Despite a disappointing product on the diamond, the area around Coors Field will be rocking when the Colorado Rockies kick off the home opener on Friday.

Those heading out to the Lower Downtown (LoDo) Denver stadium for the Major League Baseball team’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays should be prepared for sunshine, hot dogs, smiles and, well, likely some losses.

Here are some tips and tricks for your soiree into the “fun” new season, with the team already standing with a disappointing 1-5 record.

We promise nothing but positivity.

The game

The Rockies’ first home match against the Rays will start at 2:10 p.m. on Friday, but the opening day festivities will kick off well before the first pitch.

The Coors Field parking lots, located at Park Avenue at Wazee Street, will open at 9 a.m., leading to a plethora of tailgaters starting the party early — despite the event occurring on a weekday. 

We see you, sick-day takers.

Opening Day festivities will begin at McGregor Square, 1901 Wazee Street, at 9 a.m., as well — with drink specials and a DJ playing tunes well before the official game starts.

Patrons will also be able to watch the pregame footage live on a 66-foot big screen at McGregor Square. And, for those who couldn’t score opening day tickets, they can stay to watch the full game. 

Regarding the actual on-field festivities, the A and E gates to Coors Field will open at 12 p.m. The B, C and D gates will open at noon as well. The first ceremonial pitch and opening ceremonies will occur at 1:30 p.m. 

The crowds

More than 89,000 people came to the downtown area during opening day in 2023, according to the Downtown Denver Partnership. More than 93,000 came in 2022.

The city has seen pedestrian traffic numbers in the area hit up to 135,000 people during previous Opening Days.

“Opening Day is really the kick-off moment for spring and summer activity in Downtown Denver,” Britt Diehl, a spokesperson with Downtown Denver Partnership said. “Tens of thousands of Denverites and people from around the region come to celebrate the beginning of the Rockies’ (home) season, and we feel that momentum continue into the summertime, which is when we typically see the highest levels of foot traffic downtown each year.”

The 2023 opening day numbers in Denver ranked 4th for foot traffic in the ballpark district on a single baseball game day, with the July 4th weekend fireworks game against the Detroit Tiers coming in first at 99,438. 

Parking

As noted, the Coors Field parking lot will open at 9 a.m. Parking at the stadium costs $23 per vehicle if bought ahead of time on the Rockies’ website. 

For those who want to skip the hustle and bustle of the jam-packed parking lots right outside of the stadium, street parking is available in the Ballpark District neighborhood, but there is a two-hour time limit on meters.

Public lots near the stadium, though a bit of a walk away, will provide for less expensive parking for longer hours — but not by much as most are $20 or more on special event days.

Transit

For those attempting to skip the parking entirely, the Regional Transportation District (RTD) has many bus and light rail options that can get fans to Union Station — a half-a-mile walk from Coors Field.

RTD light rail lines A, B, E, G, N and W all run directly to Union Station, with extra trains Friday. 

Bus routes 120x, 38, 52, 8 and 38 all run to stops near or directly in front of Coors Field, as well. 

Commuters who use RTD’s Next Ride web application or the department’s trip planning tool can type “Rockies” in the destination field to see a detailed plan of how to arrive at the stadium before the game.

Food and beverage

Restaurants and bars around Coors Field are preparing for opening day, the start of their busiest season.

While the Rockies will start their season on Friday, the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets teams will continue their playoff races in coming weeks. Both teams play in Ball Arena, less than a mile from Coors Field.

“We’re in McGregor’s Square, so we have the jumbotron. That entire area gets packed, so we see a lot of people from that,” Brandon Scheibenpflug, manager of the Caldero restaurant said. “Starting literally Friday until the end of the summer — that’s our season.”

The restaurant expects around 600-700 customers a day during games throughout the season, he added, especially before and after the matchups.

“We will be at fire marshal capacity by noon,” a representative with Jackson’s LODO, a sports bar across the street from Coors Field, said about opening day. “The Saint Patrick’s Day Parade and opening day are our biggest days of the year.”

So, if you are planning on hitting the area before or after the match for food and drinks, be prepared for an onslaught of jerseys and hungry fans.

Restaurants in the area will also be having Opening Day specials on Friday.

For example, the Denver Milk Market will have $5 Purple Vodka or Tequila Rockies Shots, $10 Homerun Transfusions, a $4 Evan Williams Outfielder Shot and $5 Coors Light and Coors Banquet cans during the game.

Kachina Cantina will have $12 margaritas, Odell Brewing Co. rotating draft beers for $7 and Jack Daniel’s Can Cocktails for $10, along with other drink specials.

Westbound & Down will also have Coloradoan Mexican Style Lager, grilled burgers and “opening day swag.”

A full list of local specials can be found on Denver.org.

Weather

Those heading out to the field can expect some temperate weather, with one of the warmest days of the year so far up to bat.

Denverites can expect mostly sunny skies and a high of 75 degrees on Friday, according to the National Weather Service Boulder.

Tickets

While procrastinating fans can still grab tickets for opening day, those still pondering ticket prices may be better off waiting.

Ticket sellers show significantly lower prices for games throughout the weekend after the magical fun of opening day wears off.

Sure, the excitement of opening day may have kept Friday prices high, but the creeping realization that the Rockies stand last in the National League West has caused for some cheap seats in the coming days.

On Ticketmaster, for example, opening day tickets are sitting around $80, while prices drop to $14 and $12 respectively on Saturday and Sunday. Monday’s tickets are currently at a jaw-dropping $5.

SeatGeek shows the same trend. Opening Day tickets on the site are around $49 while Saturday and Sunday drop to below $15. Monday tickets are currently $7.

The purple line

Those heading into downtown should keep an eye out for the painted purple line heading down Blake Street, celebrating the Rockies new season.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and a Denver Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) will paint a purple stripe down Blake Street from 19th to 22nd Street on Thursday, with some Rockies logos along the way.

The tradition began with the Rockies first home opener in 1995 and has become an annual event since, according to DOTI. 

The line will pass right in front of Coors Field, giving visitors a clear path to stadium where the Rockies may — or may not — lose to the Rays.