Colorado Rapids fans will find some new additions to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park this season — and the first one is worth toasting: a bar from the Oskar Blues Brewery called Dale’s.
The Colorado brewery has landed a four-year partnership with the team that includes sponsoring the only bar at Dick’s. Although the signs hadn’t been changed in time for the home opener on March 4, the former Eighteen76 bar will now be called Dale’s Bar, a reference to the brewery’s flagship pale ale, Dale’s Pale Ale.
The bar will also serve Double Dale’s IPA, Dale’s American Lager, Hazy Blues juicy IPA, as well as Oskar Blues’ hard seltzer brand, Wild Basin, and other beers.
While the bar and its beer selection are certainly new, they’re hardly the only change fans will see.
Centennial 38, the largest independent supporters group for the Rapids, has grown considerably over the last few seasons. So much so that the club approved adding a section, which will cover both 117 and 118.
The group is also bringing the new bar into one of its oldest traditions: “The Oar.” At the end of each home game, the supporters award a unique, 3-foot rowing paddle to the Rapids player deemed man of the match. Starting this season, the oars will be hanging in Dale’s Bar – conveniently located near C38.
“There’s a value to the entire fanbase of acknowledging the players who come on to cheer and the ones that have exceptional performances,” C38 president Dave Wegner said. “We definitely want to encourage everybody inside the stadium to come to the South End to take part in the ceremony.”
Other changes include the following:
The C38 sections will be updated with safe-standing rails that match that of other supporters sections in MLS.
QR codes on the back of seats that link to song sheets for fans to sing along with those in the South End (specifically songs in the 38th and 76th minute as Colorado is the 38th state founded in 1876)
Players will return to singing with fans following the game and those that are not in the match-day squad will meet with supporters at the pre-match tailgate and after the match at Dale’s Bar
“Over the last 10 years, there’ve been a lot of ideas kicked around in the offseason and in the last two months, we’ve probably gotten 90% of those ideas moved across the line,” Wegner said.
“There are two things that fans should realize when they walk into DSGP: A) You’re in Colorado. B) You’re there for a soccer match. These plans have been in the works for a while to improve the atmosphere, but now I think it will really make a big difference.”
Colorado kicked off the season on March 4. The next home game is March 18 versus Minnesota.
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