A Mariners executive said after the vote that the team should now be able to sign a new long-term lease to keep the club at the ballpark for the next 25 years.
The Metropolitan King County Council voted 5-4 Wednesday to approve $135 million in taxpayer funds for the Seattle Mariners to do repairs at Safeco Field, the second time the public will contribute significant money to help the ball club.
The council hotly debated the team’s funding request over a five-hour hearing, which followed two other contentious meetings over the last several weeks.
The Mariners had requested $180 million for capital projects at the stadium, and said it would only sign a new 25-year lease to stay at the ballpark if it got the funds.