Mariners to welcome fans to Spring Training
Club announces 16 percent capacity for home games; workouts closed to public
Daniel Kramer
@DKramer_For the first time in nearly a calendar year, Mariners fans will be able to watch their favorite team in person.
In conjunction with the City of Peoria, Ariz., the club announced on Friday that it will begin selling single-game tickets for Cactus League contests at the Peoria Sports Complex. Those sales will begin on Wednesday at 8 a.m. PT and can be purchased at Mariners.com/spring. Workouts will remain closed to the public.
Due to the pandemic, all Spring Training venues that open will operate at significantly reduced capacities. The Mariners can host 1,960 fans per game, or 16 percent of the total stadium capacity:
? Tickets will be sold in groups of one, two, three or four in reserved seating areas.
? Groups of two, four or six will be available for assigned areas on the lawn in the outfield.
? No season tickets are available.
The facility¡¯s ticket office will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. MST from Wednesday through Feb. 27. Once the Mariners open their Cactus League slate against their facility-counterpart Padres on Feb. 28, the office will remain open every gameday, at 9 a.m. for day games and noon for night games.
Mariners season-ticket holders and Mariners Mail subscribers -- which fans can still enroll in -- will receive exclusive opportunities to purchase tickets on Tuesday before the general public.
Fans who would like to attend a game can expect the following changes, according to the Mariners:
? Masks are required for all guests aged 2 and older. They must cover both the nose and mouth, and can only be removed briefly while actively eating or drinking in assigned seats.
? Physical distancing is required at all times while at the Peoria Sports Complex, and movement around the ballpark should be limited.
? There will be cashless transactions for food, beverages and merchandise to reduce touchpoints and opportunities for cross-contamination.
? No bags are allowed in order to speed entry through gates, limit the amount of time spent in close proximity to others and reduce opportunities for cross-contamination.
? Autographs are not permitted.
? More information about Peoria Sports Complex health and safety guidelines is available at PeoriaSportsComplex.com or by calling (623) 773-8700.
Cactus League games from Feb. 28 through March 13 are scheduled for seven innings but could be shortened to five innings or lengthened to nine innings upon agreement of both managers. Games from March 14 through the end of camp are scheduled for nine innings but can be shortened to seven under the same stipulations.
The Mariners have not played in front of home fans since March 11, 2020, a 4-2 win against the Padres in Cactus League play, the day before the Spring Training shutdown.
¡°While health and safety are clearly at the top of the list of the most important aspects of our lives, baseball is a close second,¡± Peoria Mayor Cathy Carlat said in a statement. ¡°We are excited to welcome the Mariners and the Padres back to their Spring Training home, and I am proud to see that we have developed a plan that allows fans to safely enjoy America¡¯s favorite pastime at the Peoria Sports Complex.¡±
Seattle has not yet announced plans to open T-Mobile Park to the public for the regular season, which begins on April 1 at home against the Giants. The club is still working with local health and governmental officials on those parameters.