Five unique venues where the Colorado Rockies should play a game

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OMAHA, NEBRASKA – JUNE 13: Outfielders Billy Hamilton #6, Whit Merrifield #15, and Terrance Gore #0 of the Kansas City Royals chat as they wait for a pitching change during the 9th inning of the game at TD Ameritrade Park on June 13, 2019 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Major League Baseball has fallen in love with playing games in unique venues. From promoting the game internationally in London and Tokyo to games in Omaha (site of the NCAA Division I World Series) and Williamsport, Pa. (site of the Little League World Series), MLB has often gone above and beyond to try to bring baseball to new settings.

Earlier this month, the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers have played in Omaha in the first-ever Major League game in the state of Nebraska. The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees head to London later this month for the first-ever MLB game in the United Kingdom. The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals are reportedly being considered for next year in London.

So there are plenty of Major League teams playing in unique games in unique settings. So why aren’t the Colorado Rockies a part of these opportunities? Don’t talk about them being a team from a smaller market or not having a huge fan base as a reason. Kansas City and Detroit in Omaha wiped away that conversation.

Perhaps it’s just that the right thought hasn’t hit when it comes to the Rockies and exposing a new potential fanbase to Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon, Trevor Story and the rest of the Colorado roster.

With that in mind, we decided we would help Major League Baseball out with five cool opportunities for the Rockies to be a part of an opportunity to play in a unique city or venue. And, for extra fun, we decided to look at cities in the United States as well as outside the country.

PASADENA, CA – MARCH 03: A Mexican flag is unfurled by a supporter prior to the International Friendly match between New Zealand and Mexico at the Rose Bowl on March 3, 2010 in Pasadena, California. Mexico defeated New Zealand 2-0. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /

Mexico City

The Rockies have a long and rich history when it comes to playing games in Mexico. Opening Day of the 1999 season took place in Monterrey with Colorado and the San Diego Padres going down in the history books as the first two teams to open the season outside of the United States.

Colorado returned to Monterrey this spring with two exhibition games against the Diamondbacks.

Ramstein Air Base, Germany

Located in southwestern Germany, Ramstein Air Base serves as the base for the United States Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa and NATO Allied Air Command. It’s estimated that more than 54,000 American service members and more than 5,400 US civilian employees live and work in the area surrounding Ramstein.

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While Major League Baseball is wanting to grow the game in Mexico as we discussed in the previous slide, MLB is also looking to see what growth it can find in Europe as well. Don’t forget the Red Sox and Yankees are kicking things off in London and the MLB European Academy is helping young players find opportunities.

We know that MLB has hosted a game at Fort Bragg (N.C.) in the past and then turned the field into a facility that could be used by the soldiers and families who are stationed there. The same kind of thing could be done at Ramstein.

The Rockies could represent the West against a team from the Eastern side of the United States (although that team would have an advantage with the time zone change). Give it a good old-fashioned West vs. East theme and let the servicemen and women choose their side.

BOISE, ID – DECEMBER 21: Spuddy Buddy making the rounds during second half action between the BYU Cougars and the Western Michigan Broncos at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on December 21, 2018 at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. BYU won the game 49-18. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images) /

Lewiston, Idaho

Depending on how deep of a baseball fan you are, you may or may not have heard of Lewiston, Idaho and/or know its connection to baseball.

Colorado Rockies

For 28 of the past 36 years, the NAIA World Series has been held in Lewiston, Idaho at Harris Field on the campus of Lewis-Clark State College. The seating capacity is 5,000 so it’s quite small compared to the home of the NCAA Division I World Series in Omaha (which can seat around five times that many people). However, the attendance for the MLB game between the Mets and Phillies at the site of the 2018 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., was 2,429 so it’s been proven that games can be played at smaller venues.

Lou Brock, Dan Quisenberry, Rick Reuschel and Don Sutton are among the names of former NAIA players who have made it to Major League Baseball.

Lewiston is located two hours south of Spokane, Wash., so how about the Rockies taking on the Seattle Mariners in a game at the home of the NAIA World Series? Major League Baseball can honor all of the players who have come from small colleges and the two closest teams geography-wise can not only fight for a win but also a fanbase for the future.

DENVER – APRIL 06: Close-up of the baseball cap, sunglasses and glove of Matt Holliday #5 of the Colorado Rockies on the steps of the Rockies dugout during the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field on April 6, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

Grand Junction, Colorado

If we are giving some love to the NCAA Division I World Series and the NAIA World Series, it only makes sense to give a tip of the cap to the home of the National Junior College Athletic Association. It’s also the home to the Pioneer League team for the Colorado Rockies. It’s Suplizio Field in Grand Junction.

Sure, driving across the Continental Divide to Grand Junction may not seem like much of a road game for the Rockies. However, seeing a Major League game in western Colorado would certainly draw fans from the part of the state, as well as eastern Utah.

Seating capacity is 12,000 so attendance wouldn’t be an issue. The field is 583 miles from Phoenix so how about planning a Rockies-Diamondbacks game on the other side of the state in the early part of the season before it gets too warm?

There are plenty of opportunities for Major League Baseball to not only do some good deeds in Grand Junction but also to honor many of the players who started their career in junior colleges.

If MLB truly wants to grow the game, it’s important for younger athletes to know that smaller schools and junior colleges exist. Playing in Lewiston and Grand Junction give an opportunity for MLB to speak that message on a national scale.

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – OCTOBER 9: Balloons fly past the New Mexico state flag during the 2018 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta on October 9, 2018 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is the largest hot air balloon festival, drawing more than 500 balloons from all over the world. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images for Lumix) /

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Come on, did you really think we wouldn’t suggest the Triple-A home of the Rockies for a regular-season game, did you?

With more than 13,000 capacity, there is plenty of room for a crowd. There is also the opportunity for Major League Baseball to reach a state that has the Triple-A Isotopes as the top of its ladder.

There are plenty of Triple-A parks in states where there isn’t a Major League team but a Major League game could be hosted (Reno, Las Vegas, Oklahoma City and Salt Lake City, among others) but why not give Colorado’s Triple-A team and its fine ballpark a chance to shine?

Focus on the Hispanic heritage and culture as the Isotopes have done so well in the past and MLB could find itself reaching a new audience.

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Albuquerque already hosted an exhibition game between the Rockies and Isotopes earlier this season so the taste for Major League Baseball is already there. Bring in the neighboring Diamondbacks and let’s see how the crowd reacts.

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