Zak comments to Nick's camera as we stand in the lobby of the grand building, where fans would enter.

Comphy and I are sharing a look.

"He's totally gonna launch out in a historical dramatic monologue here, Comph," I remark with a sly smirk on my face.

"Great."

Zak, surprise, surprise, launches into his historical monologue, "Pepsi Center was constructed on November 20, 1997 as a part of a large six-year sporting venue upgrade in Denver. Along with Coors Field, which is home to the Colorado Rockies and the home of the Denver Broncos, Empower Field at Mile High -- often called Mile High Stadium by Americans -- the complex was constructed to be readily accessible."

"That's true, it's a main venue for tourists and the fans," Comphy remarks.

Zak continues on with, "It's completion was marked by a concert by the Canadian singer, Celine Dion. The place is served by two nearby exits off of interstate 25, the most infamous interstate here in Downtown Denver."

"And the most traffic-heavy, idiotic road in all of Denver too," I pipe up with a thumbs up before Aaron's camera.

"A light rail station is on the western side of the complex and on the opposite side is a walkway that leads across to the amusement park. One word that I would use to best describe this would be spacious. Almost the perfect amount of parking, people traffic, arena space, just everything."

Comphy steps in front of Zak, with a know-it-all grin on his face and he confidently says, "Let's not mention about the fact that this place also includes a basketball practice facility used by the Nuggets and the Breckenridge Brewery Mountain House, which is a restaurant accessible from within and outside the Center itself."

Zak shoves him out of the way. "The atrium of the building houses a suspended sculpture depicting various hockey and basketball athletes in action poses."

Comphy looks annoyed over Zak's rude gesture to him.

"Before the construction of Pepsi Center, the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche played in the McNichols Sports Arena, a building that has since been torn down to serve as a parking lot for nearby Empower Field at Mile High."

"You can insert production edits here, during all of this," Aaron whispers to me.

I chuckle as Zak, ignoring him (or just not hearing him -- or choosing NOT to hear him), continues to speak about the historical background, "Coincidentally, prior to the Avalanche relocating to Denver, the then-Quebec Nordiques played at another arena to which Pepsi owned naming rights to: the now-closed Colisee Pepsi."

"Wait," Nick says, lowering his camera and stopping the footage abruptly. "What's any of this have to do with the ghost stories heard about this place? And also, if there's all of these reports why is the place still open or why isn't there MORE of these reports?"

Zak taps his chin in thought.

"There's a lot more reports, you just don't hear about it...but recently the hauntings and spooky sighting events have actually risen," I exclaim. "I'm guessing that that is why you guys are here, because of the recent spike of activity lately -- though, like I said, there's been reports and activity here well before now."

Nick nods. "Makes sense, but now I'm wondering why the spike?"

Zak nods as well. "Perhaps there's some unrest or a disturbance in the land somehow...has there been any reports of restoration of the building lately?" He is looking right at me and his eyes darken.

A shiver shoots down my spine at the look and I suddenly feel nervous. "I mean...uh, I don't know...I don't think so, the building's fairly new still and in excellent shape."

"Any seances happen here, rituals, demon summoning?" Aaron pegs.

Comphy snorts in derision. "Satanists in the Pepsi Center, oh please!"

"So that's a no for the seances and rituals, Aaron," Zak grumbles, thinking hard. "And no to the renovations."

"OH! What about that hole that the workers found and dug up skeletons from in the lower level?!" I burst out, the thought coming to me all at once.

"The one where they were going to build another room for the visiting team?" Comphy questions, shocked at my sudden smart thought.

Nick has an ah-ha moment. "So maybe the spirits here were disturbed when the arena was first built and then now they're getting restless again because of this hole that was dug up -- and you say there's skeletons found?"

I nod my head. "Well...bones, not sure if animal or human yet. And if human, not sure who, what, when, where, why and how."

"I'll tell you one thing, Tyson Jost, we're going to help figure that out tomorrow night," Zak says, looping an arm around my shoulders like I'm his buddy.

Nick lifts his camera up, apparently satisfied enough with the answers and knowledge he has now about the Pepsi Center.

Zak slips his other arm around Comphy, slightly spooky him in the process and faces the camera as he says, "Alright, so now that we know a little bit more about this location, the history and hauntings, it's time to prepare for the lockdown tomorrow night. And we'll be joined by these two lovely Avalanche players."

Comphy shoots Zak a disgusted 'get off of me now' glare, while I throw a thumbs up and my signature eyebrow raise at the lens.

The cameras both drop and Zak steps back, releasing us from his hug.

"Alright, so you two can go get ready and then meet us here tomorrow night."

"Should we bring anything?" I ask him, eagerly, already having an idea in mind.

"If you think something will help the investigation, by all means bring it," Zak says, eyeing me skeptically.

"I'll just bring myself," Comphy says, turning on his heels and heading for the van with Aaron and Nick on his tail.

Zak leans over to me and whispers, "What exactly do you have in mind?"

I look at him and smile, "I'm going to bring a Ouija Board!"

Zak snaps his head to look toward Nick and Aaron. They are still busily putting the cameras up in the back of the vehicle and Comphy is sitting inside, waiting. He snaps his head back to me. "The others will tell you no, but I'm going to say yes, only because if there is a chance that this involves demonic activity or ancient burial grounds or whatever, we might need it. Besides, you did say something about demons in the bubble city of Edmonton, so...one can never be too under prepared."

I nod at him and we all pile into the van and end the research part of the investigation.