There will be no Rockies’ winter Fanfest prior to the 2008 season, leaving the first opportunity to cheer the National League pennant winners on Feb. 27.
That’s when Colorado will open its 16th spring training exhibition season on the road against the Chicago White Sox. The Rockies will play 31 spring-training games, including 15 at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, their only home since hatching in 1993. They will conclude on Friday, March 28 at Chase Field in Phoenix against the Diamondbacks before opening the regular season on the road at St. Louis.
A first-ever visit by the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 23 — they will begin training in the Phoenix-area in 2009 — highlights a home schedule that includes a Feb. 29 game against the Mexico City Reds.
The Rockies will talk with Tucson officials soon to discuss the their future in the city. Per their lease, the Rockies can opt out if there are not two other teams training in the city. The Chicago White Sox have plans to relocate to Glendale, Ariz., just outside of Phoenix, sharing a brand-new facility with the Dodgers in 2009.
Pima County has demanded that the White Sox find a replacment team for Tucson Electric Park, which also houses the Arizona Diamondbacks, or it could pursue a substantial broken-lease settlement. The Cincinnati Reds have been the most often mentioned as a potential replacement.
The Rockies have elected not to hold a Fanfest for the second consecutive winter. It was revived for a few years, including a caravan that toured around the state and into Wyoming. Some teams have switched the format of their fanfests, conducting them just prior to opening day so more players are available to sign autographs. The Baltimore Orioles, for instance, will stage their event March 29.
Spring training tickets can be purchased beginning at 9 a.m. on Jan. 12 at Hi Corbett, Coors Field, dugout stores, King Soopers, on the club’s website or by calling 1-800-388-ROCK.
