It is wonderful when a sports team shows how much it appreciates its fans. For the 18th year, the Seattle Mariners opened the clubhouse doors for FanFest at Safeco Field.
My son and I ran the bases, sat in the dugout, saw the locker room, and tried to hit a few home runs. It is one of those events that seemed too good to be true. Children under 11 are free and adults are only $10. That gets you access to players for autographs, photos, and Q&A sessions. You also get to set foot on the field, which alone is worth the price of admission.
We decided to try the autograph sessions this year and it turned out to be a highlight. Pitcher Charlie Furbush signed my son’s Mariner’s t-shirt, which he then wore with pride throughout the day. We also got to meet Mariner’s Manager Scott Servais who was nice enough to let my son sit in his chair.
It was neat to see all of the dads out on the field playing catch with their children. My son had a great time hitting a few balls in the outfield. I may have to sign him up for a league this spring.
The stadium had several inflatable slides and bounce houses for children. The most thrilling adventure was the zip line in the outfield. We tried that last year and it was a lot of fun.
For families, the Mariners FanFest is perfect because it is ok for children to run around (it is encouraged), there is plenty to see and do, and there are unique behind the scenes opportunities. There is a little of something for everyone.
A surprising highlight was getting to see the control room for the stadium’s retractable roof. It was one of those areas you would never get to see normally and my son got a thrill out of pushing the “Go” button.
The Mariners start spring training in March and the regular season begins in April, which includes several family nights. We are looking forward to the 2016 season! Good luck to the Mariners.
