Features

Mariners nod to history with new social gathering space

The Seattle Mariners Major League Baseball franchise has unveiled the Trident Deck, a newly-renovated gathering space at T-Mobile Park that will celebrate the team’s history with an original logo and an augmented reality experience.

The Trident Deck will be located above the left field foul pole on the View Level of T-Mobile Park and will replace the space once known as Lookout Landing.

The trident symbol has formed part of the Mariners’ uniform since the franchise was formed, with a stylised trident ‘M’ having appeared on the cap and as the first letter of ‘Mariners’ on the front of the home jersey from 1977 to 1986. The ‘M’ was reintroduced on merchandise in the mid-2000s.

The Trident Deck will feature the original team colours of royal blue and gold, as well as players from the team’s early era and the Kingdome, its home stadium from 1977 to 1999.

The team has plans to introduce an augmented reality experience at the space during the 2020 MLB season. The initiative will enable fans to use their smartphones to scan a code and browse historical images of the Kingdome projected over the view of CenturyLink Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks NFL team and the original site of the Kingdome.

The Trident Deck will be available for sale to groups of 75-150 guests, with prices ranging from $95 (£73/€87) to $120 per person, including food and beverage and View Level tickets.

The renovation forms part of the Mariners’ plans to carry out $29.8m of improvements and upgrades at T-Mobile Park in time for the new MLB season.

Other upgrades will include expansion of the Left Field Gate to add 15 new points of entry; the creation of an elevated Rooftop Boardwalk above the Home Plate Gate Rotunda on the View Level; the introduction of a new seating option in the First Base Terrace Club with Terrace Club Tables and Terrace Club Loge Boxes that provide an alternative to single seats in favour of small groups and social spaces for fans.

Kevin Martinez, the Mariners’ senior vice-president of marketing and communications, said: “We’ve taken an under-utilised space and turned it into a social gathering place that combines a modern rooftop bar with the feel of a cosy backyard.

“This new T-Mobile Park destination also provided an opportunity to celebrate a fun part of our franchise history by renaming the area the ‘The Trident Deck’ as the original trident logo continues to be a fan favourite.”

In December 2018, the Mariners finalised a new long-term agreement to continue playing at T-Mobile Park, which was then known as Safeco Field. The Mariners’ 25-year deal with the Public Facilities District obligates the team to operate, maintain and upgrade the stadium.

The Mariners are required to submit one-year and 10-year capital expenditure plans to the PFD. Under the current 10-year plan, the Mariners will spend $280.7m on upgrading the stadium until 2029.

Last week, rival MLB team the New York Yankees opened two new social gathering locations at Yankee Stadium as part of ongoing plans to transform the game-day experience at the venue. The spaces will be located on the 200 Main Level of the stadium and will be available for fans of the Yankees and Major League Soccer franchise New York City FC.

Image: Pixabay