Pepsi Center Plaza of Fame Unveiled

“That is my dream: to do it at home. That’s my dream,” he said. “Hopefully I can get that done.”

If Billups and the Nuggets can bring the NBA title to Denver in 2009-10, it would add yet another page to an impressive Pepsi Center scrapbook that includes a Stanley Cup celebration for the Avalanche in 2001, the Democratic National Convention in 2008 and the Nuggets’ run to the Western Conference finals last spring.

That history was celebrated Wednesday with the opening of the Pepsi Center Plaza of Fame commemorating the 10th anniversary of the arena’s opening on Oct. 1, 1999.

The ceremony – attended by Gov. Bill Ritter and Mayor John Hickenlooper – included the unveiling of two pillars honoring the individual and team achievements of the Avs and Nuggets.

“All I can say is, `Wow! It’s been 10 years,” said Tim Romani, who was directly responsible for the Pepsi Center’s design and construction as president and general manager of the Ascent Arena Company. “It doesn’t feel like an anniversary to me. It feels like a birthday.”

Since Celine Dion opened the arena with a concert 10 years ago, more than 24 million people have attended roughly 1,750 events at the Pepsi Center.

Few nights were more memorable than June 9, 2001, when the Avs beat the New Jersey Devils in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. Romani remembers getting goosebumps and shedding tears of joy as he felt the emotion of more than 18,000 people celebrating as one.

“I knew then what a special place we created,” he said.

Billups said he knew the Pepsi Center was special as soon as it replaced McNichols Sports Arena as the Nuggets’ new home.

“I remember how excited everybody on the team was to be playing in a new building,” said Billups, who was in his second season with the Nuggets at the time. “The fans were absolutely crazy. Them were some great memories, great times.”

Another decade of goosebumps and tears will begin Thursday night when the Avs raise longtime captain Joe Sakic’s No. 19 jersey to the roof before the season-opener against San Jose.

Those who can’t pay tribute to Sakic in person can still be a permanent part of Pepsi Center history by purchasing a personalized brick in the Plaza of Fame. Proceeds will help support the community outreach efforts of Kroenke Sports Charities.

For more information on the brick project, visit www.pepsicenter.com.