Jeff and Ashley Moerke will relaunch the tavern this June. They hope improved Rockies attendance drives traffic to the Denver location.

The $262 million Rockies windfall

The Common Sense Institute study suggests a massive economic windfall is possible if the Colorado Rockies achieve top-tier status. According to a study by the Common Sense Institute cited in the report, a high-ranking Rockies team could inject up to $262 million into the Colorado economy through increased consumer spending.

A successful Rockies season could drive a 44% increase in home attendance, moving from 2.4 million to 3.5 million fans. This surge in spectators could bring an estimated 55,000 to 275,000 additional out-of-state visitors to the region, creating a significant boost for local hospitaltiy businesses.

A 19,000-square-foot tribute to LoDo's sports history

The Tavern on Blake Street is a 19,000-square-foot venue designed to function as a premier sports hub in Denver's LoDo district . The space will feature 84 televisions, including a dedicated "TV wall" in the basement, and an arcade located in the former tailgate room on the main floor.

Ashley Moerke, a former employee of the original tavern who worked there from 2013 to 2015, aims to bring back the communal atmosphere of the previous establishment. Although the reopening was delayed due to necessary patio and HVAC repairs, the owners intend to recreate the nostalgic environment that once made the original location a local mecca.

Navigating the Rockies' eighth consecutive losing season

The cuurrent performance of the Colorado Rockies presents a major risk to the reopening of The Tavern on Blake Street . The team is currently navigating its eighth consecutive losing season and is coming off three consecutive years of 100-loss campaigns.

Recent attendance figures for the Rockies have hit historic lows, with last season's average of 29,687 fans per game being the lowest since 2007.. as the report notes, the team has averaged only 26 ,556 fans per game so far this season,which is significantly lower than the 47,084 average seen during the 1995 season.

Can the Broncos and Nuggets offset a Rockies slump?

The Moerkes plan to diversify their customer base by targeting fans of the Denver Broncos, Nuggets, and Avalanche, as well as University of Colorado Buffs supporters. This strategy aims to ensure the tavern remains a viable destination even when the Rockies are not in playoff contention.

It remains to be seen if these secondary sports markets can provide enough stability to sustain the business during the Rockies' rebuilding phase. while the owners are banking on a variety of local sports, the high stakes of the Denver sports economy mean that the team's performance will likely remain a primary driver of foot traffic.