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Everybody Loves Opening Day, No Matter The Score

DENVER (CBS4) - Everyone loves Opening Day at Coors Field every year, from the fans to the businesses around the stadium.

The game is celebrated each and every year by the team with its annual Fan Fest. This year the Denver band Opie Gone Bad entertained those gathered outside.

Among the fans who attended Monday's game was former Rockies player Dante Bichette. He hit the first home run for the Rockies in the team's first season on April 7, 1993, and was part of the gloried group known as the "Blake Street Bombers." He told CBS4 Critic at Large Greg Moody he loves being back at the ballpark, and would love to have one more chance to step back onto the field.

"Absolutely, " he said. "You'd have to run for me, but I think I could go out there and take another swing."

Bichette played for the Rockies for six seasons before being traded.

No other game -- with the exception of 4th of July game or a playoff -- draws the same kind of crowd to the Ballpark neighborhood.

And for many of the businesses, baseball is king. "We're nothing without the Rockies," said Scott Lyons with Blake Street Sports.

The 82 home games are really Blake Street Sports' entire year.

"Our business completely depends on them. That's our whole year and Opening Day is a big chunk of that so this is a really important time for us," Lyons said.

And for the fans, they are just great to hear the cry of "Play Ball."

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