New owner John Stanton fears a partly filled Safeco Field will “demoralize everyone,” so he’s dropped ticket prices to $8 in certain sections in pursuit of a full house.
To salute the hottest team in the majors (eight consecutive wins), the Mariners are offering fans specially priced tickets to this weekend’s three-game home series with the Houston Astros, starting at 7:10 p.m. Friday with Seattle (78-68) within 1.5 games of the Toronto Blue Jays for the American League’s second wild card spot.
The Mariners, 9-1 in their past 10 contests, will price all available View Reserved seats at $8 through Sunday.
“We need fans in that ballpark,” new lead owner John Stanton told ESPN 710 radio Friday morning discussing the ticket discount. “We need a full house. We can’t fight Houston in an empty park. It’s going to demoralize everyone.”
Asked whether the club makes money on an $8 ticket, Stanton said, “Right now, we don’t care. We want to make the playoffs. It’s been 15 years since we were in the playoffs.
“I understand it’s football season. This is our end of season. We need people to help us get us (to the playoffs).”
The $8 tickets can be purchased online at Mariners.com/Tickets, at the Safeco Field box office and Mariners team stores (4th and Stewart downtown, Bellevue Square, Southcenter and Alderwood Mall). Tickets are also available by phone at 1-888-SEA-HITS (732-4487).
After a day off Thursday, RHP Felix Hernandez (11-5, 3.58) will open for the Mariners opposite RHP Collin McHugh (10-10, 4.86). The Mariners are 5-8 against the Astros.
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