Quick Facts: Colorado Rockies
| Owner | Dick Monfort (Chairman & CEO) and Charlie Monfort |
| Chairman & CEO | Dick Monfort |
| Founded | 1993 (expansion team) |
| Headquarters | Denver, Colorado, USA |
| Ownership Type | Private |
| Stock Ticker | N/A |
| Publicly Traded | No |
Who Owns the Colorado Rockies?
The Colorado Rockies are owned by Dick Monfort and his brother Charlie Monfort, who have controlled the franchise since 2005 when they took full ownership from a group that originally purchased the team’s expansion rights in 1991. Dick Monfort serves as the team’s Chairman and CEO, making him the active controlling owner and public face of the organization. The Monfort brothers are Colorado natives whose family fortune was built through ConAgra Lamb Weld (now Monfort, Inc.), one of the nation’s largest beef processing companies, which their father Warren Monfort founded in Greeley, Colorado.
The Colorado Rockies were granted as a National League expansion franchise in 1991 and began play in the 1993 season, sharing Mile High Stadium with the NFL’s Denver Broncos in their first two seasons before moving into the newly constructed Coors Field in 1995. Jerry McMorris was the principal owner who funded the Coors Field construction; the Monforts acquired increasing ownership stakes before taking full control in 2005. The Rockies made their only World Series appearance in 2007, winning the pennant with a remarkable late-season run before losing to the Boston Red Sox in four games. The team plays all of its home games at Coors Field in downtown Denver’s Lower Downtown (LoDo) neighborhood.
Coors Field’s high altitude — Denver sits at 5,280 feet above sea level — has profoundly shaped the Rockies’ baseball identity. The thin air causes baseballs to travel further than at sea-level parks, inflating offensive statistics and making pitching at Coors Field notoriously difficult. The team has used a humidor to store baseballs since 2002, which helps moderate the effect to some extent. Finding and developing pitching that can perform both at altitude and in road parks has been a persistent challenge for the franchise under Monfort’s ownership.
About the Monfort Family
Dick and Charlie Monfort grew up in Greeley, Colorado, where their father Warren Monfort built a major beef processing operation that grew into one of the largest cattle companies in the United States. The family sold the business to ConAgra in 1987 for approximately $365 million, generating the wealth that would eventually fund their baseball ownership. Dick Monfort has been the more publicly visible of the two brothers in his role as Rockies Chairman and CEO, representing the team at MLB owner meetings and in the Denver community. The Monfort family’s ownership has been marked by periods of both investment and criticism from fans who have at times felt the franchise underperformed its market potential.
Key Ownership Highlights
- Dick and Charlie Monfort have owned the Rockies since 2005: The Monfort brothers became the full controlling owners of the Colorado Rockies in 2005. Dick Monfort serves as Chairman and CEO, actively running the franchise, while Charlie Monfort holds a co-ownership role.
- The Rockies were an expansion team founded in 1993: Colorado received a National League expansion franchise in 1991 and began play in 1993. For their first two years they played at Mile High Stadium before moving into Coors Field in 1995, one of the most beloved ballparks in Major League Baseball.
- The 2007 World Series appearance: The Rockies made their only World Series appearance in 2007, winning the National League pennant after winning 21 of their final 22 regular-season games and sweeping through the postseason until losing to the Boston Red Sox in the Fall Classic.
- Coors Field is unique due to Denver’s altitude: At 5,280 feet above sea level, Denver’s altitude significantly affects baseball at Coors Field, causing balls to travel further and making the park one of the most hitter-friendly in the league. The Rockies have used a humidor to store baseballs since 2002 to moderate the effect.
- The Monfort fortune comes from the beef industry: Dick and Charlie Monfort’s wealth was built through their family’s beef processing company, which their father Warren Monfort founded in Greeley, Colorado. The family sold the business to ConAgra in 1987 for approximately $365 million.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns the Colorado Rockies?
The Colorado Rockies are owned by Dick Monfort (Chairman and CEO) and his brother Charlie Monfort. They have controlled the franchise since 2005. The Monfort family’s wealth derives from the beef processing industry in Colorado.
Are the Colorado Rockies publicly traded?
No. The Colorado Rockies are a privately held franchise and are not listed on any public stock exchange.
When did the Rockies play in the World Series?
The Colorado Rockies made their only World Series appearance in 2007, winning the National League pennant. They lost to the Boston Red Sox in four games in the Fall Classic, their only trip to the World Series in franchise history.
Why is it harder to pitch at Coors Field?
Denver’s altitude of 5,280 feet above sea level means the air is thinner, causing baseballs to travel further than at sea-level ballparks. This gives Coors Field some of the highest run-scoring totals in the majors and makes it notoriously difficult for pitchers to post good statistics there.
