Why Is There A Row of Purple Seats At Colorado’s Coors Field?

When did you last see a baseball game at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado? I've always been a baseball fan, and growing up in the shadow of Wrigley Field, I'm also a fan of ballparks.

The Colorado Rockies opened MLB play in 1993. Fans will remember the team playing their first two seasons at Mile-High Stadium. Coors Field is located in lower downtown Denver. It's a fun stadium with modern amenities and a great view from almost anywhere in the ballpark, especially the purple seats.

Get our free mobile app

Denver is the Mile High City

A portion of the city of Denver is 5,280 feet above sea level earning it the nickname the "Mile High City". You can see this on display if you look carefully at the steps of the State Capital building downtown. The dot on the steps indicates one mile above sea level.

Over the years, as the oceans rise, so must the dot on the steps of the capital. Over the years the 13th, 15th, and 18th steps from the bottom have all indicated the 5,280-foot mark above sea level.

The Purple Seats at Coors Field

When the Colorado Rockies designed Coors Field, they also wanted a way to acknowledge their home in the Mile High City. The row of purple seats you see in the stands at the ballpark is another acknowledgment of Denver's 5,280-foot elevation level. The row of purple seats represents one mile above sea level.