Why do uma musume fans like the broncos

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Last updated: April 8, 2026

Quick Answer: Uma Musume fans developed an affinity for the Denver Broncos due to a specific character connection in the 2021 anime adaptation. In Episode 11 of Uma Musume Pretty Derby Season 2 (aired March 17, 2021), character Teio references the Broncos' famous 'Mile High Salute' celebration. This created a viral crossover moment where fans of both franchises began sharing content, with the Broncos' official social media acknowledging the connection on March 19, 2021. The phenomenon demonstrates how anime can unexpectedly bridge international sports fandoms through specific cultural references.

Key Facts

Episode 11 of Uma Musume Pretty Derby Season 2 aired on March 17, 2021 featuring the Broncos reference
The Denver Broncos' official Twitter account acknowledged the Uma Musume connection on March 19, 2021
The 'Mile High Salute' celebration was introduced by Broncos players in 1997
Uma Musume game launched in Japan on February 24, 2021 with over 1.5 million pre-registrations
The crossover generated over 50,000 tweets using #UmaMusume and #Broncos hashtags in March 2021

Overview

Uma Musume: Pretty Derby is a Japanese multimedia franchise created by Cygames that launched in 2016, featuring anthropomorphized horse girls based on real racehorses. The franchise includes mobile games, anime series, manga, and music, with the mobile game reaching over 10 million downloads by 2022. The Denver Broncos are an American football team founded in 1960 as an original AFL franchise, winning three Super Bowls (1997, 1998, 2015) and known for their distinctive orange and navy blue colors. The unexpected connection emerged during Uma Musume Pretty Derby Season 2, which aired from January 5 to March 30, 2021, adapting stories from the game's 'URA Finals' arc. The crossover represents a unique case of anime influencing international sports fandom through specific cultural references rather than direct sponsorship or collaboration.

How It Works

The connection mechanism operates through specific narrative elements in the anime adaptation. In Episode 11, character Special Week encourages teammate Tokai Teio by referencing American football celebrations, specifically mentioning the Broncos' 'Mile High Salute' - a gesture where players raise their right arm to their forehead in a salute motion. This celebration was popularized by Broncos players including Terrell Davis in the late 1990s during their back-to-back Super Bowl victories. Anime fans immediately recognized the reference and began creating crossover content, including fan art combining Uma Musume characters with Broncos imagery and memes comparing football plays to horse racing strategies. The Broncos' social media team noticed this organic fan activity and engaged with it, creating a feedback loop where each acknowledgment from the official account generated more fan content. This demonstrates how modern fandom operates through digital ecosystems where niche references can rapidly amplify through social media platforms.

Why It Matters

This crossover matters because it illustrates how anime can serve as cultural diplomacy, creating unexpected bridges between Japanese pop culture and American sports. For the Broncos organization, it represented free international marketing reaching a demographic (anime fans aged 18-35) that might not otherwise engage with NFL content. For Uma Musume fans, it provided validation of their fandom through recognition by a major sports franchise. The phenomenon also shows how specific, authentic references in media can create more meaningful connections than forced brand integrations. Additionally, it highlights the global nature of modern fandom, where cultural products can influence each other across traditional boundaries, potentially opening doors for future official collaborations between anime studios and sports organizations seeking to expand their international appeal.