Coors Field

In honor of the Rockies' World Series run, another in my intermittent series:

I don't remember the first time I saw a game at Coors Field. I'd guess it was in spring of 1998, or possibly the year before. I'd guess I've probably been to more games in Coors than anywhere except the old Busch Stadium, since I tended to stop in Denver on my way back and forth between home and school when I was in college.

I know for sure I was in Coors for the
1998 All-Star game and Home Run Derby. We sat in the very top row deep above right field for the All Star game. I don't remember much about the game itself. I do remember a few moments from the Derby - Mark McGuire hitting a ball 500 feet off the front of the Rockpile center-field bleachers, Ken Griffey Jr. coming out after he'd announced he wouldn't be competing, a few Jim Thome home runs landing just one section away from us.

Coors gained notoriety for the thin air and home runs (and now the humidor) but the stadium itself doesn't get enough mention.

Sure, it's just one more of the retro-wave parks (and when I was in Cleveland, Jacobs Field seemed to be a near-exact copy, with a white stone exterior instead of brick). But Coors has character and a sense of place.

The stadium's location was near-perfect. It sits on the edge of downtown. A walk to the park is through LoDo (lower downtown) amid bars, lofts and a crowd of fans. But being on the edge of downtown (behind the park are railroad tracks and the interstate) means the large parking lots behind and below the stadium don't break up the landscape.

The best touch, however, was the decision not to add upper decks above the left field seating, giving a clear view of the Rockies past the scoreboard. The row of purple seats in the upper decks, marking one mile above sea level, are a nice touch as well.

The stadium is spacious and clean, without an over-abundant feeling of shiny, plastic surfaces you can get with some of the newest parks. And I've heard tell you can pick up some Rocky Mountain Oysters if you look hard enough, although I've never found the particular concession stand.

Until the last month or so, the Rockies have rarely been a team which seemed destined for greatness, although they were rarely completely lousy. The consistent mediocraty brought the crowds down from the record highs of the first few years, but the crowd at the games is generally knowledgeable and quick to cheer. I'm sure the atmosphere this weekend will be electric (although if Colorado drops Game 3 it'll be a pretty fatalistic crowd on Sunday). I'd like to be among the throngs inside, but if I have to make do with being part of the throngs outside it won't be so bad.