World City Guide

Sport

Baseball is the national passion. Denver’s major league team, the Colorado Rockies (website: www.coloradorockies.com), attracts record attendance to the 50,000-seat Coors Field Stadium, Blake Street and 20th Street, in LoDo (tel: (303) 762 5437). The team has not been successful in the 2002 standings, trailing at the bottom end of the National League West table. The season runs from April to October and tickets are obtainable at the stadium in person from Monday to Friday 0900-1800, Saturday 0900-1600, Sunday 0900-1600 (home-game days only) or by telephone (tel: (800) 388 7625).

At the opposite end of the sports district from Coors Field is the new, state-of-the art Pepsi Center, Speer Boulevard and Auraria Parkway (tel: (303) 405 1100; website: www.pepsicenter.com), a multipurpose stadium and concert venue that is home to Colorado Avalanche (website: www.coloradoavalanche.com), Denver’s ice hockey team. The ice hockey season runs from October to April. Tickets are available from the box office (tel: (303) 405 1111).

American football is played at Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium, 1701 Bryant Street, home of the Denver Broncos (website: www.denverbroncos.com), the city’s major league team. Tickets are obtainable from the ticket office (tel: (720) 258 3333; e-mail: tickets@broncos.nfl.com). The regular season is September-December.

Cycling: Denver is one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in America. The Platte River Greenway is the spine of the cycle trails network, designed for recreational and commuting purposes. A detailed Denver Bike Map, costing US$6, is available by mail order (website: www.localsponsors.com/denver/bike/getmap.htm), from the Denver Permit Center, 200 West 14th Avenue (tel: (303) 640 5916), or from bookshops and retail outlets.

Fitness centres: Many Denver hotels have fitness rooms on site. There are fitness centres and gyms located throughout the city. The Denver Athletic Club, 1325 Glenarm Place (tel: (303) 534 1211; website: www.denverathleticclub.org) is located Downtown.

Golf: The City Park Golf Course, 2500 York Street (tel: (303) 295 4420), is a municipal course. Reservations should be made at the club, 24 hours in advance, although same-day credit card reservations can be made by telephone. The fee for 18 holes is US$18 weekdays and US$20 weekends. Membership is not required.

Skiing: There are over two dozen ski resorts within easy reach of Denver, ranging from the very basic to the playgrounds of the rich and famous. Winter Park Resort (tel: (303) 892 0961; website: www.skiwinterpark.com), 108km (67 miles) from Denver, via the I-70 and US 40, is actually owned by the city of Denver. This laid-back resort is suitable for both families and serious skiers, with a variety of terrain, 121 trails and 20 lifts. On weekends, the Ski Train travels to the resort from Denver’s Union Station. There is also a great programme of summer activities, including mountain biking and the wonderful Alpine Slide.

Tennis: Denver has 125 free public tennis courts. Good ones are located at Lincoln Park, Mariposa Street and West 11th Avenue, and Argo Park, Logan Street and East 47th Avenue. The Gates Tennis Centre, 100 South Adams Street (tel: (303) 355 4461), in the Cherry Creek district, has a choice of 20 hard surface courts costing US$4 per hour for singles, US$5 per hour for doubles.