The Denver Gazette Sports Business Insider is a readers’ guide to understanding the influence of money, politics and power behind their favorite leagues, teams and players.

Sports Business Insider: Ongoing facility upgrades at Coors Field allow the ballpark to thrive in its 32nd season of Rockies baseball in LoDo.

Short version: Kevin Kahn is the Rockies’ senior vice president and chief customer officer for ballpark operations at Coors Field. Kahn told The Denver Gazette that several facility upgrades were prioritized before the 2026 MLB season.

— Two new HVAC chillers that provide large-scale cooling to indoor spaces across the ballpark.

— Large sections of replaced concrete on the 300-level concourse.

— A new members-only speakeasy called 1913 with a secret entrance above the Sandlot Brewery.

Long version: Denver is on the cusp of a sports venue renaissance with new stadiums for the Summit FC (2028) and the Broncos (2031). So, what about the Rockies?

Coors Field is the third-oldest National League stadium behind Wrigley Field (1914) and Dodger Stadium (1962). The Rockies’ current lease to play games at Coors Field runs through 2047, and it appears the team has no intention of leaving its home at 20th and Blake streets.

“There’s been zero discussion about wanting to move,” Kahn told The Denver Gazette.

That commitment to preserving history requires almost constant upkeep. The Rockies used third-party experts to establish a long-term capital plan. It is the team’s road map to modernizing the ballpark with strategic facility upgrades. Like the hugely popular two-story party deck, called The Rooftop, that opened in 2014.

“We do a lot of best practice trips around the league. Especially with some of the newer parks … just to see what type of amenities and experiences there are, to see if something may make sense for us to do,” Kahn said. “We want Coors Field to be the baseball icon for the Rocky Mountain region. But, at the same time, knowing that we’ve got to stay relevant and meet the needs and desires of our fans.”

The most recent changes are largely upgrades to existing ballpark amenities that ensure safety and a quality fan experience. Fans interested in membership for the new 1913 speakeasy can call 303-ROCKIES for more information.

Key context: Last season, Colorado finished No. 15 in the big leagues with an average of 30,057 home fans. All signs point to impressive totals in 2026 despite a rebuilding franchise.

Here is a look at Coors Field attendance figures for Opening Day (and a three-game series) against the Phillies:

— Opening Day: 48,366

— Saturday: 39,718

— Sunday: 29,757

“We’re extremely thankful for the support,” Kahn said. “It is unique. We have visiting teams that will come with some of their businesspeople. They say: ‘How do you guys do it?’ They come on a Tuesday night in the summer when we’ve got 30,000 people in here. They’re used to having 12,000 for a team that may be in contention. So, we’re very appreciative of what we experience here.

“Hopefully, we get back to the times of playing meaningful games in September and into October.”

Looking ahead: The Rockies close out their opening homestand with games on Tuesday and Wednesday against the Astros at Coors Field.