Tickets remain for most Mariners games

ELLIOTT SMITH, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Sunday, March 24, 2002

SEATTLE -- The Seattle Mariners want you to know something.

They still have tickets.

Despite the perception that rabid Mariners fans have gobbled up all the available tickets before the season even starts, the Mariners say there are still plenty of good seats available.

"We are hearing that some fans believe that the Mariners' 2002 season is already sold out," Mariners executive vice president of business operations Bob Aylward said. "But the fact is that while advance ticket sales are significant, there are plenty of tickets available for all but a small number of games."

The Mariners have sold about 23,124 season tickets, a club record, but there are still weekend and 16-game packages available.

"We've never been this high before," Mariners public information director Rebecca Hale said.

"That's very exciting to us. I think people realized that last year, it was difficult to get tickets for games in July, August and September, so they took steps to lock up the games they wanted over the winter.

"But we have all kinds of mini-plans where you can practically design something that will specifically work for you."

Opening day against the Chicago White Sox on April 1 is sold out, as are some summer dates against the Chicago Cubs.

There are fewer than 2,000 tickets available for about 12 games, including all six games -- in April and August -- against the Yankees. Other tough tickets include matchups against Boston, Colorado and Cleveland.

"Those games have scattered singles available," Hale said.

However, there are approximately 50 games with at least 10,000 tickets still available, including early-season showdowns with Oakland, Texas and Anaheim.

"We want to make sure the fans know that you will be able to get in and see the team," Hale said. "We have over a million tickets still available over the 81 games."

There are still lots of tickets available for Seattle's two exhibition games at Safeco, on March 30 against San Diego and March 31 against Los Angeles, giving fans an opportunity to experience some new areas of the stadium.

"We don't require our season ticket holders to buy the exhibition games, so it's a prime opportunity for our fans to get up close -- everything behind home plate is open," Hale said. "It's a fun way to sit in good seats at a great discount."

Getting tickets

- Tickets may be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet, at any Seattle Mariners team store, or by calling 206-622-HITS.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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