🦕 Why the Rockies’ Mascot Is a Triceratops?

Happy Friday, Denver!

Hey everyone — Ben here. Let’s talk about one of the city’s funniest origin stories. Ever wondered why the Rockies’ hype crew includes a purple triceratops? The answer goes all the way back to a construction site… and a very unexpected fossil find.

❓ Trivia Time: Dino Edition

What famous dinosaur fossil was also discovered in Colorado — making the state one of the top dino hot spots in the country?

A) Stegosaurus

B) Velociraptor

C) T. Rex

D) Allosaurus

Click an option to vote

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🦕 Why the Rockies’ Mascot Is a Triceratops (And How Denver Accidentally Adopted a Dino)

Only in Denver could a construction project turn into a prehistoric surprise party.

Back in 1993, when crews started digging out the future home of Coors Field, they expected to find old pipes, maybe some bricks… not the remains of a Cretaceous heavyweight. But a few feet down, workers uncovered real dinosaur bones — fossilized ribs and fragments later ID’d by paleontologists from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Their verdict? The bones belonged to a triceratops, the three-horned tank of the dinosaur world.

Cue citywide plot twist.

Suddenly the Rockies weren’t just building a baseball stadium — they were building one on top of ancient dino turf. And in true Denver fashion, someone said, “What if we just… made the mascot a dinosaur?” And boom, history was made.

"Dinger", Colorado Rockies mascot - own work

by Onetwo1 (talk)

In 1994, the team debuted Dinger, a purple, friendly triceratops who “hatched” from a giant egg during a fan event and instantly became part of the Mile High ecosystem. Some mascots roar, some flap their wings — Dinger bounces around the ballpark like he’s late for recess, throwing T-shirts, taking selfies, and occasionally catching stray popcorn from row 12.

And honestly? He fits right in. Colorado is one of the richest dinosaur-fossil states in the country, so having a prehistoric protector of the home plate makes perfect sense. Plus, it gives Denver an easy flex anytime someone asks, “Why is your mascot a dinosaur?”

Because we found one. Under the stadium.

It’s weird, wonderful, and extremely Denver — a city where baseball meets paleontology, and the mascot might just be older than the sport itself.

Friday, November 21

Brendan Abernathy - Globe Hall | 8:00 PM

Saturday, November 22

ARTMS - The Fillmore Auditorium | 6:00 PM

Sunday, November 23

MGK - Ball Arena | 8:00 PM

Local Happenings

Mahali the Hippo Delays Big Move to Texas

Denver Zoo’s beloved Nile hippo, Mahali, is staying in Colorado a little longer — his planned move to a Texas wildlife preserve has been pushed to spring 2026.

Why it matters: Hippos need a very slow, stress-free transition, and Mahali signaled to his care team that he wasn’t ready for the final phase of crate training.

Key details:

Crate training began in August and started off strong.
Mahali later showed signs he needed more time to adjust.
Winter weather also factored into delaying transport.
Zoo staff say animal wellbeing comes first — and Mahali sets the pace.

What’s next: Training continues through winter; the zoo will set a new timeline once Mahali shows he’s ready.

Read More -->>

Catch You This Weekend 🧢

Thanks for digging into Denver’s prehistoric baseball lore with me — only this city could turn a construction project into a mascot origin story. If you spot Dinger at a game, give him a nod for holding down 65 million years of local history.

Trivia Answer: A) Stegosaurus — Colorado’s official state fossil and another prehistoric local celebrity.