"HI, I'm John and I'm your waiter for the evening. Anything you need, just give me a nod."

And with those words, John had scuttled off with my drinks order while I settled into the plush leather seat and scanned the impressive menu, which bragged buffalo steak, foccacia dippers and fried bulls testicles!

My new best mate John returned five minutes later to take my food order, gave me an ice cool beer and offered me a wine menu. Off he scuttled again - he would have to get around 500 customers that evening.

This wasn't a restaurant. This was the stands at Coors Field, one of America's newest baseball stadiums, built in the shadow of the Rockies, and home to the Colorado Rockies, the team of perennial losers I have had the misfortune to follow for almost a decade.

The team may prop up the division every year, but they know how to treat their fans.

Sport in Denver is a way of life. Most workers in the city are given the option of working flexi-time to encourage them to get behind the city's baseball team. Many work late into the night when the team is playing away so they can accrue enough time to be at the home games.

It was 1pm on a chilly Tuesday afternoon, and more than 45,000 fans were already in the stadium to cheer on the side that wins just one game in four.

I had arrived two hours earlier, and was shocked to see most fans heading straight for the stadium rather than the surrounding bars.

I was brought up with the English mentality of drinking as much as you can in the pub before the game, then rushing through the turnstiles as the referee holds the whistle to his lips.

In Denver, the stadium is pivotal and every fan is welcomed like a guest in a top class restaurant. The pubs are INSIDE the stadium, and the cuisine is top class.

I collected my tickets outside, and was taken in a lift to the second floor of the concourse. It was like an Aladdin's Cave of restaurants and takeaways, offering dishes from around the world as well as the traditional hot dogs, burgers, popcorn and pizzas.

Inside the concourse was a huge pub, serving Denver's very own Coors beer. Most fans had congregated here, all intent on watching the other games being beamed live on the scores of TV screens. Money that would normally be spent in bars outside the stadium was weighing down the tills of the Colorado Rockies. That's how it should be.

Other fans, mostly couples and families, had opted for the themed restaurants on the second floor concourse.

There was also a Hall of Fame museum and a souvenir shop.

For the children, the concourse was dotted with interactive games and activities, including batting and pitching cages for sons to take on their dads.

A mini basketball court was packed out with kids, while 20 yards further down, a goalkeeper tried to save penalties from anyone who wanted a pot-shot at him.

Once game-time started, the customer service switched to the stand, and John the waiter earned his corn as people watched the ballgame, chatted, ate, drank and relaxed.

A different employee worked each section, serving beer on tap, peanuts, donuts and hotdogs.

The atmosphere was incredible. The Rockies lost ... again. But every person in that stadium had enjoyed the experience because they had been treated like human beings.

Take a look at some of the soulless stadiums we try to pass off in this country.

Can you imagine ordering bulls testicles? You're more likely to get a kick in your own!

Let's face it, Roy Keane can't get to grips with a prawn sandwich.

I went to the City of Manchester Stadium last season, and although it looked impressive from outside, it was the same pathetic excuse of a concrete jungle inside. What makes clubs think that by whacking in a couple of lifeless bars with below-par beer and throwing in the odd portable telly with Sky every 30 yards that they are serving the customer?

At half-time, we end up with the same stampede and scrap for an over-priced luke-warm lager and a soggy pie.

Fans in this country are being short-changed.

They are being charged top-whack prices for average services. Spurs supporters pay up to £72 per ticket while Bolton charge £32 to away fans ... and treat them to two hours on the Reebok car park after the game.

Football fans in Lancashire will pay an average of £23 to watch a game but the majority will spend their beer and food money before they even get to the ground - and the clubs only have themselves to blame.

We accept second class treatment because that's all we know in this country.

I had my own waiter in Colorado. I spent six hours at the stadium and was treated like someone who really matters.

And the price of my ticket? £17.