Monfort addresses 'uncertain months ahead'

DENVER -- Rockies owner, chairman and CEO Dick Monfort, in a letter sent to season-ticket holders on Wednesday, acknowledged the tough economic times for his and other teams in the face of the pandemic, and asked fans to stick with the club through a difficult offseason.

“The financial losses incurred across baseball in 2020 are astounding, with losses at nearly $3 billion industry-wide and the average club losing nearly $100 million,” Monfort’s letter said. “It will take time to rebound, and in some cases, these losses will never be recovered. As a result, there will be nothing normal about this offseason as the industry faces a new economic reality, and each club will have to adjust.

“It will take all of us working together to face the uncertain months ahead with determination and hope, and then be ready for a 2021 season. I have faith in our staff and our fans -- we must and will make it through this -- so please stay tuned for updates from us over the course of the coming months.”

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The letter, which also said fans will soon be informed of mini-plan ticket options for 2021, expressed empathy for all families that have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, stating, “Loved ones have been lost, businesses have closed putting people out of work, kids’ educations have been interrupted, and our lives in general have been turned upside down.”

Monfort addressed accomplishments, such as reliever Daniel Bard’s National League Comeback Player of the Year Award, Charlie Blackmon’s hot start and Raimel Tapia’s emergence as leadoff man. He also wrote of the challenge of a season without fans, in a year that saw the Rockies begin 11-3 but finish 26-34 to end up fourth in the NL West. The Rockies went 12-18 at Coors Field, their first losing home record since 2015.

“I truly missed you at the ballpark, but more notably, your absence was felt by our players,” the letter said. “It just wasn’t the same without your energy and rallying cheers. Our goal is to get through this historical challenge so we can welcome you, the best fans in all of baseball, back to 20th and Blake come April 2, 2021.”

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The letter also touched on what the Rockies can do to improve.

“Looking forward, an important offseason focus is to create more group consistency throughout the course of the season; to be playoff contenders, we are well aware that the strong momentum we started the 2020 season with must be maintained and carried into the postseason,” Monfort wrote.