Mariners CEO John Stanton on playoff run: ‘We need a full stadium’
Sep 15, 2016, 1:36 PM | Updated: 1:53 pm
Manager Scott Servais said he'd prefer to see more fun and joking around from the Mariners players. (AP)
(AP)
The Mariners are back at home to start a series Friday with the Astros, riding an eight-game winning streak that, entering Thursday, has them within 1 1/2 games of Toronto for the second and final American League Wild Card spot. And at a time when the team is hotter than just about any point in the season, they’re offering special $8 view reserved seats for all three weekend games against Houston.
So, why lower the price in the middle of a run for the postseason? First, to commemorate the eight-game winning streak. But even more importantly, as Mariners Chairman and CEO John Stanton told “Brock and Salk” on Thursday, the M’s need as many fans as possible in Safeco Field this month to help them finally break a 15-year playoff drought.
“The team is doing everything. They’re leaving everything on the field. (Manager Scott) Servais has got them whipped up into a frenzy, they’re doing it every night, but we need fans in that ball park,” said Stanton, who took over the team on Aug. 17. “We need to have a full stadium. We can’t play Houston in an empty park.”
Even if that means leaving money on the table by offering discounted tickets.
“Right now we don’t care,” Stanton said when asked if the Mariners will even make money on $8 tickets. “Bluntly, we want to get to the playoffs. This city deserves a World Series.
“This is September. This is when things happen, and we need people to help us get there (to the postseason).”
You can purchase the discounted tickets to the weekend series vs. the Astros and each of Seattle’s remaining regular season games at Mariners.com/Tickets. The M’s begin the series against Houston with ace Felix Hernandez on the mound for Friday’s 7:10 p.m. game, followed by a 6:10 p.m. game Saturday and the finale at 1:10 on Sunday. They will then start another three-game home set Monday against the same Blue Jays they’re currently chasing in the Wild Card race.
