|
Coors Field
Home of the Colorado Rockies
In August 1990, Denver voters approved a 1% sales tax to fund a baseball stadium, which would later be known as Coors Field. This approval occurred a year before Major League Baseball had even awarded an expansion team to Colorado. Fortunately, the Colorado Rockies team came together and had a brand new facility to call home. Under the architectural design of HOK Sports, construction began on this $215 million baseball-only stadium under the building expertise of Mortenson and Barton Malow. Of this budget, 78% derived from the sales tax while the remaining 22% came in the way of private funding directly from the Rockies owners. Groundbreaking began in 1992 and the first game ever held at Coors Field took place in 1995.
The naming of Coors Field was made possible through an agreement between the Rockies and Coors Brewing Company. In exchange for a specified sum of money payable to the facility, Coors Brewing Company currently owns the naming rights. As is evident by it's title, Coors Field is fittingly named.
The original design called for just over 43,000 seats but, due to unprecedented record-breaking attendance at Mile High Stadium, which is where the Rockies played their first two seasons, team owners decided to increase the capacity to 50,200 for opening day. The increase paid off as, in 1998, Coors Field was the site of Major League Baseball's 69th All-Star Game.
The 76-acre ballpark, that is Coors Field, is situated in downtown Denver. Fans seated in either the first base or right field area can enjoy a spectacular view of Colorado's Rocky Mountains while watching the game. Since opening day in 1995, Coors Field has been a leader in fan attendance.
Coors Field combines a touch of tradition with modernization and technology. Hand-laid bricks and a classic clock tower are among the traditional touches at Coors Field. In addition, it's asymmetrical design mimics that of other traditional baseball facilities. Among the amenities at Coors Field are over 4,000 club seats and the Rockies merchandise store, where fans can shop from a wide selection of officially licensed team apparel and other memorabilia. In addition, a fine dining experience at the Mountain Ranch Club and a separate gift shop are located on the grounds. In 2005, Coors Field underwent several minor improvements, including a new video scoreboard and more brick construction. Beautiful scenery, pleasant weather and a love for the great American game of baseball will keep drawing fans back to Coors Field each and every year.
© 2006 Baseballparkonline.com - All rights reserved.
|
