Sunshine and smiles filled downtown Denver on Friday morning, despite signs that another rough season looms for the city’s baseball team.

Thousands of locals flooded Lower Downtown (LoDo) Friday morning in preparation and celebration of the Colorado Rockies’ first home game of the season at Coors Field.

Though Denver’s Major League Baseball (MLB) team has had a less-than-stellar start to their season so far — sitting at a troublesome 1-6 record — positivity still filled the district, even if for a fleeting moment.

In the end, the positive hopes were rewarded as the Rockies won the game on a walkoff grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning.

“It (Opening Day) should be a national holiday across the country,” Martin Quinlan, a Denver resident since 1992, said of opening day in the MLB. “It’s everything you think America should be.”

Quinlan noted that during the home opener, downtown is a fun place for everyone, even those not attending the actual game. He spoke with the bustling sounds of street performers and jersey-wearing fans in the background, beating the warm streets near Coors Field.

And during those hours of merrymaking before the game against the Tampa Bay Rays officially began at 2:10 p.m., all kinds of Denverites congregated for a loud and proud event.

The Helm family, made up of three generations of Denver natives, were a shining example of the family and legacy that the baseball team brings to the city, even with a 31-year history of mediocre seasons.

Coco Helm has not missed a single home opener since the team was founded in 1993. Her son, Joshua Helm, has only missed one home opener — when his son Maverick was born.

“It’s a family tradition, essentially,” Joshua Helm said, looking toward his two sons, with Maverick now attending his first ever opening day game. “Come back and be with the family and hope for a decent season.”

Joshua Helm flew back with his two sons from California to meet his parents for the game, one of many people coming from out of town for the celebration.

For example, Mike and Renee Rhoades came down from Wyoming for the home opener — a bucket list item for Mike.

“I’ve wanted to come for the home opener since they’ve built this place,” Mike Rhoades said. “I’ve tried to come every year.”

They finally made it Friday, hitting the LoDo streets at 9 a.m. after their first ride on the Regional Transportation District’s light rail.

It was everything he could have hoped for. A fantastic feeling, Mike Rhoades added.

“We’ve already made a lot of friends. Now we’re here to party,” Renee Rhoades said.

“They’re going to go all the way,” she joked. “They’re going to win today.”

Despite everyone around having a seemingly joyous time, the Rhoades were the only few that felt full positivity for the team.

In over 30 years of being a team, the Rockies have only been to the playoffs five times. With a 1-6 start to the 2024, most fans doubt a legendary stretch is coming their way.

Being a Rockies fan has taken a lot of patience, according to Wyoming natives Julie and Sandy Andrew.

“There’s been some good years and some tough years, as everyone knows. It’s been fun. It’s always a great time to come down here and hopefully watch some good baseball,” Sandy Andrew said.

“I go to spring training every year because there’s hope in spring training. We’re 1-6. There’s no hope. We’re done already,” Quinlan said, likening the fandom to a bad romantic relationship.

“It’s kind of like an ex-wife,” he said. “There was a reason that you married her in the first place, and you hold onto that reason even though there is no factual reason to keep holding onto that faith.”

“Let’s go Rockies, and let’s not forget that we are one of the worst teams in the baseball league,” Josh Sharp said full of smiles and jest despite the overarching negativity.

“The odds are not in our favor,” he continued. “Do I have hope? Not really. We’ve got the Nuggets and the Avs, but that’s about it.”

Though the team may not be great, the celebration always is — turning LoDo into a booming neighborhood during the summer season.

The 2023 opening day numbers in Denver ranked 4th for foot traffic in the ballpark district on a single baseball game day, with more than 89,000 people swarming the area, according to the Downtown Denver Partnership.

“I love what Coors Field has done for this area,” Quinlan said. “If you know what this area was before — completely different. Baseball, because of the number of games that they have, it’s a big economic impact.”

For example, the Caldero restaurant in McGregor’s Square, just feet from Coors Field, expects around 600-700 customers a day during games throughout the season, Manager Brandon Scheibenpflug said.

“Starting literally Friday until the end of the summer — that’s our season,” he said.

With even a less-than-stellar team bringing nearly 100,000 people to the area every home opener, financial and fan positivity certainly follows, regardless of the team’s record.