Safeco Field

Go Mariners!!. While I don't go to a ton of baseball fields I feel like this must be one of the nicer ones around. Strangely located right next to Seattle's other large sports arena, Qwest field, makes for many parking opportunities and fills out the seattle skyline nicely. The field and stadium are nicely kept up with many helpful staff helping to make your experience more pleasant. There are tons of great food options including grounders, Ivars, Kidd Valley, even a natural place for veggie food. I love garlic fries from grounders and have to have them everytime I come. I really like that their is a nice kids play area at the stadium so that parents with unruly children can get them out of the stands for awhile. Its also nice to be able to look down and watch the pitchers practice and since it is seattle the retractable roof makes baseball tolerable any time of the year (might want to bring a blanket).…

A beautiful park but...... You're not aloud to actually cheer for your team here. The park policies are ridiculous. They expect all fans to remain firmly seated for the duration of the contest, no matter if it's a critical point in the game when the crowd should be excited and encouraging their team. The cause is a subdued atmosphere which is a real bummer. I went to opening day in 2007 and predicted correctly that the loudest point in the game would take place during the simulated hydroplane race shown on the big screen, never mind Sexton's go-ahead homerun. By all means, this is a splendid park deserving of better from its managment and their policies. In the Kingdome, at least we were aloud to be good fans.…

What a way to experience a baseball game!. Now, I'll be the first to admit that I was sooo unhappy to see the Kingdome go... It was just an old classic icon of Seattle. I didn't want to see it leave and I didn't want any part of the replacement. I didn't go to Safeco for the first year or so after it was built, but brother... When I finally did walk in, I was in love! This stadium just has that great classic baseball stadium feel! It really seems true that there aren't bad seats in the house! The views are great, the retractable roof makes weather always tolerable (except for the cold, you're on your own on that part), and I really don't think the concessions are so ridiculously expensive. They aren't cheap, by any means, but who goes to a baseball game and expects them to be? I don't go to the movies and expect grocery prices for my food either. There's some really tasty eats inside from the garlic fries that have been mentioned, to some delicious pasta and foods I wouldn't necessarily expect at a ballpark.

All that said, it's true that parking can be an awful experience. I'll always come early and expect a walk. You can park close, but I'd rather not pay exorbitant prices for parking when I've got perfectly good legs (and can use the workout prior to the foods that I'm about to eat). Also, my dad had season tickets for years and I'd use his tickets sometimes that came with a parking pass for the attached garage. The ramp they added that shoots straight to the freeway is fantastic! Either pay up for parking or drive out aways. I typically park by the Sodo building (Sears) and just walk.…