Fans at Coors Field miss first pitch due to metal detector delays
With Major League Baseball requiring full metal detector screenings at every ballpark this season, it was expected there would be some early season complications that left some fans outside the ballpark at first pitch, and more fans frustrated by the process itself.
Fortunately, it would appear things are going smoother than anticipated around the league, as there really hasn’t been much discussion on the topic overall. However, fans attending the Colorado Rockies opener at Coors Field on Friday afternoon did run into some issues as long lines outside the ballpark prevented many from seeing the game’s first pitch.
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According to ABC 7 in Denver, many of those left on the outside arrived to Coors Field plenty early, only to find lines barely moving. In some cases, the wait reached the hour mark with barely any movement. About 35 minutes before first pitch, the long line outside one of Coors Field’s main entrances was stretched across 20th Street.
Unfortunately, just about all of them had this view of pregame festivities.
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According to several fans, the congestion only improved once security decided to bench the metal detectors and allow the group through. Still, the frustration was palpable, and it’s obvious the Rockies have some issues to figure out on Saturday and beyond.
The good news is MLB has said they’re willing to be flexible to help teams find procedures that work best for them. The bad news is it appears the Rockies in particular have a long ways to go to find the ideal procedures. The silver lining, however, might be that Coors Field isn’t likely to be jammed to its near 50,000 seat capacity very many times again this season.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
