Mariners Pitch In $5 Million To Keep Stadium Construction On Track

The Seattle Mariners will put up $5 million early to keep construction on a new ballpark going while the state Supreme Court considers a legal challenge to the project, a team official said Thursday.

“I’m delighted the Mariners are making this contribution now to help keep the project on track while we await the judgment of the state Supreme Court,” King County Executive Ron Sims said.

“This will allow pile-driving and demolition of buildings on the site to proceed, and help the project stay on course.”

Last week, the Supreme Court gave a group opposed to the $414 million ballpark until April 14 to appeal a lower-court decision that said the project is legal and wouldn’t be subject to a vote.

The high court rejected a King County request for faster action to meet construction deadlines, granting Citizens for More Important Things the full 30 days to file their appeal.

It’s not known how long the Supreme Court will take to rule on the opponents’ appeal. A final ruling is needed for the county to release $336 million in borrowed money for the project.

The money from the Mariners will enable the project to continue until mid-April.