COORS FIELD

Coors Field is famous as the park where normal fly balls become home runs and 3.5 hour games are the norm. Many a pitcher has seen his E.R.A. balloon after a season at Coors. Of course, the thinner air at this high elevation is responsible for the increase in hitting, and it sure makes the games more exciting. 

Coors is located at the corner of 20th and Blake St., in the northwest corner of downtown Denver. The area around the park, known as LoDo (short for Lower Downtown), used to be rather rundown, and although it is by no means completely changed, the park's presence has revitalized the area somewhat. There are a number of restaurants and bars around the park that cater to fans and tourists alike and more are popping up every month.

Parking is available in a number of lots around the area, but we found the cheapest above the Greyhound terminal on Curtis St, just north of 19th. It is self-park for only $3 and about an 8 minute walk to the stadium. 

When arriving out front, you will notice that Coors is another of the red brick-facade, iron-gate parks that are known as retro-classic, but are becoming too common to be interesting or unique anymore. But this should not be seen as a slight on the park, merely the jaded comments of someone who has seen a lot of the new parks in the last 3 months and is looking for something a little different. So what does Coors offer that others don't?

First is an amazing mountain view. I think the upper deck seats are better, but get them along first base so you can enjoy the view of the sunset behind the Rockies (the mountains, not the team - hell the sun set on this team in about May!) I also enjoyed walking around the stadium, particularly the center field entertainment area, which includes a fantasy broadcast booth ($10 per half-inning) and the usual pitching and batting games. 

In the right field corner you will find the Sandlot at Coors Field, an in-the-park eatery that offers good food at reasonable prices. You really can't watch the game from here, so grab a bit before the game and then enter the park through the rear entrance.

The Coors Field team store is probably the biggest we have seen, and you can purchase pretty much any item with black and purple on it. 

See the blue row near the top - 1 mile above sea level

The seating is very good, and reasonably priced. One feature of the pricing is something called "premium games" where the prices of most seats go up $4. Premium games are all games in June, July, and August as well as when St. Louis, San Francisco, or Cincinnati come to town. The infield box seats are $32 for both types of game, while the outfield box seats are $22/$26. I like the Lower Reserved Infield seats (confusingly, these are actually in the upper deck) for $16/$20, but again, get first base for the view. Other seats include the rightfield mezzanine for $10/$14 and the pavilion in left for $1 less. There are also upper deck seats in right field ranging for $6 in the first few rows and $5 above that. Note the blue row in the upper deck - this marks the spot where you are actually 5280 feet above sea level. The field is 5176 feet above sea level (21 feet below street level), so in the blue row, you are 104 feet above the field.

One additional seating section is the Rockpile in center field. For $4, this a great place to go and kick back, but the action is quite far away, so if you want to keep score, better move around to the infield. In front of the Rockpile is the batter's eye and the water fountain that goes off when a Rockie homers.

There are two family sections, one in section 342, one in 141, so avoid them if you want to enjoy a couple of Coors at Coors. 

One of the things that annoyed me about Coors is on the left field fence where the Rockies have declared themselves 1999 Wild Card Champs. The Wild Card team is not a champ - this is really an oxymoron and should not be something that you brag about. If you didn't get a pennant, then don't bother me with the information. Another thing that bothered me is that you cannot walk lower than the 10th row behind the dugout before the game. The ushers all stand at the 10th row and if you try to pass them This is the only park where I have seen this, and I understand the reasoning but don't particularly agree with it.

Other than that, though I enjoyed my time at this field. I took the tour, and although it was typical, the staff giving the tour were very enthusiastic and provided lots of trivia. Of course, any ballpark roadtrip should include Coors Field, simply because of the entertaining games that can be seen. It is a great park and one that I hope to see again.

Front entrance behind home plate