Arizona Diamondbacks honor fan with iconic red seat tribute

PHOENIX — In the sea of more than 48,000 green seats at Chase Field, one stands out. It’s bright red, and overflowing with meaning. 

Those that got to meet Bob Ellmer all knew him as a devoted Arizona Diamondbacks fan full of stubbornness, loyalty and an unflinching love for his home team.

This lone red seat, located in Section 145 in left-center field, is a tribute to Ellmer’s lasting impact on the stadium, and the whole team. It all stems playful resistance to the team’s 2007 uniform color change from purple and teal to Sedona red. 

That decision sparked more than a few conversations between him and D-backs President and CEO Derrick Hall. 

“Every time I said, ‘Sedona red’ at our town hall, Bob, sitting in the back would throw his arms up in protest,” Hall said.

Ellmer, a longtime season ticket holder who sat with his wife, Liz, in left-center field, famously declared, “Red is red! Stop saying Sedona red!”

Hall decided to strike a deal as his team was picked to finish dead last in their division.

“I told him, ‘If we win the division this year and I get you a jersey, will you wear it?’ And Bob said, ‘You bet I’ll do that.’”

The Diamondbacks went on to win the division in 2007. True to his word, Ellmer donned the red jersey where he embraced the team’s new colors with red merchandise in hand.

The friendship between Ellmer and Hall deepened over the years, even as Ellmer fought a prolonged battle with cancer. One day, Hall received a phone call from Liz Ellmer while they were at the hospital.

“She said Bob hadn’t been speaking much, but he woke up and said he needed to talk to me,” Hall recalled.

On that call, Ellmer described a dream. He’d been floating above Chase Field, the stands all green except for one red seat. His own. It was like he could feel his own words in it: Bob Ellmer – ‘Red is Red’.

“He asked if we’d consider doing that after he passed,” Hall said. “I promised him we would. 

“And the next morning, he was gone.”

In 2012, the Diamondbacks fulfilled that promise. Seat number 12 in Section 145 was painted red and remains a tribute to Ellmer’s enduring spirit. Fans often stop to take pictures or pay their respects.

“It’s reminders like this that reinforce how important our fans are to the fabric of this place,” Hall said. “That’s why we’re so committed to making Chase Field our permanent home.”

Ellmer’s influence extended beyond the seat. One day he told Hall that he couldn’t see the jumbotron from his seat. Hall responded by installing TVs in areas around the stadium for fans who couldn’t enjoy the jumbotron. Fans still talk about how much they like the change.

Today, Liz Ellmer still attends games, proudly showing visitors her late husband’s seat. She often receives messages from friends who’ve spotted the iconic red chair, a quiet yet powerful symbol of one fan’s passion and the team that loved him back.