For those Mariners fans who are accustomed to getting a little bit of baseball in the gray and rain of winter at the annual Mariners’ FanFest, they will have to search elsewhere next month.
On Tuesday, the club announced that the two-day event held in late January will be put on a one-year hiatus. The decision was made to protect the new playing surface that was recently installed at Safeco Field. The new grass hasn’t reached a maturity level to withstand the fan traffic and activities on the field.
“FanFest is predicated on our fans, especially our young fans, being able to take the field, run the bases, hit a home run and play catch in the outfield,” said Kevin Mather, Mariners’ President & CEO in a statement.