The Yankees are coming – and fans are buying.
Five years after their interleague series established attendance records at Coors Field, the Yankees’ return this summer fueled 30,000 overall single-game ticket sales Saturday.
That represents the largest single-game purchases at the Coors Field box office and outlet stores since 2002, according to Sue Ann McClaren, Rockies vice president of ticket sales.
The $75 and club-level tickets for the June 19-21 Yankees series are sold out, but seats remain for all three games. Opening-day tickets April 2 against the Arizona Diamondbacks also are going fast – infield box and club seats are nearly gone – which helps explain why the Rockies’ single-game ticket sales are up 90 percent from this time a year ago.
“This year the fans have been incredible. We haven’t see this type of response in the past,” McClaren said. “The Yankees series is obviously part of it, but opening day is just huge so far. I think people know that we had a better year last season.”
McClaren said it’s too early to provide a season-ticket estimate – the Rockies have been at about 14,000 to 15,000 in recent years. Sales are trending up, she explained, in part because the team’s Diamond Series mini-plans, which range from 15 to 25 games, have seen a 45 percent sales increase.
Herges in bullpen mix
Unable to land Dan Kolb and eager to create more depth, the Rockies signed veteran reliever Matt Herges to a $600,000 minor-league deal Monday.
Herges, 36, went 2-3 with a 4.31 ERA in 66 games for the Marlins last season and has experience in the National League West with the Giants and Dodgers. He can make an additional $150,000 in incentives based on appearances.
The Rockies are looking for another setup man to complement LaTroy Hawkins, the primary bridge to closer Brian Fuentes. Herges joins a list of candidates, including Dave Veres, Danny Graves, Manny Corpas, Ramon Ramirez and possibly Taylor Buchholz if he fails to make the rotation.
Footnotes
Vinny Castilla returned from Mexico this week after playing in the Caribbean World Series. He drove in a run and scored in his final game for his country. “To finish with a win with a Mexican uniform on meant a lot,” Castilla said Monday. Castilla, a special adviser to Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd, will arrive at spring training Feb. 23 and provide on-field instruction as part of his duties. Castilla’s ultimate goal is to manage someday. … The Rockies invited veteran infielders Frank Menechino and Russ Johnson to minor-league camp….Pitcher Rodrigo Lopez, acquired from Baltimore in the offseason, will report to Tucson in the best shape of his career after working out for three months at Velocity Sports Training in Arizona.
Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
