Home plate entrance to Safeco Field, Aug-2013. |
It takes a lot to fill this expansive park, even with Felix Hernandez pitching. |
The Seahawks football field is visible here, having replaced the Kingdome. |
Chronological Tour: Stop 167 |
But if thats the biggest fault I have with the park, its pretty good. As always, personal experience makes a big difference, and on the day I visited, the sun came out at game time and turned the park into a brilliant place to watch a game.
They have a retractable roof here, but it hangs out beyond right field when its not in use, covering the train yard. Its not nearly as imposing a figure as it is at SkyDome or even Bank One Ballpark; in fact, you almost forget its there when the roofs open. I did hang around long enough for them to close the roof after the game; I did feel like I was indoors, although the roof doesnt actually enclose the stadium it just covers it. (In a gusty thunderstorm, people could get wet.)
Intelligently, the open side of the park is in left field (where one half of the roof tracks). On an open day, fans are left with a clear view of the city of Seattle. The Kingdome still dominated the foreground on my 1999 visit (it was demolished in 2000), but the skyline can clearly be seen, clear back to the Space Needle three or four miles away. The football field that replaced the Kingdome now occupies that spot in the spectator view.
There is a fun fan area somewhere, but I really didnt notice it. Its hidden away, like it should be, unlike at Turner Field (where it dominated the view) or at the BOB. And theres also no throwback here. Safeco Field is one thing: a great place to watch a baseball game. Thats refreshing.
I did get that oh, no, Im inside now feeling when they closed the dome after the game for exhibition purposes after the game I watched in 1999. However, the necessity of a dome notwithstanding, this is the best effort, in my opinion, since Camden Yards.
Game | Date | League | Level | Result |
380 | Sat 21-Aug-1999 | American | MLB | Cleveland 6, SEATTLE 0 |
1280 | Fri 23-Aug-2013 | Major | MLB | LA Angels 2, SEATTLE 0 |
2002 | Sun 11-Jul-2021 | Major | MLB | LA Angels 7, SEATTLE 1 |