D-Backs paint the town red in unveiling redone Chase
Joseph A. Reaves
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 9, 2007 12:00 AM
Going to tonight's Diamondbacks' home opener?
Make a point of walking into the ballpark through the rotunda entrance.
The view is pretty special.
As part of a $6 million makeover for Chase Field, the Diamondbacks have removed several concession carts and other obstacles to give fans entering the park through the main rotunda entrance a clear view of the playing field.
No matter what entrance you take, though, there will be plenty new to see.
Most noticeable will be the new color scheme to go with the team's new colors. Walls, signs, bathrooms, concession stands all are done in Sedona red - 305 gallons of it.
Gone is the hodgepodge of colors in favor of a clean, simple red that looks classy, not overwhelming - except, perhaps, for the dugouts. They are now the only red dugouts in the major leagues and one look probably will explain why none of the other 29 teams has gone red.
Also gone from the revamped Chase are the baseball timelines that lined the concourse and the display cases that held memorabilia from minor league teams and historical moments. The cases now feature posters of all 25 members of the active roster, and a couple of team mascot, Baxter the Bobcat, scattered about the park.
"When the franchise began we wanted to educate our fans about baseball," said Shaun Rachau, vice president of communications.
"Now that the franchise has been here 10 years, we want to draw attention to our players, our organization and our new colors."
The new colors will be on display in the stands as well as the concourse. All fans entering the game tonight will receive Sedona red T-shirts courtesy of Gila River Casinos and Opening Day commemorative pins courtesy of Circle K.
Tonight's national anthem will be performed by 6-year-old Geoffrey Gallante, a prodigy on the trumpet who has performed with the Tonight Show band, on The Early Show on CBS, NBC's the Today Show and with jazz great Wynton Marsalis and the U.S. Army Blues Jazz Ensemble.
As the anthem ends, four F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 308th Fighter Squadron based at Luke Air Force Base will fly over Chase Field.
Diamondbacks officials are making a secret of who will throw out the first pitch of the new season.
They aren't making a secret of the new club in center field, the Diamond Club, designed with the feel of a Scottsdale singles bar. The club holds a maximum of 270 fans, who will have to pay $20 apiece to enter.
The $20 includes admission to the ballpark, but no seat, just a spot in the Diamond Club, which, because it is technically a club, will continue liquor sales after the seventh inning and offer postgame entertainment.
Let the party begin. It's Opening Night!
Joseph A. Reaves
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 9, 2007 12:00 AM
Going to tonight's Diamondbacks' home opener?
Make a point of walking into the ballpark through the rotunda entrance.
The view is pretty special.
As part of a $6 million makeover for Chase Field, the Diamondbacks have removed several concession carts and other obstacles to give fans entering the park through the main rotunda entrance a clear view of the playing field.
No matter what entrance you take, though, there will be plenty new to see.
Most noticeable will be the new color scheme to go with the team's new colors. Walls, signs, bathrooms, concession stands all are done in Sedona red - 305 gallons of it.
Gone is the hodgepodge of colors in favor of a clean, simple red that looks classy, not overwhelming - except, perhaps, for the dugouts. They are now the only red dugouts in the major leagues and one look probably will explain why none of the other 29 teams has gone red.
Also gone from the revamped Chase are the baseball timelines that lined the concourse and the display cases that held memorabilia from minor league teams and historical moments. The cases now feature posters of all 25 members of the active roster, and a couple of team mascot, Baxter the Bobcat, scattered about the park.
"When the franchise began we wanted to educate our fans about baseball," said Shaun Rachau, vice president of communications.
"Now that the franchise has been here 10 years, we want to draw attention to our players, our organization and our new colors."
The new colors will be on display in the stands as well as the concourse. All fans entering the game tonight will receive Sedona red T-shirts courtesy of Gila River Casinos and Opening Day commemorative pins courtesy of Circle K.
Tonight's national anthem will be performed by 6-year-old Geoffrey Gallante, a prodigy on the trumpet who has performed with the Tonight Show band, on The Early Show on CBS, NBC's the Today Show and with jazz great Wynton Marsalis and the U.S. Army Blues Jazz Ensemble.
As the anthem ends, four F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 308th Fighter Squadron based at Luke Air Force Base will fly over Chase Field.
Diamondbacks officials are making a secret of who will throw out the first pitch of the new season.
They aren't making a secret of the new club in center field, the Diamond Club, designed with the feel of a Scottsdale singles bar. The club holds a maximum of 270 fans, who will have to pay $20 apiece to enter.
The $20 includes admission to the ballpark, but no seat, just a spot in the Diamond Club, which, because it is technically a club, will continue liquor sales after the seventh inning and offer postgame entertainment.
Let the party begin. It's Opening Night!
