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Coors Field Info
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Phone: 303-292-0200

Signature feature:
The Rockpile

2023 Rockies Schedule
(home games only)

Field Facts
Outfield Dimensions
LF: 347'   CF: 415'   RF: 350'

Playing Surface
Kentucky Bluegrass blend

Home Dugout
1st Base

Stadium Staff
PA Announcer:
Reed Saunders

Organist: none

Head Groundskeeper:
Mark Razum

Concessionaire:
Aramark



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 Colorado Rockies

Coors Field


2001 Blake Street
Denver, CO  80205
Opened:
  1995
Capacity:
 50,398
Elevation:
  5,206'
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Coors Field Coors Field at sunset
Coors Field was built in a spectacular setting, on the cusp of downtown Denver with the Rocky Mountains in the distance. But despite its surroundings, Coors doesn’t have the majestic views you’d expect from its splendid location.

2017 Ballpark Info
When gates open:
2 hours before game

Cost to park in stadium lots:
$16 or $18

Ages kids get in free:
0-2

Historical Happenings
Coors Field has been the site of
1 no-hitter
17 cycles
5 triple plays
9 postseason games

Occupying 76 acres in Denver's popular lower downtown district, Coors Field opened in 1995 and has been largely responsible for revitalizing an old warehouse district near Denver's railroad station. The area, referred to as LoDo, is now hopping with rooftop bars, restaurants and clubs, making it the city’s most popular entertainment destination.

As a result, Rockies fans have a wide selection of nearby diversions that compare favorably to any big league city, even rivaling the more cluttered neighborhoods that add to the experience of seeing a game at Wrigley or Fenway.

But the ballpark experience itself is surprisingly underwhelming as a result of its orientation.

Although Coors Field is a downtown retro ballpark, built of brick and steel, it doesn’t capitalize on its impressive surroundings: the Denver skyline and mountain range that gave the team its name.

Although the city of Denver feels more quaint than large, it still has an impressive array of skyscrapers, with the Qwest building tallest among them. But fans at Coors Field can only view the skyline if they are sitting in the outfield bleachers, meaning the vast majority of patrons have no glimpse of downtown from the ballpark’s three tiered grandstand.

Unfortunately, if the ballpark had been built to face downtown the sun would set in the line of vision of hitters. So to prevent batters from squinting in the sun, Coors Field faces away from downtown.

So what is the backdrop for the fans in the upper deck? Mainly non-descript buildings and highways and byways fill a rather unassuming portrait.

If you’re expecting to see the Rocky Mountains be forewarned that only seats in the upper deck extending from first base to right field have views of the mountains that loom on the horizon.

The mountains are further away than you think, and their visibility depends on the weather. On a hazy Sunday afternoon the Rocky Mountains are obscured, but on a clear evening the mountains at sunset look to be those that inspired the “purple mountain majesties” lyrics in America the Beautiful, as their dark outline stands out thanks to the stark contrast of the colorful sky.

Fans fortunate enough to be sitting in certain sections of the upper deck at the right time of evening are treated to a scene worthy of a postcard, but otherwise the ballpark is pretty typical of the modern era.

The now obligatory ribbon scoreboards ring the façade of the second deck. The team’s exclusive restaurant/bar is called The Mountain Ranch Club, and its visible location is in the corner of right field on the second level.

The Rockpile at Coors Field The 14-foot high wall in right field serves two purposes. The hand-operated out-of-town scoreboard makes up the top portion, and just like in other retro parks if the ball hits off the scoreboard it’s in play. The wall’s lower portion is covered with glass and serves as a private seating area with field level views reserved for corporations and parties.

The bullpens in right-center field are elevated and fans hover just above pitchers warming up from the 360-degree concourse. There are lots of great vantage points of the game from the wrap around concourse (one of the best in the Majors), which was designed so that fans never lose sight of the field.

For those not wanting to stand, lower level ushers are friendly but not very inquisitive if you want to upgrade your seats, although they only let you walk down the aisle between batters and innings, not pitches.

The most unique feature of Coors Field is derived from the city’s elevation. All of the seats are painted green with the exception of the upper deck's 20th row, which is painted purple to mark the exact spot where the ballpark is one mile above sea level.

Coors Field was originally designed to seat 43,800 fans, but while it was being constructed the Rockies were breaking attendance records at their temporary home, Mile High Stadium. After averaging 57,051 fans per game in two seasons at Mile High, Rockies ownership decided to increase capacity at Coors to 50,200 in time for its inaugural Opening Day.

The Rockpile was one of the sections that was added and, literally built by popular demand, it has become the ballpark’s signature seating area. Elevated above the batter’s backdrop, the Rockpile is a semi-circular shaped 2,300-seat bleacher section located in straightaway center field.

Although fans sitting in the Rockpile bear the brunt of any cold and windy weather, they are treated to the best views of Denver’s skyline, and despite the distance from the field these tickets sell well, thanks in part to their inexpensive price ($4).

Tickets in general are easy to come by these days in Colorado. After the Rockies lead the National League in attendance during Coors Field’s first five seasons, the team’s average has dipped from 48,037 in 1996 to just 23,634 in 2005. With such a pronounced slip in demand, the team decided in 2006 to close large portions of the upper deck for a majority of games. The sections closed are the upper portions of seating in right field and down the third base line.

After a decade of use, Coors Field has undergone very little change since its first game on April 26, 1995. The main scoreboard in left-center field was recently upgraded to a full-color LED display, but the only noticeable change is the mountain scene the team created to add life to the usually drab batter’s eye area. Featuring numerous evergreen trees and a pond with seven small fountains and three waterfalls, the Rockies’ nature scene appeared in 1997 and is now one of the focal points of the ballpark.

Rocky Mountain High
The altitude's effect on the baseball
Coors Field is known as a hitter's paradise with good reason, as the ballpark's mile-high altitude decreases air resistance on batted balls. Research has shown that a baseball travels 9% farther at 5,280 feet than at sea level. It is estimated that a home run hit 400 feet in sea-level Yankee Stadium would travel about 408 feet in Atlanta (1,050 feet) and as far as 440 feet in Denver.

Another major reason for the explosion of runs and home runs at Coors is that the low air pressure causes pitches to break less severely. Curveballs have about 30 percent less snap in the thin air, although fastballs have more oomph because of the decrease in air resistance.

Although the Rockies' field dimensions seem large (347' 414' 350', left to center), they are not nearly enough to offset the hitter's advantage created by Denver's elevation. The sea-level equivalent dimensions are just 315' 377' 318'.

The mountain scene at Coors Field isn’t the only thing refreshing about the ballpark. In an era of ubiquitous advertising the Rockies refrain from the overkill and have only one small ad (for Frontier Airlines) on their entire outfield wall. Other signage is placed throughout the ballpark in a manner that doesn’t detract from the game.

On its exterior, Coors Field exudes charm. The main home plate entrance at the intersection of 20th and Blake Streets was built with hand-laid brick. An old-fashioned clock rests between the words “Coors” and “Field.” A bronze statue, called The Player, stands as a tribute to Branch Rickey. It was commissioned by the Denver Rotary Club, who awards the annual Branch Rickey Award to one Major League player for exceptional community service. The statue contains the names of all winners since the award was established in 1992.

On games days the area outside of the ballpark is a hub of activity. The Rockies seem to do pretty well on day of game ticket sales, so the lines at the ticket windows get backed up near game time. Despite a strong police presence, scalpers line the side of Blake Street opposite the ballpark, and buying tickets on the street will save you a lot of time in line.

Parking is plentiful near the ballpark, but most of it is in the $10-$20 range. The exception is the Ampco System Parking lot, located at 20th and Arapahoe. Located just a handful of blocks from Coors Field, Ampco charges only 50 cents for parking on weekends and after 4 pm during the week, making parking cheap there for the majority of Rockies games. There are plenty of spaces in the Ampco lot, which is not much more than a 5-minute walk away.

Although Coors Field doesn’t provide the sweeping views of skyline and mountains you’d expect, it is a friendly and comfortable place to watch a ballgame and worthy of praise for being the centerpiece of a rejuvenation effort in Denver.

Coors Field and the Denver skyline

Coors Field Footnotes - Facts & Figures


  • Construction cost: $215 million (HOK Sport)
  • Construction began on October 16, 1992.
  • Mostly financed ($168 million) by a 0.1% sales tax approved in 1990 by voters from the six-county Denver area. Rockies ownership paid the $47 million balance.
  • Naming rights: The Coors Brewing Company paid $15 million for an indefinite period.
  • Was the first baseball only park built in the National League since Dodger Stadium opened in 1962.
  • The field is located 21 feet below street level.
  • A heating system under the field melts snow the moment it hits the ground.
  • Hosted the 1998 All-Star Game.
  • The Rockies played at Mile High Stadium in 1993 and 1994.

    Denver Info
    Airport Code: DEN (Denver International Airport)
    City Population: 556,835 (2004 census)
    County: Denver
    Daily Newspaper: Denver Post

    My Day Trip Recommendation
    Denver is a fun, energetic city and its size is anything but imposing. The Colorado state capital is located on the opposite side of town from Coors Field, but only a short drive away. Downtown features the pedestrian-friendly 16th Street Mall, the one-mile long strip of shopping and dining options designed by I.M. Pei. There is plenty to do in the vicinity of Denver, but atop my list is a visit to Red Rocks. It’s just a 15-minte drive to get to the world-renowned outdoor amphitheatre, and Red Rocks features stunning natural beauty and numerous hiking and biking trails. For beer lovers, tours of the Rockies’ ballpark namesake, the Coors Brewing Company, are given in the nearby city of Golden. To get the best experience out of Coors Field, buy a seat in the upper deck beyond first base to enjoy the views of the Rocky Mountains. After the game, there is plenty to do in the LoDo district, as dozens of bars and restaurants are located across the street from the ballpark. The people in Denver are friendly and outgoing, and the multitude of things to do makes the city one of the best in the Major Leagues.

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