Mariners Unveil Vision Of New Stadium

Seattle Mariner officials today unveiled a concept of what they hope will materialize in Seattle a few years from now: a 45,000-seat, retractable-roof, baseball-only stadium designed to anchor the American League team here for the next 20 years.

Commissioned by the Mariners, the concept is what a proposed stadium might look like, not a definite plan, according to the club.

It would cost an estimated $278 million, including $35 million for the retractable roof.

The announcement today was an attempt to encourage the public and elected officials to support a proposed new stadium.

The sketches are the work of HOK, a Kansas City architectural firm that designed new stadiums in Baltimore (Camden Yards), Chicago (Comiskey Park) and Cleveland (Jacobs Field).

The Mariners want to follow suit, saying they are losing at least $10 million to $12 million a year playing at the Kingdome, a facility team officials maintain is poorly suited for major-league baseball.

The proposal has the working title of New Century Park, and would give fans "a more traditional, intimate baseball environment," according to the Mariners.

The facility would increase high-quality club seating, providing new revenue opportunities comparable to other new baseball stadiums. .

Four seating levels would surround all but center field, where a giant TV screen would be.

The first level would contain 21,000 seats. The club level would be on the second level, with 4,000 seats, air conditioning, bar services, and a large concourse. Ten of the 75 suites would be on the first level between the dugouts and home plate, and there would be five party suites.

The upper concourse would seat 16,750 fans. It also would have concession stands, novelty stores, restrooms and other amenities.

The structure would include five group-picnic areas and a restaurant with a view of the field.

The Mariners say the new park would put fans closer to the action.

Although no site has been specified, the Task Force on Stadium Alternatives has recommended the 12.5 acres owned by King County just south of the Kingdome.

To close the retractable roof, three or four fiberglass sections would slide on exposed horizontal girders. The canopy would be closed when wind, temperature or moisture made conditions uncomfortable.

At the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce board room today, Baseball Club of Seattle president, John Ellis, asked a crowd of about 150 to imagine a fan-friendly ballpark designed for baseball, with real grass and great sightlines from every seat.

Ellis emphasized that with a new ballpark, the Mariners would remain in Seattle.

Phyllis Campbell, CEO of U.S. Bank, said that in 1993 the Mariners generated $142 million in economic activity.

The task force recommended the stadium be financed by state, county, city and Port of Seattle funds and services, with the Mariners liable for about one-third of the costs.

A bill to help finance the stadium with lottery proceeds, admission taxes and other state revenues already has been defeated in the state House, but another is under consideration that would create a local taxing district. In the Senate, the stadium issue is alive but proponents have not settled on funding.

The Mariners' Kingdome lease ends in 1996, and team officials have said they will have to sell or move the team unless a new stadium can be built.