The Seattle Mariners canceled FanFest because their new field surface is not ready and Mariner fans are not happy.
These are dark days in Seattle. The rainy season has started, so there likely won’t be much sunshine until spring. The Seattle Storm had their fourth straight losing season. The Sounders lost the MLS Cup Conference Finals. The Seahawks are on the brink of elimination from the NFL playoffs. And the Seattle Mariners not only lost out on Shohei Ohtani but recently announced there would be no FanFest in January for the 2018 season.
Safeco Field is to blame. In November, the Seattle Mariners installed new grass at their ballpark. Even the pitcher’s mound will be new, which is good after the team wore it out last season when they used 40 different pitchers, including 17 different starters.
The Mariners had their worst home ERA since 2013, so maybe a new mound will be just the thing to get them back on track. Or, you know, better pitchers could help.
The new turf is the first complete replacement to the playing surface since the stadium opened in 1999, back when it was called “The House that Griffey built” even though he only played a half season there. The surface replacement project was completed in November by County Green Turf Farms of Olympia, which was the original supplier of Safeco Field’s grass almost 20 years ago.
With such a short time since the grass was installed, there won’t be enough time for it to mature by January. FanFest has traditionally been a weekend activity that included fans being able to enjoy some time on the same field where their favorite Seattle Mariners play.
Team President and CEO Kevin Mather said:
"“FanFest is predicated on our fans, especially young fans, being able to take the field, run the bases, hit a home run and play catch in the outfield.”"
Mariners President & CEO Kevin Mather on the decision, which comes as a result of the field not being ready for activities in January. pic.twitter.com/eLXxWcL25p
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) December 19, 2017
Rather than proceed without one of the critical components of the event, the Mariners canceled FanFest. The response on Twitter was mostly negative. One person tweeted,
"“So… my children don’t get to feel the excitement of meeting the young men they look up to… so that you can protect the GRASS?”"
Now, this reminds me of when I was young, and my father didn’t want me and my siblings to play in our yard because it would damage the lawn. My mom took our side and told him, “I’m raising kids, not grass!”
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Another fan succinctly summed up the Mariners’ offseason with this response: “No Ohtani and no FanFest.”
There was a suggestion to hold FanFest at a hotel in downtown Seattle or at CenturyLink Field, where the Seahawks play, which is about four long Nelson Cruz home runs from Safeco.
In between the two stadiums is WaMu Theater. There are plenty of options available; it would seem.
The team still wants to generate some excitement for the 2018 season.
This is especially true after a disappointing 78-84 record last year that added another year to the long playoff drought of the franchise.
So, despite no FanFest, there will be other activities in January for fans to interact with Mariner players.
For two-and-a-half weeks beginning January 8, the annual Mariners Caravan will visit Pacific Northwest communities.
Players, broadcasters, and staff will host autograph and photo sessions for the public in places like elementary schools, colleges, and Boys & Girls Clubs. Fans can meet the newest Seattle Mariners during the Caravan, including Ryon Healy and all the players Jerry Dipoto trades for between now and January 8.
Next: Seattle doesn't get Ohtani, begin the 5 stages of grief
Two of the stops on the caravan will include an opportunity for kids 14 and under to participate in an MLB Pitch, Hit & Run exhibition. The first of those is on January 10, at the Warehouse Performance Center in Spokane.
The second is a week later at New Athlete in Vancouver, Washington. So, even though the caravan is not the same as FanFest, diehard fans can still get their Mariners fix in the offseason.