The 20-67 Colorado Rockies, last in the National League, host the 28-59 Chicago White Sox, last in the American League, for the start of a three-game series Friday. Good luck getting a seat.
The Rockies are expecting a full house as the team continues to sell tickets despite its on-field struggles.
Colorado started the year 9-50, the worst record through that many games since 1889. It’s since recovered slightly, with a 10-17 stretch now putting the team on an expected pace for 113 losses on the year.
The White Sox set the losses record last year with 121; if they want to shed that spot in history, a sweep would be a big help. But while South Side fans have largely stayed away this year, leaving the team 27th in average attendance (16,612 fans per game)—above Miami and two teams playing in minor league parks—Colorado has posted a league average 29,501 fans per game.
The 1993 expansion franchise hasn’t posted a winning record since 2018, but it has stayed in the top half in terms of attendance throughout that entire stretch, even if it has slipped out of the top 10.
It seems that fans are coming more for the Coors than the Field, hoping to enjoy an evening in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains as much as the Rockies playing below them. Located in the heart of downtown Denver, the stadium finished seventh in Sports Illustrated’s preseason ranking of best ballparks, between Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium and Baltimore’s Camden Yards.
Fans online have complimented the team’s openness to outside food, while a rooftop patio serving $3 beers before the first pitch and priceless views all game long has been called “the best bar in all of baseball.” Rockies salespeople also benefit from Denver’s weather, boasting an average number of summer sun days on par with Miami and Los Angeles, with fewer scorchers.
Colorado is the 26th-most-valuable MLB team, according to Sportico’s valuations, and one of several clubs that have lost regional sports network partners in recent years. The Rockies entered the year with the 21st-highest payroll, at roughly $120 million. But the park remains a draw.
“There’s no better place to catch a game,” the team posted on X in June, with a link to buy tickets, even if there might be better games to catch elsewhere.
Tickets are close to sold out for Friday’s—and Saturday’s—games in large part because of the fireworks show the team has planned after each contest. Many of the seats still available for Saturday were along the third base line in areas clearly marked as “Fireworks Obstructed View.”
For those on the outside looking in, the White Sox and Rockies do battle again Sunday, but the fireworks won’t return until September.
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