The 'Pen

The 'Pen, known for sponsorship purposes as The T-Mobile 'Pen, is a spectator area at T-Mobile Park, a baseball stadium in Seattle. The area is a standing-room only zone adjacent to the bullpens, where spectators can watch relief pitchers warm up before entering the game.

For other uses, see Pen (disambiguation).

History

When the Seattle Mariners' current stadium, then known as Safeco Field, opened during the 1999 season, the area near the bullpens was called the "Bullpen Market". In 2013, the Mariners' vice president of ballpark operations described the Bullpen Market as a dark and unwelcoming place that needed a remodel to be more attractive to fans.[1]

Prior to the 2011 season, the Mariners brought in three celebrity chefs to introduce special concession stands with food that could only be found in The 'Pen, as the area was rebranded: Bill Pustari opened Apizza, Roberto Santibañez opened Flying Turtle Cantina/Tortugas Voladoras, and Ethan Stowell opened Hamburg + Frites and La Crêperie, Authentic Parisian Crêpes.[2] During the 2011 season, per-capita fan spending in The 'Pen jumped by 87% from the previous season. Fan spending increased a further 10% in 2012. In 2013, Edgar's Cantina, named for Hall of Fame Mariners player Edgar Martínez, opened. Sports Business Journal called The 'Pen "one of the liveliest social scenes in Major League Baseball" in 2013, when fan spending in The 'Pen had risen 42% year over year, which a team spokeswoman credited primarily to Edgar's Cantina.[1]

Local Mexican restaurant Poquitos opened a stand in The 'Pen during the 2017 season, and quickly gained national fame for selling chapulines, toasted grasshoppers, at every game.[3] Poquitos sold over 900 orders of chapulines at the first three home games, at $4.00 for a 4-US-fluid-ounce (120 ml) cup.[4][5]

In 2019, the Mariners opened The 'Pen two and a half hours before the first pitch of Mariners home games, offering happy hour specials to encourage fans to arrive early. As many as 3,000 fans come to The 'Pen during each game.[6]

Incidents

The 'Pen attracts large and often rowdy crowds due to its food and drink options, including cocktails made with liquor that are not otherwise available to most fans at T-Mobile Park. During the 2011 season, a Bleacher Report writer criticized The 'Pen for attracting fans more interested in drinking, fighting, and making spectacles of themselves than in watching a game.[7]

On April 13, 2013, a man was injured and required reconstructive surgery after a fight broke out over a table in The 'Pen. After the local TV program Washington's Most Wanted drew attention to the incident, two men turned themselves in, one of whom faced a felony assault charge. A spokesperson for the Mariners told KIRO radio that the team assigns more uniformed police officers, private security guards, and alcohol enforcement officials to The 'Pen during special events, such as College Night.[8]

References
  1. Muret, Don (October 14, 2013). "Edgar's keeps things hopping at Safeco Field 'Pen". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  2. Reichard, Kevin (January 27, 2011). "Mariners upgrading concessions: "the anti-fast food"". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  3. Rovell, Darren (April 7, 2017). "M's to offer toasted grasshoppers at Safeco". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  4. Rovell, Darren (April 14, 2017). "M's to limit sales of popular toasted grasshoppers". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  5. Schilken, Chuck (April 11, 2017). "Mariners fans can't get enough toasted grasshoppers during Monday's home opener at Safeco Field". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  6. Spanberg, Erik (July 8, 2019). "The push to get fans to arrive early". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  7. McLain, Casey (May 28, 2011). "Seattle Mariners: The 'Pen Is an Awful Additon to Safeco Field". Bleacher Report. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  8. Kruse, Brandi (May 27, 2013). "Assault at Safeco Field raises safety concerns at The 'Pen". Seattle Sports. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
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