Canadian takeover of Safeco Field embarrassment to Mariners fans
As he exited the mound after blanking the Toronto Blue Jays for seven innings in a game critical to the playoff hopes of both teams, King Felix screamed, “This is my house!” That was a message to the invading Toronto fans who represented the majority of spectators at Safeco Field – and to the so-called Mariner faithful who allowed it to happen.
In what was one of their most important home series in a decade, the M’s were playing in front of what amounted to a hostile crowd. That was undoubtedly infuriating to the players and an embarrassment to the Mariner fan base.
Ever since the two franchises were formed (The Mariners and Blue Jays joined the American League in the same year, 1977), Toronto backers have migrated in droves from British Columbia and Alberta to support their national team.
Taking note of the spectator ratio after the first game of the Toronto-Seattle series, a Seattle columnist blamed it all on the M’s. The Mariners, he contended, brought the situation on themselves through their 15-year playoff drought and a disturbing habit, even this year, of performing badly in front of large home crowds.
Hogwash.
The University of Washington hasn’t beaten Oregon in football since 2003, but I haven’t noticed Oregon fans taking over Husky Stadium in the years the game has been played in Seattle.
Even in a down year, it’s almost unimaginable that the Seahawks’ “12th men” would allow themselves to be outnumbered by Denver or San Francisco supporters.
More to the point, a Canadian baseball takeover seemingly hasn’t occurred in places like Detroit, which is even closer to the border than Seattle. As is the case in Boston, St. Louis and Chicago (at least with the Cubs), Detroit has the reputation of being a good baseball town – a community that will support its home franchise regardless of its record.
Whatever the Latin is for fair-weather baseball fans, Seattle belongs in that species. Mariner home attendance regularly topped the 3 million mark during the team’s glory era from 1997 through 2002, but fell off in direct proportion to the team’s performance decline.
When a franchise endures a long postseason drought, it’s only natural that its fan base turns to more successful options. In most cases, however, that group is outnumbered by those who jump on the bandwagon when the home club improves. For some reason, that hasn’t happened in Seattle.
The saddest part of the situation is that Mariner on-field performance could be – and probably has been – affected. Seattle already has several strikes against it (lack of traditional success, long road trips, few endorsement opportunities) in attracting and retaining elite players. Playing home games in front of hostile audiences doesn’t help.