This time, Rockies fans will be on hand for big games
| August 21, 2009 | 9:37 AM
More journal entries from Steve Foster »
The Colorado Rockies’ run in 2007 was exciting, but not many fans noticed until it was almost over.
The first, second and fourth games of the Rockies’ 11-game winning streak drew just more than 23,000 fans and six of the 11 games were played in San Diego and Los Angeles. The Rockies didn’t draw more than 40,000 fans to a home game in September until the night their winning streak ended against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sept. 28. Despite the loss, that was a good weekend in LoDo: 48,190 on Friday, 47,368 on Saturday, 46,375 on Sunday (when the Broncos were playing, too!) and 48,404 for Monday’s Game No. 163 against the Padres.
Outside of those four games, the Rockies drew more than 40,000 fans for just one game that didn’t involve opening day, fireworks, the Chicago Cubs or the New York Yankees. In just five games in all of the 2007 regular season did the team draw big on their own merits.
The Rockies have already equaled that this season, including their last meeting the San Francisco Giants, a three-game series that drew more than 40,000 for each game.
So what do the next 10 days mean for Rockies fans? This is the first chance for Rockies fans to enjoy stretch-run baseball since the 1990s. The Rockies open a 10-game stretch against the Giants and Dodgers — four at home against the Giants, three at home against the Dodgers and three more on the road at the Giants — Friday night at Coors Field. The Rockies start the run two games ahead of the Giants in the National League wild-card standings and 3 1/2 games behind the Dodgers in the West.
For the first time in a long time, August in LoDo will see large crowds with interest in what path the Rockies take in the next week and a half. The Rockies could end the stretch pretty much where they started, the best in the West or completely out of the race.
The next 10 days are going to special, whatever happens.
City, Journals, Sports, Steve Foster
arizona diamondbacks, chicago cubs, colorado rockies, fireworks, los angeles dodgers, new york yankees, san francisco giants, world series
