Mile High Stadium
Denver, Colorado
Groundbreaking: October 16, 1992
First National League game: April 26, 1995 (Col. 11, N.Y. 9)
Surface: Natural Grass
Seating Capacity: 50,200 (1995); 50,381 (1999); 50,445 (2001); 50,449 (2005)
Architect: HOK Sport
Construction: Mortenson and Barton Malow
Owner: Denver Metropolitan Baseball Stadium District
Cost: $215 million
Public financing: $168 million from a sales tax increase in a six-county region
Private financing: $47 million from the Colorodo Rockies
LF foul line: 347 ft.
LF alley: 390 ft.
Center field: 415 ft.
Deepest right center: 424 ft.
RF alley: 375 ft.
RF foul line: 350 ft.
Height of fences:
8 ft, left-field corner to right-center; 14 ft, at right-field scoreboard.
Hosted World Series: Never
Hosted All-Star Game: 1998
The 76-acre ballpark stands at 20th and Blake streets in Denver's lower downtown ("LoDo") district. Fans sitting in the first-base and right-field areas are treated to a spectacular view of the Rocky Mountains. Every year since it opened in 1995, Coors has been a league leader in attendance. On a clear Saturday night when the barometer reads 72 degrees and 23 percent humidity, there isn't a better place to watch a ballgame. Coors Field was the first new ballpark in the National League since Montreal’s Stade Olympique opened in 1977, and the NL's first new park built exclusively for baseball since Dodger Stadium in 1962.
Since Coors Field opened, it has been known as the ultimate hitters park (Where else could a 12-9 score be considered common) - Even though its outfield dimensions were designed deeper than normal to balance the thin air and slugging bats. The ball travels 9 percent 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 and as far as 440 feet in the Mile High City.
Coors Field closed the curtain on a brief but very memorable two-year stint in Mile High Stadium. In 135 dates at Mile High, the Rockies drew 7,701,861 fans (An incredible 57,051 average per game). After drawing 4,483,350 in the '93 inaugural, the Rockies were on pace to shatter that mark in '94, averaging 58,598 through 56 home dates, which would have put the season ending mark at 4,687,840. Despite the year's abrupt end, in two seasons the Rockies had 52 occasions when better than 60,000 paid to watch baseball; 21 times the crowd eclipsed 70,000.
The good: You gotta love any ballpark (and this would be the only one) that sells Rocky Mountain Oysters (Bull's Testicles) at the conncession stands. Coors Field's got cojones.
The bad: If you like old fashioned, one-to-nothing-in-the-9th-pitcher's duels, you're not gonna get happy here.
The ugly: ERA's get uglified at Coors.
Colorado Rockies
2001 Blake Street
Denver, Colorado 80205-2000
(303) ROCKIES
Club Level Infield $45-$49
Club Level Outfield $43-$47
Infield Box $40-$44
Midfield Box $35-$42
Outfield Box $28-$38
Lower Reserved Infield $22-$32
Lower Reserved Outfield $19-$29
Rightfield Box $18-$28
Upper Reserved Infield $18-$28
Lower Reserved Corner $9-$19
Rightfield Mezzanine $16-$26
Pavilion $15-$25
Upper Reserved Outfield $15-$25
Upper Reserved Corner $9-$19
L. Rightfield Reserved $9
U. Rightfield Reserved $9
Rockpile $4
Seating Chart
Purchase Tickets
TV: KTVD-20, FSN
In-park dining choices: Concession items include: Garlic Fries, deli sandwiches, gourmet pizza, calzones, footlong brats, Jalapeno Pretzels, milk shakes, Margaritas, Daqueries, Quesadillas, Sushi, Soft Tacos and more
Signature concession item: Rocky Mountain Oysters!
Local Dining Guide - Best Bets
Directions & Parking Info
Ballpark/Tour Vacation Packages
NOTES, FACTS AND FEATURES
Most of the stadium seats are green. However, the upper deck's 20th row is painted purple, signifying exactly one mile above sea level.
Coors Field attempts to combine the comforts of a modern stadium with the atmosphere of the old-time ballparks. It is constructed with hand-laid brick and has an old-fashioned clock tower atop its main entrance. It is asymmetrical, with the deepest part of the park (424 feet) in right-center field, and balls that hit the big out-of-town scoreboard in right field are in play.
The two bullpens sit side-by-side next to the scoreboard in right-center and are elevated. The natural grass field can drain 5 inches of water per hour, and there is a heating system under the field that melts snow the moment it hits the ground.
Concession stands in the concourse are laid out so that a fan can walk 360 degrees around the stadium and never lose sight of the field.
Hideo Nomo threw the only no-hitter ever pitched here on September 17, 1996.
Financed by the taxpayers of the Denver Metropolitan Major League Baseball District and leased to the Rockies. The District will own the stadium and all operating and maintenance costs will be paid by the Rockies.
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