Chihuahuas open season to packed, happy Southwest University Park
Raul Lopez has been waiting for the start of a new baseball season for six months, so he didn't see much problem in waiting another couple of hours.
He couldn't be the first fan through the gates at Southwest University Park for Friday night's El Paso Chihuahuas season opener against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys — that was reserved for season seat holders who were let in at 5:45 p.m. for the 7:05 p.m. first pitch — but he was the first in line and the first through the gates when they opened for the rest of the fans at 6 p.m.
"This is great, I've been waiting a long time for this," Lopes said, referring to the end of last year, not the two hours of standing outside Southwest University Park's Durango Street entrance as Friday afternoon turned to evening. "This is my third opening day, I love coming out and seeing the Chihuahuas. I'm ready."
El Paso was ready, as a standing-room-only crowd of 8,904 was on hand, same as expected for the other two games of this three-game series. That could be the norm for a while, as San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. is expected to be with the team for its next homestand against Albuquerque, which begins on April 11.
"I'll be here," said Jason Munoz, who was one of several early-arriving fans at the park wearing a Tatis Jr. No. 23 Padres jersey. "That will be amazing seeing him in El Paso."
As for opening day, "This is exciting, too," he said. "This is always a fun time of year."
Jordan Rojas, 13, and his brother Jacoby, 12, were among the first fans in the park at 5:45 p.m. and Jordan had a prediction.
"Two homers," he said.
His younger brother, getting to bid second, topped him.
"Four home runs," Jacoby said.
For the record, wisdom topped enthusiasm, Jordan was right, as the Chihuahuas hit two home runs, against none for Sugar Land, in a come-from-behind 14-3 victoy.
Jordan let on he had trouble sleeping last night because of the excitement.
The pomp and circumstance of opening day isn't just for fans, it hits everyone.
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"It still gets me excited," said Chihuahuas manager Phillip Wellman, in his first year in El Paso. "If I don't get excited and nervous for opening day, if I don't get chills for the national anthem on opening day, it's time for me to go home. I still feel the same."
That was a common theme. General manager Brad Taylor said almost the same thing.
"It never gets old," he said. "I tell my wife every year on opening day, if I don't get goose bumps for the anthem it's time to not do it any more. Opening day is a reunion, we get to see all our game day staff come back, our season seat holders.
"It's truly uniting for all of us who have something in common: we love sports, we love baseball. It never gets old, this should be a holiday I love it so much."
"It's about as special as it gets," said Alan Ledford, the president of the MountainStar Sports Group that owns the Chiahuahuas. "Regardless of how many you've been through, there's something about it, that romanticism, of starting again, spring, all that goes with it, it's cool.
"It's amazing. We opened on April 28, 2014, and to imagine that was 10 years ago — it's incredible. The thing that most resonates for me is how El Paso has supported the Chihuahuas through every one of our seasons. People have always been out here, they are great fans, they are supportive community, of the venue, of the team.
"They are what makes this place and this experience special."
Opening day, a time of renewed home and a celebration of the start of spring, is always special. El Paso has been doing it for 10 years and it hasn't gotten old for anyone.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at 915-546-6359; bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Chihuahuas open season to packed Southwest University Park
