Rockies Journal: Coors Field still draws fans, but for how long?

The Rockies are putting up some astonishing numbers this season. They’re on track to lose 116 games, their starters have a 6.62 ERA, and they’ve been outscored by a whopping 353 runs — and counting.

But there’s another number that boggles my mind: 29,839.

That’s the average paid attendance for games at Coors Field this season. The Rockies are careening toward one of the worst seasons in major league history, yet they rank 16th in attendance. As I write this, the Rockies have won just 21 times in 67 games at Coors.

Now consider this: The Tigers rank 17th, averaging 29,353 fans per game at Comerica Park. Yes, those Tigers, who entered Saturday’s play with a 79-57 record, best in the American League. The Tigers are 44-25 at home.

The White Sox, yes, those White Sox who lost a modern-era record 121 games last year, have attendance more commensurate with their futility. The ChiSox rank 27th, averaging 17,807 fans per game.

After losing 103 games in 2023 and 101 games last season, I figured that the Rockies’ attendance would plummet this season. I was wrong. Yes, the numbers are trending down, but not dramatically. An average of 32,196 fans per game came through the turnstiles in ’23, and 31,361 in ’24.

In 2007, the Rockies’ only World Series season, they drew an average of 28,979 fans per game. That’s fewer fans than are turning out to see the current team.

What in the name of the Blake Street Bombers is going on?

When I spoke at a Denver-area Rotary Club breakfast on Thursday morning, a former fan asked me that question.

“I don’t understand why people keep showing up,” he said. “If I went to a restaurant and the food was consistently bad, I wouldn’t keep going to the restaurant. So why do Rockies fans still go back? Can you explain that?”

I gave him a very generic answer about gorgeous Colorado summer nights, beer and hot dogs.

Upon reflection, there are other reasons:

• Fans of other teams — think Cubs and Yankees — flock to Coors, serenading the visitors with chants of “Let’s Go Cubbies!” and “Let’s Go Yankees!” Hard-core Rockies fans behind the home dugout hate it, but what are they going to do?

• Coors is a beautiful, well-maintained ballpark. It’s the third-oldest park in the National League, but it remains one of the nicest.

• It’s family-friendly. You’re not going to get chants of “Who’s your daddy?” at Coors. You will get moms, dads and the kiddos doing The Wave, even during the eighth inning of a well-pitched, 3-2 ballgame.

• It’s not about the baseball, it’s about the party. Venture up to the “Party Deck” above right field on a Saturday night and you’ll see what I mean.

• Location, location, location. I’m not just talking about LoDo; I’m talking about Coors Field as the only big-league ballpark in the Rocky Mountain region. Come for the mountains, catch a ballgame.

Owner Dick Monfort and his son Walker, the team’s new executive vice president, count on all of those things to put fannies in the seats and lines at the concession stands.

But I sense that patience is wearing thin.

“I used to go to games, but not anymore,” a woman told me after the Rotary Club breakfast. “I’m a big baseball fan. I used to get angry with the Rockies; now I just don’t care.”