Where Was I: Coors Field, Denver, Colorado (June 11, 2013)

(I am going to try to catch up on some of these...)

Ballpark count:

For the trip: 10.

MLB active: 22.

Overall MLB: 30.

Seat: Section 121; Row 19; Seat 10, roughly 20 feet past 3B up the LF line 1B up the RF line.

Result: Rockies 8, Nationals 3.

Coors Field is another gorgeous, modern stadium which follows the brick and steel approach that characterizes most stadiums built in the past 15 years.  It is located downtown, in the 'LoDo (Lower Downtown) district, which features brew pubs, bars, restaurants; i.e., there are any number of options to do before and after the game.

The PA announcer bills Coors Filed as 'Baseball's finest ballpark'. That may be hyperbole, but it certainly offers fans an extremely pleasant game day experience.

The concessions are great and varied. Along with the 24-inch hot dogs in Arlington, Coors Field may have a joint winner for concession item of the trip so far: frozen cheesecake on a stick!  (The same stand also sells berry kabobs: chocolate covered berries on a stick.) Other notable concession stands include a gluten-free stand (I have noticed several of those as I move West), a Buckaroo's concession stand just for kids, several craft beer stands twe are in Colodaro after all), the seemingly requisite BBQ stand (Famous Dave's, in this case) and a 'craft burger' shack.

The RF area is by far the most interesting part of the concourse. It features:

-  a standing room section that overhangs just above the bullpens;

- a 'play' area behind RF that includes batting cages and speed guns; and,

- a fantasy broadcast booth which faces the filed, where for $10, two people can play the role of announcer and colour commentator. Participants receive a DVD of their performance. Evidently, a lot of father-child combos participate, but it is not limited to parents and children. This is one of the most imaginative activities I have seen at a ballpark and, in my experience, unique to Coors Field.

On a negative note, the Rockies have the most excessive All-Star ballot stuffing encouragement I have witnessed. Fans receive prizes (i.e., t-shirts, pins, free ticket vouchers) each time they turn in a large number of completed ballots.

Random observations:

- Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez sure can play some nice defence.

- Weeknight games start at 6:40, which is unusual but obviously allows for more sunshine for evening games.

- Coors Field has a spin on the 'steal-a-base' promotion that I saw in Arlington, Houston and Phoenix; there is a 'Grounds Crew Challenge'.  A fan has 20 seconds to run in from left centre, install the base at second, then run off the field at third base. 

- Several contestants for 'Ms. Universal', whatever that is, were in attendance.