FanFest requires as much patience as spending money

Like Disneyland, there are wonderful nuggets among the blaring sights and sounds

GREG JOHNS

Originally published July 7

SEATTLE -- Trying to get a handle on exactly how to describe All-Star FanFest to those who haven't experienced it, I came up with this.

Imagine Disneyland for baseball fans.

Complete with over-priced entrance and lengthy lines that will test the patience of every man, woman and child without the disposition of Mother Theresa.

When you're done, of course, it was all good and everyone wants to do it again, if you have the sort of selective memory that deletes the headache that started shortly after shrugging your way past the 15th vendor trying to get you signed up for a new credit card.

If you don't have the pain-erase function in your brain, my guess is you'll be left with a mixed bag of emotions and a nagging feeling that you just paid money to be part of an interactive advertisement.

Like Disneyland, there are wonderful nuggets hidden among the blaring sights and sounds. And like Disneyland, most of the best events require at least an hour wait at peak times.

I arrived at the Stadium Exhibition Center at 11:45 a.m. yesterday, armed with two kids but no tickets. Entrance was easily taken care of at a cost of $15 for adults and $10 for 12-and-unders, but the catch was we couldn't get in until 2 p.m.

Timed tickets allow organizers to spread the crowds out a bit. Once inside, you can stay as long as you'd like.

- Obvious observation No. 1: Go early in the day to avoid the congestion that builds as new throngs enter each hour. I'm guessing the average Fest-goer stays a couple hours, which means twice as many people enter as exit every 60 minutes.

We most enjoyed the historic baseball exhibits. My kids were just as thrilled to see Babe Ruth's jersey and spikes; Mickey Mantle's bat; Hank Aaron's batting helmet; Roberto Clemente's dirtied hat; Carl Yastrzemski's red shoes. It was a little Cooperstown in Seattle.

There is a Hometown Heroes section devoted strictly to Seattle baseball where you can get your picture taken standing in a three-dimensional, life-sized replica of the current M's team picture.

- Obvious observation No. 2: Bring a camera. The professionally-taken team picture can be ordered from a website for $10, but there's nothing preventing a friend or family member from clicking the same picture for free, once you wait through the obligatory line.

- Obvious observation No. 3: Bring your wallet.

- Obvious observation No. 4: If you want a Goose Gossage autograph, bring a ball or something worth signing. Nothing worse than waiting an hour to get somebody's illegible scribble on the back of a worthless FanFest map.

- Obvious observation No. 5: If you've got more than one child, bring a pair of boxing gloves.

All in all, though, I'm certain that FanFest is a wonderful experience. I saw many happy faces -- and not just on the vendors pocketing $35 per Ichiro bobblehead. Many baseball fans and families seemed thrilled to share in the All-Star experience.

Me, I'm sure it's just like Disneyland. Which means, if I asked my kids if they wanted to go again tomorrow they'd scream, "I can't wait."

Which is precisely what I heard while standing in line. Over and over and over.

Greg Johns writes for The Eastside Journal. He can be reached at gjohns@juno.com.

On the web:

John Hancock All-Star FanFest.

All-Star Game 2001 Player Profiles.

The Olympian Online: Mariners.

The Olympian Copyright 2001

back to main Mariners index