In the era of glitzy and glittering baseball, UCHealth Park stands out for its focus on the game. The baseball stadium is home to the Rocky Mountain Vibes, an independent Triple-A team playing in the Pioneer League since 2019. Formerly called Security Service Field, it is among the smallest Triple-A ballparks. Between 1988 and 2018, the ballpark was home to Pacific Coast League’s AAA team the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, and gained popularity as Sky Sox Stadium. UCHealth Park has the distinction of being the highest baseball stadium at 6,531 feet above sea level, about 1,300 feet higher than Coors Field.

The History

The Hawaii Islanders relocated to Colorado Springs in 1988 and renamed the team the Sky Sox. After relocating, the new team began playing at Spurgeon Stadium, which was also called Memorial Park. Since this was the first professional team in the Pikes Peak area after 1958, there was a plan to build a baseball-specific stadium for the new team. The stadium opened on June 18, 1988, and the Colorado Springs Sky Sox moved in there late in the 1988 season.

The Sky Sox played their last game at UCHealth Park on September 3, 2018, before moving to San Antonio Texas. In late 2018, the Rocky Mountain Vibes took over the ballpark and played their first game on June 23, 2019.

The ballpark was known as Sky Sox Stadium from 1988 to 2005. It became Security Service Field in 2005 after Security Service Federal Credit Union bought the naming rights for 15 years. In May 2019, the Rocky Mountain Vibes entered into a deal with UCHealth, and Security Service Field became UCHealth Park.

Design and Features

The design of the baseball-focused UCHealth Park drew inspiration from Conestee Park of South Carlina’s Greenville. However, it has sidestepped the dull ambiance of the Greenville stadium and has been renovated over the years to remain a ballpark able to attract baseball fans. With 8,400 capacity, UCHealth Park ranks at the bottom of listed Triple-A baseball stadiums. However, the elevation makes it the highest professional ballpark.

Fans often complain that the east-facing design of the grandstand at UCHealth Park obstructs a scenic view of the famed mountain backdrop of Colorado Springs. To compensate, the ballpark has a 42 x 55 feet replica of the peaks of the Rockies on its left-center field. It lights up when the home team scores a homer or wins a game.

Progressive renovations have made UCHealth Park more relevant to the modern baseball experience. The ballpark got a 15 x 22 feet video screen in 2007. A year before that, the ballpark got the four-storied Centennial Banquet Hall. The first floor has a clubhouse, batting cages, and a training center. The second and third floors have group areas similar to club sitting arrangements with catering services. The banquet hall occupies the third floor and can accommodate 250 people at a time. Guests can also enjoy the game from its open-air balcony area. A concourse is on the top floor of the building and it also houses the Hall of Fame.

Between the building and the field, there is the Coors Picnic Terrace. Divided into five levels with a place for 500 people, the area is the place to enjoy the scenic mountain views as well as the action on the field. UCHealth Park has 18 suites previously called skyboxes.

Concessions & Facilities

UCHealth Park has one of the best food scenes in professional baseball venues. Adored for both value and variety, the culinary selection gives competition to many MLB ballparks scoring much above the Triple-A level. The area around the ballpark also has an extensive array of excellent fast-food restaurants. The concourse next to the third base line is the place to enjoy specialty beverages. There are several kiosks selling brats, chili, fries, hot dogs, cracker nuts, beers, ales, and sausages.

The Coors VIP Picnic Terrace hosts various special events on non-game days. It has an 8-person spa, which has “The Highest Hot Tub in Professional Sports.” When visitors enter UCHealth Park, they receive a booklet entitled “The Inside Pitch” that mentions concessions and facilities at the ballpark.

The Hall of Fame Bar & Grill is the most famous place for dining inside UCHealth Park. Its décor provides a glimpse of the history of the ballpark when it was known as Sky Sox Stadium and Security Service Field. It also hosts framed jerseys and descriptive plaques of former Sox greats.

Fun Zone is the place for kids to play on inflatables and in a pitching cage.

Purely Baseball Things To Know

• UCHealth Park is the smallest of about 30 ballparks in the Triple-A with a capacity of 8,400. The second smallest one is Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio.
• On June 18, 1988, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox lost their inaugural game to the Tucson Toros, 14-6 before a home crowd of 8,763.
• The home team ended the 1988 season in fifth place in the Pacific League with a 62-77 score.

• On June 7, 2008, the game between the Sky Sox and the Tacoma Rainiers witnessed 34 runs.
• Luis Medina was the first to enter The Hall of Fame. Medina made 76 home runs while playing with the Sky Sox from 1988 to 1991. He scored 28 home runs in the 1988 inaugural season.
• The Colorado Springs Sky Sox became league champions twice in 1992 and 1995 and entered playoffs six times while playing at UCHealth Park.
• The highest attendance at UCHealth Park was 9,505 on July 4, 2004, when the Omaha Royals beat the Sky Sox 6-5.

• The Rocky Mountain Vibes lost their first home and away games. The away game was a 3-0 loss to the Orem Owlz on June 14, 2019. The first home game was a week later resulting in an 8-5 loss to the Grand Junction Rockies.
• On June 30, 2009, Brandon Hynick had a perfect game against the visiting Portland Beavers. He pitched for 7 innings to win it 2-0.
• Five home runs powered Colorado Springs to a 7-2 win over the Round Rock Express on July 1, 2018.
• On June 7, 2011, Colorado Springs routed Sacramento 12-9. The home team made 7 homers.
• The Sky Sox lost their last two games at the ballpark to the Oklahoma City Dodgers.