Road trip to Seattle, Tacoma, Portland (Safeco, Cheney, and PGE)

[Nat Bailey]

Pretty neat, a friend and I are making the trip in June. Going to go to three games in three straight days. I've been to Safeco lots of times, but haven't been to the other two stadiums. Any helpful tidbits regarding: driving/food at the stadiums/anything else?

Will be posting pics when I get back, shall revive the thread then...

[mrakbaseball]

.

You seem to think that the Mariners are unique in how most of the attending fans from from outside of King County..

It would only be fair to say that Seattle brought that on themselves.. For starters, they couldn't even keep the Pilots; they wanted to move to a competitive city.. The rule of thumb in the MLB has been: if you want a team, you have to go and fight for it. Not a single city in the northern pacific coast has ever done so..

Every city that fought to have a team through the Continental League was granted one. The Mariners came into existence only because Seattle is a front runner toward marketing in the northern Pacific coast.

With four teams in California, you could imagine that Portland, Vancouver, and anywhere in between could have been possible MLB franchisers. They chose not to, allowing for your excuse to come into play.
..Any tips Peanut about attending games in the Great Northwest?:reporter:

[gator92]

Pretty neat, a friend and I are making the trip in June. Going to go to three games in three straight days. I've been to Safeco lots of times, but haven't been to the other two stadiums. Any helpful tidbits regarding: driving/food at the stadiums/anything else?

Will be posting pics when I get back, shall revive the thread then...

Take the MAX train to PGE Park, it's far better than trying to park there. Other than that, not much to offer, should be a fun time there, the weather is typically nice that time of year, and if not all the seats are covered...

[mrakbaseball]

I hear Cheney Stadium has a new video screen.

[Nat Bailey]

I heard that too, not that I have been there before to experience it without it... hope its sunny...

[mrakbaseball]

Looking good. I hope Lincoln and Armstrong take notice and update Safeco's boards.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3625/3452628233_e62732f9ca_b.jpg
from Positive Paul (http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulmarshphotography)

[Nat Bailey]

PGE is the one that the Vancouver Canadian player ran through the wall, correct?

[mrakbaseball]

PGE is the one that the Vancouver Canadian player ran through the wall, correct?
Yes. It was still called Civic Stadium back in 1991.
player who ran through fence will get bobblehead (http://sports.espn.go.com/minorlbb/news/story?id=2547387)

[wildwoodstadium]

I got to play at Cheney stadium last summer before they put in the new scoreboard. The grass was perfect. I haven't gone to a game there in a while but down the left field line there's a cool open air dining/bar? area kind of like Safeco's center field area.

While you are up here I live about 25-30 minutes from Cheney Stadium and have a wiffeball stadium in my backyard. If you want to take some cuts you are welcome to stop by.

http://www.myspace.com/wildwoodstadium

[nyce475]

I got to play at Cheney stadium last summer before they put in the new scoreboard. The grass was perfect. I haven't gone to a game there in a while but down the left field line there's a cool open air dining/bar? area kind of like Safeco's center field area.

While you are up here I live about 25-30 minutes from Cheney Stadium and have a wiffeball stadium in my backyard. If you want to take some cuts you are welcome to stop by.

http://www.myspace.com/wildwoodstadium

how friggin awesome is that! I just showed my partner and I told him I am gonna do one and he told me not a chance....but I would love to do it anyways!

If you dont mind me asking...how long did it take you? how much about did it cost?

[wildwoodstadium]

It really didn't cost that much, probably $1500 or so. About the only wood I bought are the 4x4's for the lights/backstop and some of the plywood for the fences. Almost all the posts and bracing are scrap wood. The low wattage bright lights are the most expensive thing.

The building of the field has been an ongoing project, each summer we add something new. We started off 10 years ago with green plastic contruction fencing that took a couple of hrs to put up, a small backstop, and a bumpy dandylion field and now it's a bit out of control.

Here's a story one of the Seattle stations did on the field.

http://www.komonews.com/sports/heroes/27790429.html?video=pop&t=a

[Nat Bailey]

I got to play at Cheney stadium last summer before they put in the new scoreboard. The grass was perfect. I haven't gone to a game there in a while but down the left field line there's a cool open air dining/bar? area kind of like Safeco's center field area.

While you are up here I live about 25-30 minutes from Cheney Stadium and have a wiffeball stadium in my backyard. If you want to take some cuts you are welcome to stop by.

http://www.myspace.com/wildwoodstadium

I didn't see this til now! Its possible... depending on my traveling partner, shall PM you!


Woohoo! We leave tomorrow for Portland...

[wildwoodstadium]

I'm on vacation, so my schedule is pretty open.

[jnakamura]

PGE is a pretty cool ballpark--VERY homer friendly to left field--the power alley isn't marked but it's only about 350 ft.

Anyway enjoy PGE Park while you can because they're changing it into a permanent football only facility in time for the arrival in 2011 of the new MLS team. The Beavers will be moving into a new smaller ballpark somewhere in Portland.

[Trickyhop]

DO NOT PARK AT CHENEY STADIUM! It costs money. Park across the street. There is a complex of small commercial business buildings to the left of Fred Myers. Park there, it's free and just a short walk to the stadium. Enjoy!

*EDIT* My wife said they put "no event parking" signs up recentley. That free parking may no longer be available. :( This is for no good reason either. Those businesses are closed during games, so there is no good reason for us not to park there. This sucks!

We used to park there for every game we went to last season. You have to cross a busy street to get to the lot. A group of us were trying to cross the street after the game and some idiot in a Subaru in the distance SPED UP so as not to have to wait. He nearly hit us. Out of nowhere a cop pulls up with sirens blazing, pulls into the suicide lane and runs up to the subaru with his hand out and yells at the window "SLOW DOWN, NOW!!"

Awesomeness.

[Nat Bailey]

DO NOT PARK AT CHENEY STADIUM! It costs money. Park across the street. There is a complex of small commercial business buildings to the left of Fred Myers. Park there, it's free and just a short walk to the stadium. Enjoy!

We got there super early for a 7 oclock start, maybe around 4-ish? Anyways, we asked about parking and the ticket lady said it was free any spot that didn't say Gold Card, OR have a number. We found plenty of those spots at the far end of the first base side, so free parking for us! PLUS there was a gate open, so we just walked in. Grounds crew was working and a few Rainiers were on the bullpen mounds working on pitches, it was pretty cool. Pics to follow...

[Nat Bailey]

Walking to the stadium, it is cool that you can look down on the field from the street:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031151024x768.jpg
Street view:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031161024x768.jpg

View from my seat:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031191024x768.jpg

Right field side, maybe it was a YMCA or something? People were riding exercise bikes on the far side up high.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031201024x768.jpg

Suites up behind me
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031221024x768.jpg

Nice scoreboard!
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031231024x768.jpg

Brian Lawrence pitched for Portland, Ryan Rowland-Smith for the Rainiers, we let him know we had some vegemite if he was interested....
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031251024x768.jpg

Not too full...
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031261024x768.jpg

Night shot
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031311024x768.jpg

Concourse after the game:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031321024x768.jpg


My take on PGE Park, was that it was a great small time park, with plenty of seating. The turf is an unfortunate bit, but the setting below street level, and fitting into the city block like that, was really cool. I may return next year!

[Nat Bailey]

Decent game... Tony Clark was there rehabbing, hit a home run too...

View outside the stadium, left to right. In the first pic you see the open gate that allowed us to walk right in....
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031341024x768.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031351024x768.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031361024x768.jpg

Entering the stadium, nice view
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031371024x768.jpg

Some Rainiers hanging out...
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031381024x768.jpg

No suites/boxes at Cheney....
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031401024x768.jpg

One of the Rainiers wandering around...(Manager Daren Brown)
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031421024x768.jpg

Cheney does have a better screen than Safeco!!
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031461024x768.jpg

The Rainier mascot, Rhubarb the junior moose...
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031471024x768.jpg

The pitchers were Yusmeiro Petit for the Reno Aces, Chris Seddon for the Rainiers...
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031481024x768.jpg

My take on Cheney, is that it is oooooold feeling. When you go there, its just for baseball, unless yr in the beer gardens with the Hooter girls...
But its rather plain feeling. However, if you are a purist, maybe its your kind of place.

[Bobby_Ayala]

Those are nice pics Nat Bailey. Thanks for sharing.

[Nat Bailey]

I'll post the Safeco pics tomorrow, including the stadium tour! Thanks Bobby!

[Nat Bailey]

Sorry for all the pics, but I figure someone out there will enjoy each one.

I took the stadium tour, so these are from that..
Starting off in the depths of Safeco:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031541024x768.jpg

About to go on the field, and they were very strict about not touching the grass.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031551024x768.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031571024x768.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031581024x768.jpg

The luxury infield lawnmower
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031601024x768.jpg

Lounging on the Mariners bench, and yes, the tour guide chastised me for wearing Dodger gear...
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031621024x768.jpg

Closeup of the grass
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031651024x768.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031671024x768.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031691024x768.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031701024x768.jpg

[MarthaT]

fantastic pics, thanks

[Nat Bailey]

The door to the Diamond Club, behind home plate... pretty cushy inside!
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031721024x768.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031771024x768.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031801024x768.jpg

There was a lot of baseball art inside, including the best action shot of all time:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031791024x768.jpg

Umpires room, with requisite braille
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031741024x768.jpg

Conference room
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031751024x768.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031821024x768.jpg

Next three are views from the owners luxury suite:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031951024x768.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031861024x768.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031871024x768.jpg

[Nat Bailey]

Inside the owners luxury suite:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031891024x768.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031901024x768.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031931024x768.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031911024x768.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031941024x768.jpg

In the press box and view from:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC031991024x768.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC032011024x768.jpg

A Mariner hitting flies to his son:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC032021024x768.jpg

[Nat Bailey]

The glove with the hole....
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC032051024x768.jpg

Waiting in line for Left Field gates to open
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC032091024x768.jpg

And behind us:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC032101024x768.jpg

The roof was closed for the game, sadly
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC032121024x768.jpg

And yet, its still open!
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC032141024x768.jpg

Washburn pitching, view from my seat:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/manicjaguar/Baseball/DSC032151024x768.jpg

[The Prowling Cat]

Too bad I didn't realize you were up there Nat. We hit the exact same Rainiers game you were at and think we just missed being in your picture of Rhubarb. We sat probably two seat to the left of where your picture ended. We also hit all three games of the Mariners vs D-backs series. Little funny side note from our trip... I told the g/f on Thursday that it'd be funny if Clark was up in Seattle playing 1st base for the Friday game. Then they announce the starting line-up and there he was. Kinda bummed as I snapped a pic of Clark in his Reno uniform and wanted to try and get it printed for possible autographing. Was too busy lounging though and never made it.

I want to know your opinion on the Griffey Jr. at bat Friday night? When they announced his name and the crowd stood up. I got this feeling that something big was about to happen. Was going to grab my camera real fast as like an idiot I'd put it away at the start of the inning. Problem was I froze as like I said. Something just told me this was going to be a magical at bat, and I didn't want to miss any of it.

[Nat Bailey]

^^ Did you move when the rain started? Lots of people did, we just toughed it out...

The Griffey jr, was something amazing! Soon as I saw him standing on the on deck circle, it was like..... YEAH!!!! I don't know why I didn't take a pic... I was just kind of mesmerized in the moment. It was funny, cause that reliever had been throwing nothing but low fastballs, and sure enough, first pitch, boom! I almost knocked my friend into the next row with a double high five lol!

[The Prowling Cat]

The rain at Cheney never really bothered us. I think we got hit twice for maybe five minutes both times. Not sure if because of where we were sitting that the rain was coming from a direction that was deflected by the stadium or what..

I'm not sure if you ate at Cheney or not. I ask as you didn't mention it in your post. Personally we ate there and if we went again would eat before going. Our take is the food was waaay over priced and wasn't anything special. We both had a bacon cheeseburger which cost $7.50 and to top it off came with no fries. I could go to a decent restaurant and get a better burger for that price and it'd come with fries. So if we go again as I said we will eat first and then go..


Want to add in it looks like you had great seats for the Mariners game. We sit out in the right field section as the g/f loves Ichiro. Not bad seats but I think I'd like to sit up where you were atleast once in my lifetime..

[Nat Bailey]

The rain at Cheney never really bothered us. I think we got hit twice for maybe five minutes both times. Not sure if because of where we were sitting that the rain was coming from a direction that was deflected by the stadium or what..

I'm not sure if you ate at Cheney or not. I ask as you didn't mention it in your post. Personally we ate there and if we went again would eat before going. Our take is the food was waaay over priced and wasn't anything special. We both had a bacon cheeseburger which cost $7.50 and to top it off came with no fries. I could go to a decent restaurant and get a better burger for that price and it'd come with fries. So if we go again as I said we will eat first and then go..


Want to add in it looks like you had great seats for the Mariners game. We sit out in the right field section as the g/f loves Ichiro. Not bad seats but I think I'd like to sit up where you were atleast once in my lifetime..

At Cheney, I had garlic fries, and a local microbrew. All I know is I went to the sausage stand and asked what the difference was between two of the kinds, and none of the three employees knew, so I walked away. The food was pricey there, but the beer was cheaper than at PGE, where I paid $8.25 for a microbrew!! Went to Carl's Jr after the game. :)

The Safeco seats were pretty good. I got a good deal on stubhub for them. I was in the right field stands for all batting practice as I wanted to catch a ball... I was standing alone, middle of the row, about 5 rows up from the wall... and I bought an Ichiro jersey, since it was 40% off... couldn't resist!

[Bobby_Ayala]

the '95 Kingdome home plate looks ancient, it looks like it was from Sick's Stadium.

[PeteU]

Great pics!

About PGE Park being renovated for soccer/football only; does this mean Portland is moving away from trying to court a major league team? PGE Park was one of the few minor league parks available that was large enough on its own to be used as a temporary venue while a new park was being built. Unless the new park for the Beavers is going to be designed to be easily expandable, a la Pilot Field.

[jnakamura]

Great pics!

About PGE Park being renovated for soccer/football only; does this mean Portland is moving away from trying to court a major league team? PGE Park was one of the few minor league parks available that was large enough on its own to be used as a temporary venue while a new park was being built. Unless the new park for the Beavers is going to be designed to be easily expandable, a la Pilot Field.

Portland should tear down the Memorial Coliseum and build a downtown stadium--period. The small, old, outdated Coliseum sits next to the large, modern Rose Garden and is not needed anymore. The Coliseum currently takes up 12 acres (Target Field takes up 8 acres), and the infrastructure is already in place--shared parking facilities with Rose Garden arena, convergence of I-405 and I-5 freeways...everything is a perfect set-up, including the perfect scenario and location to expand to MLB.

Here is an article:
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/06/18_reasons_for_a_stadium_at_me.html

And this would be the outfield view of a new ballpark where the Coliseum now sits:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/52/179603731_b97cd6beeb_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/duoli/179603731/

[The Prowling Cat]

Great pics!

About PGE Park being renovated for soccer/football only; does this mean Portland is moving away from trying to court a major league team? PGE Park was one of the few minor league parks available that was large enough on its own to be used as a temporary venue while a new park was being built. Unless the new park for the Beavers is going to be designed to be easily expandable, a la Pilot Field.

From what I hear on the local radio stations people around here are finally starting to admit that no MLB team will ever relocate to Portland. Part of the reasoning is Portland is a player in the Mariners market and a move would affect the Mariners. The final nail in that coffin may be coming real soon as unless they agree on a new stadium and location the Beavers may be moving out of Portland. I believe the date is early August for an agreement or the team will move to either Vancouver, WA or one of the suburbs of Portland. If that happens my belief would be the dream of MLB in Portland dies with the move.