safeco field guide
Most of what you read about Safeco Field is positive. Mariners fans seem to love almost everything about this ballpark, with one big exception…parking. More on that in a minute. One thing that should be mentioned is if you have a Nintendo DS, bring it with you. The Mariners have some sort of network set up where you can access interactive game features for free while you are at the game. I don’t have a DS because I am a grown man, but if I did I would take it to Safeco Field and love every minute. Maybe I should buy a DS.
parking
There are free parking opportunities in the area surrounding Safeco Field. The setting is a little bit of an industrial type area, so most of this parking is near local businesses.
Pictured below is an overhead view of an alley way with free parking behind the Paper Zone store. Be careful here as some of the spots are reserved for employees and others, but you are generally safe taking a spot along the fence. Really you are generally safe parking for free on Utah St., just be watchful for signs. The great news is this is really close to the stadium.
Another place you can find free parking is in front of the Mojo Market, which is a little North of Safeco, and very much near Qwest Field. These spots are all on Occidental Ave. S. so you can look for spots on the street near Qwest Field, or in front of Mojo Market. You will need to arrive pretty early to land one of these spots as it is great free parking just steps from Safeco Field.
parking
There are free parking opportunities in the area surrounding Safeco Field. The setting is a little bit of an industrial type area, so most of this parking is near local businesses.
Pictured below is an overhead view of an alley way with free parking behind the Paper Zone store. Be careful here as some of the spots are reserved for employees and others, but you are generally safe taking a spot along the fence. Really you are generally safe parking for free on Utah St., just be watchful for signs. The great news is this is really close to the stadium.
Another place you can find free parking is in front of the Mojo Market, which is a little North of Safeco, and very much near Qwest Field. These spots are all on Occidental Ave. S. so you can look for spots on the street near Qwest Field, or in front of Mojo Market. You will need to arrive pretty early to land one of these spots as it is great free parking just steps from Safeco Field.
The area surrounding Safeco is currently undergoing quite a bit of construction, and many complain that getting to the stadium and finding even paid parking can be a nightmare. I bet that if you start reading reviews of the stadium, parking is one of the most common complaints.
That being said, you may not feel like trying to drive down and find one of the free parking spots at Safeco Field. Personally, I would go for it but I can understand if you didn’t. If you are going to pay for parking, here is what I recommend. Buy it ahead of time on the Mariners web site. You will pay $15 which is a little steep, but you are going to be parking as close to the stadium as you can get. This garage is right behind home plate. There is also something to be said for have a spot basically reserved for you before you ever leave the house. If you hate congested driving, I think this cuts down on your stress level.
Another benefit of prepaying for parking at Safeco Field is that it costs less. According to the team website, this same garage goes for $20 - $40 if you just drive up and park there on game day. I say that is a double whammy of goodness.
Either way you decide to attack it, allow yourself plenty of time to get there.
tickets
The cheapest seat at Safeco Field is $8, which puts you in the Center Field bleachers. You may be wondering, yes Jake… but do you think this is the best value in the stadium?
Like everything; it depends. I say that if you aren’t a really diehard fan and you just kind of like being at a game, these are perfect. The reason I say that is because Safeco Field has tons of cool standing room spots around the stadium. Cheap Fan ContestMany of these are in Center and Left Field which is pretty convenient. It is a great stadium to roam around and find a picnic area or standing room spot to watch the game. Safeco also provides the closest access to bullpen pitchers in the MLB as you can stand right behind the catcher and get a unique view of the pitches. Its worth walking to left field for.
The disadvantage of the cheap seats in center field is that you have the video scoreboard right behind you. You may know that I personally prefer to have a good view of the scoreboard as it provides great information and between inning entertainment.
An $8 ticket is tough to beat, but if you want to step it up a little you should still spend wisely. I think the field seats down the lines are over priced, and you should avoid them. There is decent value in the view box seats between home and first base. You should look for the odd numbered sections between 321 and 327. These are $30 a piece, but your view of the action is impeccable. Besides a great view of the game you have a nice view of the downtown skyline as well. For an evening game you will see the sunset beyond left field as well, it’s a pretty amazing sight. Definitely not the best value seats I have seen compared to other stadiums, but if I am going to pay $22 to sit in the outfield upper deck, sign me up for the $30 seats with an exponentially better view.
That being said, you may not feel like trying to drive down and find one of the free parking spots at Safeco Field. Personally, I would go for it but I can understand if you didn’t. If you are going to pay for parking, here is what I recommend. Buy it ahead of time on the Mariners web site. You will pay $15 which is a little steep, but you are going to be parking as close to the stadium as you can get. This garage is right behind home plate. There is also something to be said for have a spot basically reserved for you before you ever leave the house. If you hate congested driving, I think this cuts down on your stress level.
Another benefit of prepaying for parking at Safeco Field is that it costs less. According to the team website, this same garage goes for $20 - $40 if you just drive up and park there on game day. I say that is a double whammy of goodness.
Either way you decide to attack it, allow yourself plenty of time to get there.
tickets
The cheapest seat at Safeco Field is $8, which puts you in the Center Field bleachers. You may be wondering, yes Jake… but do you think this is the best value in the stadium?
Like everything; it depends. I say that if you aren’t a really diehard fan and you just kind of like being at a game, these are perfect. The reason I say that is because Safeco Field has tons of cool standing room spots around the stadium. Cheap Fan ContestMany of these are in Center and Left Field which is pretty convenient. It is a great stadium to roam around and find a picnic area or standing room spot to watch the game. Safeco also provides the closest access to bullpen pitchers in the MLB as you can stand right behind the catcher and get a unique view of the pitches. Its worth walking to left field for.
The disadvantage of the cheap seats in center field is that you have the video scoreboard right behind you. You may know that I personally prefer to have a good view of the scoreboard as it provides great information and between inning entertainment.
An $8 ticket is tough to beat, but if you want to step it up a little you should still spend wisely. I think the field seats down the lines are over priced, and you should avoid them. There is decent value in the view box seats between home and first base. You should look for the odd numbered sections between 321 and 327. These are $30 a piece, but your view of the action is impeccable. Besides a great view of the game you have a nice view of the downtown skyline as well. For an evening game you will see the sunset beyond left field as well, it’s a pretty amazing sight. Definitely not the best value seats I have seen compared to other stadiums, but if I am going to pay $22 to sit in the outfield upper deck, sign me up for the $30 seats with an exponentially better view.
Tickets are always available on eBay as well. Here is my advice for ticket buying on eBay; wait until the last minute. I know that sounds crazy, and you would think that closer to the event the prices would shoot up; but that is not the case. I have bought and sold plenty of tickets on eBay and I have found that when I sell them early I get top dollar because there is less competition. As the event gets closer, everybody in America who is selling tickets begins to list them at auction. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that when the market is flooded with supply the price is driven down. I don't know if there are any published numbers to back me up, but I have seen it time and time again. So if buying on eBay, buy late. Here are a couple of auctions ending soon with a current bid under $50.
food
Safeco Field is known for having a great variety in their concession stands. Yes, the prices are ungodly like every other stadium, but it’s a nice ballpark to splurge in. The garlic fries are a hit with everyone, but honestly they have salmon and other crap that doesn’t belong in a ballpark. The fans say it is delicious but I stick to more normal ballpark food because I am an American. One reader suggested that they always buy the Moose Meal at Safeco. It is meant for kids, but the tipper tells me that they never ask... it includes a hot dog, drink, and Cracker Jack in a bucket. That is a bucket of a deal if you ask me.
More in line with the nature of this site, you are free to take your own food into Safeco Field. The food needs to be in a container or wrapped up, so I guess you can't just walk in carrying a sloppy over stuffed sandwich that is shedding lettuce and dripping condiments on children. No, that sandwich needs to be in tupperware. This is the first time I have seen a ballpark specify this rule, which makes me wonder what the circumstance was that made them start enforcing it. Were there too many people gnawing on a turkey leg as they came in the stadium? The citizens of Seattle are a barbaric bunch.
That is the only restriction on food, so like I say; boycott ballpark prices and bring your own food. Instead of cursing the darkness, light a candle... a candle of cheaper snacks.
You can’t bring drinks of any kind with you, but you can pack an empty bottle and fill it up at one of the 66 drinking fountains in the stadium.
You can also check restaurant.com where you can buy $25 gift certificates to local restaurants for $10. You can also do a google search for "Restaurant.com coupon codes" and almost always get an extra 60 - 80% off that. I often buy these $25 certificates for $2. That is the best way to eat a decent meal before or after the game and save a chunk of change. When you follow the link, just type in the zip code of Safeco Field (98194) to see what restaurants are nearby.
Safeco Field is known for having a great variety in their concession stands. Yes, the prices are ungodly like every other stadium, but it’s a nice ballpark to splurge in. The garlic fries are a hit with everyone, but honestly they have salmon and other crap that doesn’t belong in a ballpark. The fans say it is delicious but I stick to more normal ballpark food because I am an American. One reader suggested that they always buy the Moose Meal at Safeco. It is meant for kids, but the tipper tells me that they never ask... it includes a hot dog, drink, and Cracker Jack in a bucket. That is a bucket of a deal if you ask me.
More in line with the nature of this site, you are free to take your own food into Safeco Field. The food needs to be in a container or wrapped up, so I guess you can't just walk in carrying a sloppy over stuffed sandwich that is shedding lettuce and dripping condiments on children. No, that sandwich needs to be in tupperware. This is the first time I have seen a ballpark specify this rule, which makes me wonder what the circumstance was that made them start enforcing it. Were there too many people gnawing on a turkey leg as they came in the stadium? The citizens of Seattle are a barbaric bunch.
That is the only restriction on food, so like I say; boycott ballpark prices and bring your own food. Instead of cursing the darkness, light a candle... a candle of cheaper snacks.
You can’t bring drinks of any kind with you, but you can pack an empty bottle and fill it up at one of the 66 drinking fountains in the stadium.
You can also check restaurant.com where you can buy $25 gift certificates to local restaurants for $10. You can also do a google search for "Restaurant.com coupon codes" and almost always get an extra 60 - 80% off that. I often buy these $25 certificates for $2. That is the best way to eat a decent meal before or after the game and save a chunk of change. When you follow the link, just type in the zip code of Safeco Field (98194) to see what restaurants are nearby.
