Seattle has quietly been one of the best baseball towns in the American League over the past decade, as the Seattle Mariners have drawn over 2.6 million fans per season for each of the past nine years. The Mariners rewarded their loyal fans with a 1999 move to retro Safeco Field, where attendance figures have spiked into the 3,000,000 range in four of the ballpark’s five years of existence.
The Mariners capitalized on Seattle’s reputation as a tourist magnet-according to Mariners surveys, 47% of fans at Safeco Field come from outside the area-by making sure that Safeco Field capitalizes on the spectacular Pacific Northwest scenery. Rain is a Seattle fact of life, so the Mariners designed their stadium with a retractable roof, but the roof does not enclose the ballpark, it merely covers it and protects it from inclement weather.
Of course, no trip to Seattle is complete without a stop at Pike Place Market. Likewise, you haven’t been to Safeco Field unless you’ve stopped by the Bullpen Market, located behind left field and containing local food vendors, an open pit barbecue, and great sightlines into the field of play from behind centerfield. And don’t worry, no Safeco Field ushers will stop you from standing and watching the game. The park was designed with numerous “meeting points” in mind where the intention is for fans to be able to congregate, chat, and still watch the game. Even if you’re just leaving your Safeco Field seats to grab a bite to eat, you’ll still be able to keep up with the game-it’s possible to walk all the way around the stadium on the concourse while never losing sight of the field.
Fans who wanted Safeco Field tickets for the first-ever game played there had to be flexible, as the Mariners moved into the building in the middle of the 1999 season. But despite the delay (and despite the fact that the San Diego Padres spoiled the christening of the park, winning a 3-2 decision on July 15, 1999) reviews were extremely positive. Of course, they should be-with a price tag of $517 million, at its completion Safeco Field was the priciest single-use stadium in North America.
Safeco Field tickets aren’t just an invitation to a baseball game, they’re also another great spot to check out the Seattle scenery. Depending on your seating location, you’re likely to have views of the Space Needle, Puget Sound, Mount Rainier, or downtown Seattle-all must-sees on any Seattle tourism list.
Capacity: 47,116
Year Built: 1999
2004 attendance: 36,305 per game average; 2,940,731 total
Dimensions: 315 to left, 362 to left-center, 435 to center, 373 to right-center, 326 to right
Hotels Nearby: Best Western Pioneer Square Hotel, Alexis Hotel, Oakwood at Harbor Steps, Inn at Harbor Steps
Thrill of victory: Oct. 15, 2001: The Mariners advanced to the playoffs for the second straight year on the strength of a phenomenal 116-46 regular season record. They got a battle in the American League Division Series, as the Cleveland Indians took Game 1 at Safeco Field and built a 2-1 advantage after three games. But Seattle battled back to win Game 4 in Cleveland and came home to notch a 3-1 victory in the deciding Game 5 in front of a stadium-record Safeco Field crowd of 47,867.
Agony of defeat: There’s never been a need for [World Series tickets(http://www.gotickets.com/sports/mlb/world_series.php) in Seattle-Safeco Field, one of the crown jewels of baseball’s newer stadiums, has never played host to a World Series game. The best team in the park’s history, the 2001 squad, was eliminated from the American League Championship Series 4-1 by the New York Yankees, including two losses at home in Seattle to open the series.
Mariners Ticket Tips: As they’re somewhat isolated in the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle Mariners don’t really have a true geographic rival. But as with most teams in the American League, the atmosphere is electric when the New York Yankees come to town, especially because the two squads have some recent postseason history with each other. Safeco Field tickets are one of the biggest relative bargains in the majors. Even the choice Lower Box seats carry a face value of just $50 per seat. To experience one of Safeco Field’s many unique features, buy a ticket in the Hit It Here Café-the $42 ticket price includes an $18 food voucher and gives you a sweeping view from the restaurant’s right field location.
