***Safeco Field is a nice stadium and there are great touches like lots of activities for children and a lively eating and drinking area in the outfield called The 'Pen; unfortunately, the design of the stadium could have been more interesting***
Safeco Field is an indoor-outdoor stadium and home of the Seattle Mariners. Indoor-outdoor stadiums definitely have their pluses like never having to worry about the weather be it the rain in Seattle or the very hot days and nights in Houston or Phoenix. These stadiums though are not as open as the many new ballparks out there and this closed-in feel actually makes the stadium feel less intimate (the emptiness of the stadium on such a sunny day also made the ballpark feel less energetic and lively). With the lack of an open look and lots of empty seats, Safeco Field comes off as too big from your seat.
The exterior of the stadium has a very nice design, but the inside of the stadium has a fairly ordinary look. While the field looks great and the seats are comfortable, the outfield and stands are quite generic. There is no integration of the city skyline unless you are seated in the upper deck. In addition, Safeco Field lacks the great color scheme of AT&T Park or the excellent use of brick at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Houston's indoor-outdoor stadium Minute Maid Park also has a much more interesting design because of its integration of a train depot style into the stadium (Minute Maid Park's location used to be home to a prominent Texas train depot station).
While Safeco Field's look is pleasant but nothing special, there are many other elements about the stadium that stand out. The first thing about Safeco Field is that it is a very family friendly ballpark. The team store features a big children section (both apparel and toys) and there is even another gift shop in the stadium solely dedicated to children apparel and stuff. There are also other activities that children will love like a speed pitch cage, a playground with a variety of equipment, a small stand for carnival games, and an area to get photos with the Mariner Moose (the Mariners team mascot).
For adults, there is The 'Pen, which is a lively area located on the ground just past the outfield fence. This section features many tables where you can hang out, eat, drink, and watch the game (you might not get that much of a view, but you will be very close to the action). There is also an atmospheric fire pit and a cool island bar. This area also features more upscale food options including several stands offering concessions from local Seattle brands and chefs like Ethan Stowell. The 'Pen also sits right on the bullpen so you can get very close to the players and the action without having to pay the high prices to get seats right next to the dugout.
The 'Pen also has these areas where the sun shines brightly on ballpark attendees. If it is a cold day in Seattle, these areas are a great way to get some sun and warmth. There are other areas in the stadium that have tables in the sun including the upper deck area where there are several big tables to have some ballpark food while enjoying great views of the water and the city skyline.
There are many food options at Safeco Field like sushi, vegetarian cuisine, Thai food, hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, funnel cakes, deep fried Twinkies, churros, Dippin' Dots, self-serve frozen yogurt, cheeseburgers, French fries, tater tots, hot dogs, bratwursts, Italian sausages, corn dogs, pizza, fish and chips, grilled fish sandwiches, clam chowder, upscale tacos, chicharrones, chicken tenders, tortas, and chicken wings. Overall, I thought the food was just okay, but there are probably good items here if you can find the right stand that appeals to your personal preferences. The chicken wings are probably good if you visit Swingin' Wings at the right time. The ones I had were pretty decent though they did not look as good as others I saw at the game.
The team store has a good variety of apparel (modern, throwback, upscale, and grunge) though the store is small and it can get uncomfortably busy.
Customer service throughout Safeco Field is very good.
Safeco Field is a nice stadium with a few unique touches like the lively happy hour feel of The 'Pen and its close-to-the-field standing area. I wish the design was more interesting and cohesive like Oriole Park at Camden Yards and AT&T Park. I also wish there was a stronger integration of the city skyline from the field seats like PNC Park and Busch Stadium. Still, with the pleasant staff, the comfortable seating and the activities for both children and adults, Safeco Field is a great option for spending a Sunday afternoon in Seattle.
There are several pay parking structures and lots near Safeco Field. The parking structure adjacent to Safeco Field is $20 per vehicle. read more