"Baseball has changed my life," says Linda Alvarado, president and CEO of Alvarado Construction Inc. and co-owner of the Colorado Rockies baseball team.

"I used to read the business section first," Alvarado says. "But now, I go to the sports section first. I follow baseball with great interest, and I enjoy reading not just the box scores, but the strategies of the other teams."

Alvarado is founder and sole owner of Alvarado Construction, a large commercial and industrial general contractor, construction site management, and design/build firm with corporate offices in Denver, CO. The multi-million-dollar firm specializes in commercial, industrial, environmental, and heavy engineering projects across the United States.

The Hispanic woman-owned company was incorporated in 1976, and has experienced steady growth since then. The company has successfully completed numerous commercial, institutional, government, industrial, and sports facilities. Currently, Alvarado Construction is prime contractor on the $360 million Mile Hi Stadium at Invesco Field, the new home of the Denver Broncos.

Alvarado made history as the first Hispanic owner of a major league baseball franchise. Enterprising Women spoke with Alvarado on opening day of the Colorado Rockies 2002 baseball season

Enterprising Women: Do you have a passion for baseball?
Linda Alvarado: I love baseball. I grew up in a family with five brothers and no sisters. We were all very involved in athletics. My father played recreational baseball and would take us to watch the games as young children.

As we grew older, we began playing baseball and other sports. I was the president of the Girls Sports Club and captain of the girl's softball team in high school. I lettered in softball and was the catcher, following in my father's footsteps. I could not have dreamed that one day, I would have the opportunity to own a major league team. Such things were not thought of for women at that time.

EW: How did you get involved with a sports franchise?
Alvarado: In 1991, major league baseball initiated a proposal for interested cities and potential ownership groups to submit bids for two new National League expansion teams.

I joined with a group of men who came together to form a partnership in response to this invitation. We met with the governor of Colorado, Roy Romer, and city officials to propose Denver as one of the new franchise cities for the National League.

Major league baseball was looking for successful business people who would be willing to submit a bid for the $95 million baseball franchise. We were. I was the only woman in the group of seven owners.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and significantly, it was the first time in history that a woman, not through marriage, but as an independent entrepreneur, had become an owner of a major league franchise.

EW: Are you the only Hispanic woman to participate in a sports franchise?
Alvarado: Yes, I am the first Hispanic (male or female) to become the owner of a professional sports franchise.

While I thought my ownership was interesting local news, I had not anticipated the national and international news this "first" would generate. It was viewed as a significant breakthrough and created great feelings of pride for women and Hispanics in this non-traditional role, generating media and speaking requests.

EW: Is there a fit between the sports team and the construction company?
Alvarado: My career as a commercial general contractor has been very non-traditional, and professional sports team ownership by a woman is equally non-traditional.

I believe that construction and sports are the last bastions of male dominance. Having grown up in a very competitive, male environment, I am comfortable working with men. So, while my career may still be viewed as non-traditional, I view my path as one that will open doors of opportunity for other women and people of color to pursue.

Since the majority of my employees, clients, architects, and engineers whom I work with are male, sports is also a great connection in relationship building among associates.

EW: Did you buy into the Colorado Rockies franchise to promote your construction company, or do you just like athletics - baseball in particular?
Alvarado: I was attracted to baseball ownership as a sport that I enjoyed. It is also significant to mention that I was also drawn to this sport because of the great number of outstanding Latino players. Baseball is truly a sport in which Hispanics excel.

As a business owner, there is also great value in business development opportunities and marketing initiatives through ties with professional sports. For example, current and prospective clients have the opportunity to sit on the front row of the dugout or take batting practice with the team. It is priceless and unparalleled experience, and one that my competitors cannot replicate. Baseball tickets and sports memorabilia are also used as incentives for my employees and their families.

Most importantly, as an entrepreneur, I was, of course, very interested in the investment for economic reasons. Sports franchises have prospered and appreciated significantly in value over time.

EW: What is the public relations value in owning a piece of a sports team?
Alvarado: In my case, there has been great public relations value as an owner, as a businesswoman, and as a community and civic leader.

I am frequently asked to speak to young people about my experiences and career path and encourage them to achieve their hopes and dreams. We donate tickets to charitable and non-profit organizations for fundraising events, and contribute tickets to schools to provide incentives and rewards for at-risk students.

I also give tours at the stadium, the press box, and the related sports facilities, speaking with young girls (and boys) about careers in sports medicine, journalism, broadcasting, marketing, facility management, business, and, of course, sports team ownership.

EW: How did you and your partners put the deal together? Has the franchise been a success, in your opinion?
Alvarado: The partnership was formed in 1991 by a small group of respected individuals with the mutual desire as business leaders to put together a strong economic proposal to win the new National League franchise.

Our franchise celebrates its 10-year anniversary this season. The team has set high attendance records over the years as a professional franchise. As the name intentionally suggests, much like the footprint of Rocky Mountains, the Rockies draw fans from the Canadian border to the Mexican border and from states on both sides of the mountain ranges.

EW: How many partners do you have in the franchise? What are your responsibilities as partners?
Alvarado: There are seven partners in the Colorado Rockies. It is a partnership comprised of a close-knit group of business people. It is a private partnership, so ownership is not disclosed. Each of the owners has a significant investment in the team, and the managing partner is not the largest owner. Once, all of the partners invested at least $1 million.

As partners, we meet regularly to review payroll, baseball talent, potential trades, finance, attendance, guest relations, sales and marketing initiatives, facilities, and community relations projects.

EW: Would you recommend buying into a sports franchise to other women?
Alvarado: I certainly would recommend sport franchise ownership to other women. However, the ownership of a sport franchise is more than the excitement of owning a team. It is a challenging endeavor to field a winning team and successfully manage all the aspects of the ball club's front office and baseball operations.

In the past, the historic path has been that men who have successfully operated other businesses have taken this experience and their substantial financial resources to acquire and manage professional sports teams. As women acquire economic stature, we too desire the same opportunities to buy franchises.

JUDIE FRAMAN is senior editor of Enterprising Women magazine.