Sports

<< Previous   of   Next >> Jennifer Buchanan / The Herald  (click to enlarge) The roof at Safeco Field opens dramatically right before the first pitch of the 2005 opening day game in Seattle. The Mariners beat the Minnesota Twins 5-1.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Sunday, March 30, 2008 Mariners 2008: Fan guide GETTING TICKETS In person: Individual game tickets, priced from $8 to $65, can be purchased without a service charge at any of the official Mariners Team Stores, including the one at the Alderwood Mall. Tickets, again without a surcharge, also can be purchased at the Safeco Field box office adjacent to the Home Plate gate at First Avenue South and Edgar Martinez Drive. Office hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on non-game days, and 10 a.m. until the end of the game on game days. Ticketmaster Northwest outlets also sell game tickets. By telephone: Tickets can be purchased by calling 206-622-HITS. Online: Go to the Mariners' Web site at www.seattlemariners.com. Discounted tickets are offered at a variety of times during the season. BECU Family Nights: For select Monday home games, all View Reserved seats can be purchased for $10 advance, $11 day of game. Senior Sundays: Seniors, age 60 and older, can buy View Reserved seats for every Sunday home game for $10 advance ($11 day of game). Add $3 to the price for the Sept. 7 game against the New York Yankees. Military discount: Members of the military can purchase View Reserved seats for Tuesday games for $10 in advance, $11 day of game. Add $3 for the July 21 game Mastercard Grand Slam Family Pack: During 10 Wednesday home games, you can get four View Reserved tickets, four hot dogs and four Pepsi brand soft drinks for just $55 in advance ($60 day of game). The Field ticket package is $110 advance ($120 day of game); Terrace Club OF package is $135 advance ($145 day of game). Mastercard Special Group Nights: During various games this season, groups of 40 or more can purchase View Reserved seats for as little as $8 per seat. For more information, call 206-346-4001 or visit the M's Web site at seattlemariners.com. Give the gift of baseball: The Mariners offer gift cards that can be used to pay for single-game tickets, food and drinks at the ballpark concession stands and merchandise at all Mariners Team Stores. Gift cards can be bought at any Mariners team store and online at seattlemariners.com. GETTING THERE Safeco Field is located just south of downtown Seattle in the South Downtown or "SODO District," home to a growing number of specialty retail businesses. To the east is the International District with its Asian restaurants and specialty shops. To the north is Pioneer Square, the original, historic "downtown" of Seattle. To the west reside the bustling Port of Seattle and the waterfront with restaurants and shops of all kinds. Traveling south on I-5, exit using one of the following: James Street, Airport Way, Dearborn Street, Forest Street or Spokane Street. Then follow signs for Safeco Field, which is located west of the freeway at 1250 First Ave. S. When I-5 is jammed, southbound drivers can use Highway 99 and take the First Avenue South exit, which empties almost at the doorstep of Safeco Field. Exits nearer to the ballpark become quite congested in the hour before a game. To avoid heavy traffic after the game, drive south or north to get onto the freeways at less-congested on-ramps. WHERE TO PARK Many parking lots and garages are within a short walk of Safeco Field. Rates and policies vary, but in general, lots and garages closer to the ballpark charge more for parking. Major nearby facilities include: Safeco Field Garage -- 2,000 spaces, $20-$30 on game when available. The garage is located just south of Safeco Field on Edgar Martinez Drive at First Avenue and opens three hours prior to game time. Disabled parking can be purchased by calling 206-346-4001 at least 10 business days in advance. Single-game parking for this lot can be purchased in advance online at seattlemariners.com. Stadium Exhibition Center Garage -- 2,000 spaces, located on Royal Brougham Way at First Avenue. Call 206-254-0811 for more information. Union Station Garage -- 1,200 spaces, Fourth Avenue south of Airport Way. Call 206-254-0811 for more information. North Lot (Qwest Field) -- 1,100 spaces, located on King Street at Second Avenue. There are many parking garages and lots in the central business district to the north of Safeco Field that offer reasonable evening and weekend parking rates. Garage entrances are located mostly on east-west streets. Free Metro bus service is offered as far south as Jackson Street from these locations. The Mariners discourage fans from parking on the street in the Pioneer Square or International District neighborhoods unless they are also patronizing local merchants there. It is important to read all parking restriction information posted along streets around the ballpark to avoid being ticketed or towed away. Important parking information: Several on-street curb locations are not available for parking or stopping before, during or after games. Please read and obey all posted signs. Violators are subject to immediate towing by the Seattle Police Department. RIDE THE BUS Metro Transit has 25 regular routes within walking distance of Safeco Field and six special routes that operate from the ballpark on game days. For information on its regularly scheduled routes, contact Metro at http://transit.metrokc.gov/ or at 206-553-3000, or 206-684-1973 (TTY). Metro charges $1 to ride the First Avenue Shuttle to the Central Business District. Each special route bus bears the name of the Park & Ride location it serves. The cost to ride these buses is $3 each way, with children under 5 riding free. Metro bus passes and transfers aren't accepted for this service. On Senior Sundays, senior citizens can ride for $1 each way. Sound Transit, which operates between King and Snohomish counties, provides express bus services. For information call Sound Transit at 1-888-889-6368 (toll free). For information on bus service provided by Community Transit in Snohomish County, call 1-800-562-1375 or 425-353-RIDE. TAKE THE TRAIN King Street Station, which serves Amtrak, Cascade and Sound Transit trains, is just north of Safeco Field and a short walk to the stadium. Sounder trains to Mariner games run on Saturdays and Sundays only, and only for games with a 1:10 p.m. start. Please check with Sound Transit for more information by calling 1-888-889-6368 or 1-888-713-6030 (TTY). Trains run from northend and southend locations. You can pre-purchase your Sounder ticket in advance at any Sounder station. Select the "Special Event" button on the ticket machine, then select the game day you want to take the train and purchase your ticket. For information about Amtrak or Cascade trains, call 1-800-USA-RAIL. Source: seattlemariners.com

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