T-Mobile Park — formerly known as Safeco Field — is the home of the Seattle Mariners and one of Major League Baseball’s most celebrated venues. The ballpark holds 47,368 fans, features a nearly nine-acre retractable roof, and sits in Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood just steps from Link Light Rail’s Stadium Station.
Opened on July 15, 1999, the stadium was renamed from Safeco Field to T-Mobile Park on January 1, 2019. In the two-plus decades since, it has hosted MLB All-Star Games, the NHL Winter Classic, and WrestleMania — becoming a Pacific Northwest landmark that draws fans from across the South Puget Sound region and beyond.
Quick Answer
T-Mobile Park has an official seating capacity of 47,368 for MLB baseball. The stadium was formerly called Safeco Field — that name ran from its 1999 opening through December 31, 2018. T-Mobile acquired the naming rights in a 25-year, $87.5 million deal, and the new name took effect January 1, 2019.
T-Mobile Park Capacity: How Many People Does It Hold?
T-Mobile Park’s official seating capacity is 47,368 for MLB baseball games, placing it among the larger ballparks in the American League. The park’s all-time attendance record stands at 54,097, set during WrestleMania XIX in March 2003, when the addition of on-field floor seating pushed the total well beyond the standard baseball configuration.
For the 2023 MLB All-Star Game on July 11, 2023, the park drew 47,159 — nearly filling every seat. Non-baseball events such as the 2024 NHL Winter Classic use a reduced layout on the natural grass field, so effective capacity varies by event type. For standard Mariners game planning, 47,368 is the authoritative figure.
What Was T-Mobile Park Called Before?
T-Mobile Park was named Safeco Field from its opening on July 15, 1999, through the end of the 2018 season — nearly 20 years under that brand. Safeco Insurance, then headquartered in Seattle, purchased the original naming rights in June 1998 for $40 million over 20 years. When Safeco chose not to renew after the 2018 season, the Mariners sought a new partner.
T-Mobile officially secured the naming rights on December 19, 2018, in a 25-year deal valued at $87.5 million — more than double Safeco’s original investment. The ‘T-Mobile Park’ name became effective January 1, 2019. The stadium has had exactly two official names in its history: Safeco Field (1999–2018) and T-Mobile Park (2019–present).
The Retractable Roof: An Engineering Marvel
T-Mobile Park’s retractable roof spans approximately nine acres and weighs around 22 million pounds, making it one of the largest movable structures in North America. Unlike dome-style enclosures that split into sections, the roof travels in one solid piece along rails — riding on 128 steel wheels powered by electric motors — and parks just beyond the right-field bleachers over adjacent railroad tracks when fully open.
The roof opens or closes in 10 to 20 minutes and is built to withstand winds up to 70 mph. It is also self-grounded against lightning, protecting fans during storms. Through 2024, the roof had been deployed for approximately 435 games — roughly 22 percent of all games played at the park — confirming that Seattle’s weather is unpredictable but not relentless. The structure peaks at 269 feet and drops to 217 feet at its lowest point.
The Fan Experience: Food, Atmosphere & Unique Offerings
The Bullpen Market behind left field is the park’s most social space, featuring local vendors, open-pit barbecue, and interactive games. The adjacent area called The ‘Pen opens early with happy-hour pricing before first pitch. Edgar’s Cantina serves drinks alongside it, while Edgar’s Restaurant — added in 2012 and named for franchise icon Edgar Martínez — anchors the left-field corner with sit-down Pacific Northwest cuisine.
T-Mobile Park has two signature food items no other ballpark offers: the Seattle Dog, a hot dog loaded with cream cheese and grilled onions, and Toasted Grasshoppers seasoned with chili-lime salt, introduced in 2017 and now one of the park’s most talked-about snacks. The Children’s Hospital Playfield in center field provides a baseball-themed playground for younger guests. Bronze statues of Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martínez, Ichiro Suzuki, and beloved broadcaster Dave Niehaus stand at the entrances, grounding the experience in Mariners history.
The playing surface is a Kentucky Bluegrass and Perennial Ryegrass blend, first fully replaced after the 2017 season. Field dimensions — 331 feet to left, 401 to center, 326 to right — favor pitchers on the pull side. A manual scoreboard pairs with an 11,435-square-foot HD video display, blending old-school character with modern production.
Getting to T-Mobile Park from Across the Region
T-Mobile Park sits at 1250 First Avenue South in SoDo, directly accessible via Sound Transit’s Link Light Rail at Stadium Station — roughly a three-block walk to the main gate. The light rail connects downtown Seattle, Sea-Tac Airport, and communities throughout South King County in one continuous line, making it the easiest option for most fans. Sounder commuter rail stops at nearby King Street Station, serving riders from Tacoma, Auburn, Kent, and communities along the Pierce County corridor — including those coming in from Wollochet and the greater Gig Harbor area.
Fans driving from South King County communities near Bryn Mawr-Skyway (unincorporated King County just south of Seattle along I-5) reach SoDo in under 15 minutes off the Edgar Martínez Drive South exit. Those coming from the Auburn and Kent corridor — including Lake Morton-Berrydale, about 22 miles southeast of downtown Seattle via SR-18 and I-5 — typically take about 30 to 40 minutes outside of peak-hour traffic. Dedicated parking garages sit directly across the street from the ballpark, with rates starting around $25; advance online purchase is strongly recommended for popular games. Rideshare drop-off runs along 1st Avenue South.
Notable Events and Milestones
T-Mobile Park hosted the MLB All-Star Game in both 2001 and 2023, making Seattle one of a select group of cities to host the Midsummer Classic multiple times at the same venue. The 2023 edition on July 11 drew 47,159 fans. On January 1, 2024, the NHL Winter Classic brought NHL hockey to the grass surface, with the Seattle Kraken defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 3–0 — a clear demonstration of the stadium’s multi-sport adaptability.
WrestleMania XIX in March 2003 remains the single largest event in the park’s history at 54,097 attendees. Infrastructure improvements have been continuous: the outfield fences moved in before the 2013 season to encourage offense, the center-field video board grew to 11,435 square feet, and the playing field received its first complete replacement in 2018. The park was designed by architects NBBJ and 360 Architecture and built by Hunt-Kiewit at a cost of $517 million — roughly $1 billion in 2025 dollars.
T-Mobile Park Seattle FAQs
How many people does T-Mobile Park hold?
T-Mobile Park has an official seating capacity of 47,368 for MLB baseball. The all-time attendance record is 54,097, set during WrestleMania XIX in March 2003 when on-field floor seating was added.
What was T-Mobile Park called before?
T-Mobile Park was called Safeco Field from its opening on July 15, 1999, through December 31, 2018. T-Mobile acquired the naming rights on December 19, 2018, in a 25-year, $87.5 million agreement. The name T-Mobile Park took effect January 1, 2019.
When did T-Mobile Park open?
T-Mobile Park opened on July 15, 1999, under the name Safeco Field. Its inaugural game was between the Seattle Mariners and the San Diego Padres.
Does T-Mobile Park have a retractable roof?
Yes. The retractable roof spans nearly nine acres and weighs approximately 22 million pounds. It opens or closes in 10 to 20 minutes, traveling in one solid piece on 128 steel wheels, and stores beyond the right-field bleachers over railroad tracks when open.
How do I get to T-Mobile Park by public transit?
Take Sound Transit’s Link Light Rail to Stadium Station — about a three-block walk to the ballpark’s main entrance. Sounder commuter rail stops at nearby King Street Station, with service from Tacoma and communities throughout Pierce County and South King County. King County Metro buses also serve SoDo.
What unique food does T-Mobile Park serve?
T-Mobile Park is known for the Seattle Dog (a hot dog topped with cream cheese and grilled onions) and Toasted Grasshoppers seasoned with chili-lime salt, introduced in 2017. The Bullpen Market behind left field also serves open-pit barbecue from local vendors.
Get More from T-Mobile Park Seattle
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate T-Mobile Park Seattle, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.