{"id":661630,"date":"2026-04-03T22:26:21","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T22:26:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/661630\/"},"modified":"2026-04-03T22:26:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T22:26:21","slug":"downtown-denver-awash-with-purple-for-rockies-opening-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/661630\/","title":{"rendered":"Downtown Denver awash with purple for Rockies Opening Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

Denver\u2019s unofficial holiday got off to a \u201cRockies\u201d start Friday as baseball fans flocked to Coors Field to watch the team take on the Philadelphia Phillies in their first home game of the season.<\/p>\n

Fan festivities began at 9 a.m. in McGregor Square, though some cold and windy weather may have dissuaded fans from showing up until the weather warmed. Fans were trickling in around the start before the Square and areas around Coors Field in Lower Downtown started getting packed around noon.<\/p>\n

Purple and black jerseys filled LoDo\u2019s streets, along with other teams\u2019 jerseys \u2014 even the occasional ones in red and light blue. Fans patronized bars in the Ballpark neighborhood as the beers were flowing, streets were blocked off and pictures were taken in front of The Player statue.<\/p>\n

\"\"The Player statue pictured on April 3, 2026. (Matt Kyle, The Denver Gazette)<\/p>\n

Mary Lou Duran, 65, came to the opening day game with her children, including Aileen Balasalle, 43, and another daughter who requested not to be named since she called in sick to work in order to attend the game. The family said attending opening day is a family tradition, with the family attending games dating back to the Rockies\u2019 first season in 1993.<\/p>\n

Gov. Jared Polis jokingly issued a proclamation granting \u201can official, fully sanctioned excuse from all responsibilities that may interfere with the celebration of the of the Colorado Rockies Home Opener.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cEmployers, educators, and all other authority figures are strongly encouraged to honor this excused absence and, where possible, join the celebration,\u201d Polis\u2019 statement read. <\/p>\n

Duran, who wore earrings the shape of the Rockies logo and purple shoes similarly adorned with the \u201cCR\u201d logo, said she is a huge baseball fan who was thrilled when the Rockies came to Colorado. She and her daughters said they hope the Rockies have a better season than they have had in recent years, though they said they would be at the games regardless.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re diehard fans, through the good and the bad,\u201d Balasalle said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Phillies fans Drew and Joshua Cleland, a father and son who live in Cincinnati, said they came to Denver for the Rockies game and the Saturday matchup between the Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs. Joshua, 17, said he became a Phillies fan because he is a big fan of Phillies star Bryce Harper.<\/p>\n

The pair said they are also trying to attend a game in all 30 MLB stadiums, with Friday\u2019s game being the first one at Coors Field for Joshua. Drew said he only has five more stadiums to go \u2014 Rangers, Astros, Royals, Blue Jays and Mariners \u2014 while the game Friday marks stadium number 17 for his son.<\/p>\n

The Clelands said they are hoping for a high-scoring game with lots of home runs. With the game only just starting, they got their wish, with Philadelphia scoring 7 runs in their first inning.<\/p>\n

\"\"Rockies fans wait in line at Coors Field ahead of the Rockies\u2019 home opener on April 3, 2026. (Matt Kyle, The Denver Gazette)<\/p>\n

Some fans came simply to enjoy the opening day atmosphere around the stadium. Josh Newman and his girlfriend Sam Yanker said they weren\u2019t planning on going to the game, and just like coming to McGregor Square to drink and have fun with friends amidst other baseball fans.<\/p>\n

Newman said he is primarily a St. Louis Cardinals fan because of his father, but likes to root for the Rockies as well. He said the first two series the Rockies played were encouraging, so he is hopeful the team can be more competitive this year.<\/p>\n

Christian Puls, 35, came to opening day with his son Isaiah, 3. Puls said Friday\u2019s game was Isaiah\u2019s second time attending a Rockies home opener. The two attended last year\u2019s opener, which got a lot of snow, so for them, the windy weather Friday was an upgrade.<\/p>\n

Puls said he and his son have attended about 20 Rockies games together.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis kid breathes and sleeps baseball,\u201d Puls said. \u201cHe\u2019s been looking forward to this for weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Christian Puls, 35, plays catch with his son Isaiah, 3, at McGregor Square ahead of the Rockies\u2019 home opener on April 3, 2026. (Matt Kyle, The Denver Gazette)<\/p>\n

For the season, Puls said he is looking forward to seeing how the Rockies develop their young players through the team\u2019s current rebuilding phase, as the team hasn\u2019t had a winning season since 2018. Despite the losing, Puls said his love of baseball and love for his hometown team have kept him rooting for the Rockies.<\/p>\n

\u201cCoors Field is such a hard place to have a bad time, even if the team\u2019s doing poorly,\u201d Puls said. \u201cThere\u2019s always something good in the air.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked if he had anything to say about the game, Isaiah smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo Rockies!\u201d Isaiah cheered.<\/p>\n

\"\"Denver horseback police officers ride past Coors Field down Blake Street ahead of the Rockies home opener on April 3, 2026. (Matt Kyle, The Denver Gazette)<\/p>\n


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