Seattle Mariners has revealed plans for a $55m overhaul of hospitality facilities at T-Mobile Park ahead of its hosting next year’s Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Week.
The MLB team is to add a new premium club to replace the existing press box and advance major renovations to the ballpark’s existing T-Mobile Park Diamond Club.
The Diamond Club, T-Mobile Park’s original all-inclusive premium experience, will undergo a major expansion and the first extensive refresh of the interior space since the ballpark opened in 1999. The new footprint will encompass 13,000 square feet, including a new kitchen and restrooms, to more easily accommodate the 400 Diamond Club members who are seated in the first eight rows behind home plate.
The new premium Press Club, replacing the press box, will have capacity for over 200 guests with interior and exterior seating. Features include soft seating zones, a large, signature bar and premium dining options. The press box will be relocated to the Terrace Club Level.
Catie Griggs, Seattle Mariners president of business operations, said: “We have spent the last 20-plus years maintaining and upgrading T-Mobile Park so it remains a first-class facility.
“We are now focusing on over-due improvements to the premium guest experience. By updating and expanding the Diamond Club and creating the new Press Club, we are responding to our fans’ requests, and we are meeting our lease obligation to ensure our premium offerings keep pace with what is available in the Seattle market and in professional sports in general.”
The Mariners said the projects are part of its on-going commitment to maintain and improve T-Mobile Park so that it remains among the leading MLB ballparks in terms of condition and fan amenities. The team expects projects to total more than $100m during the first decade of the current 25-year lease, which began in 2019.
The budget for these projects is being paid by the Mariners, who will not receive any revenues from the King County Lodging Tax, which is funded by local hotel taxes. Skanska is the project development and construction partner, while Populous is responsible for architectural design.
Stacy Graven, board chair of the Washington State Major League Baseball Stadium Public Facilities District (PFD), said: “The PFD board of directors couldn’t be happier with this news. The Mariners have done an excellent job of ensuring access and affordability of tickets and concessions.
“With the renovation of the Diamond Club and creation of the Press Club, they further ensure that T-Mobile Park remains one of the top-tier ballparks in the nation – further protecting the public’s investment in the facility. This is the vision that both the Mariners and PFD Board shared when signing the new lease, and we’re heartened that it continues to be the guiding principle for these improvements.”
Enhancements already carried out at the ballpark in recent years include the T-Mobile ‘Pen, creating the Rooftop Boardwalk, Trident Deck and Kids Corner, and expanding the Left Field Gate to improve access to the ballpark.
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