Accessibility Review: Safeco Field

Parking for Safeco Field was easy to find in the parking lot for Qwest Field (where the city’s NFL team plays) across the street from Safeco. The handicap spots were even located on the side of the parking lot nearest the park, although you do have to take the elevator down a level to be on street level to get to the park. That is a minor inconvenience, as it seemed few actually parked in this lot and the garage has the large passenger elevators.

Our seats were located in section 194, which is part of the centerfield bleachers. We were lined up to go in the gate near our section and about 10 minutes before the park opened to the general public they had us go around to the nearby gate that bypassed the turnstiles. The elevator to the centerfield bleachers handicap seating is then right inside the gate by the stairs that lead up to the seating. Thus getting to the section was quite easy and actually even quite close to the car with that entrance to the park being right across the street from the elevators for the parking garage. The Team Shop, however, was on the other side of the park, but we were there early and took care of that before the park opened like we have done at many of the parks.

The seats in the centerfield bleachers were clearly the cheap seats with the handicap seating literally being right under the scoreboard and actually slightly behind the raised scoreboard. That and they were way high up almost like nosebleed seats, but not quite as high as some of the sections on the baselines. At least the sightlines were not messed up at all and not even by a bar in front of the handicap seating. Mik, however, did not like the seats because we were so high up and the next row was even several feet below us. This might not have been the best, but it seemed the ones in the lower sections probably had the overhang sightline issue that we have so far only encountered at Dodger Stadium, so the more expensive seats are not always the best, especially when it comes to handicap seating being at the back of sections.

There were no cup holders in the handicap bleacher section, but there were not any in the other bleacher section rows either, so Mik at least did not feel left out. However, I do not think he would go for these high seats again if it was his choice.

Game 8: Cleveland Indians 3 @ Minnesota Twins 11

Today’s game was the first day game of the trip, but it did not feel much like one with it being at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, which is one of the last remaining dome baseball stadiums (I think only the one in Tampa Bay is also a permanently closed roofed baseball stadium). It is often said to be the worst park for baseball and it is one of those obviously built for football and not baseball parks (Oakland was actually pretty well converted to baseball even though it is multipurpose). It really is not the most ideal way to see baseball for those we think it has to take place outside, but to Mik this was more like going to a baseball game since he has grown up with the BOB/Chase Field. I kind of like the roof aspect as it was a afternoon game, but as a night game the outdoor stadiums are much more enjoyable, especially for seeing sunsets. I am glad we did the trip this year and saw this stadium in its last year as a MLB stadium. Next year we will have to return and see their new park, Target Field.

Seeing the park really was not much, as even souvenir shopping stunk. I did enjoy walking around the upper level concourse and seeing the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame, but even that was not entirely interesting because it is mostly people and sports I could care less about, although it did include some baseball related figures. The souvenir shops were simply kiosks and no actual official Team Shop and the selection was rather limited, but it worked out in the end when we went to a off site souvenir shop that sells official merchandise. Will write more on the souvenir situation in the mini bat, baseball, and car sticker posts.

Our seats in section 216 was in the family section and that did not work out too well for Mik, because it was a rather crowded section including the wheelchair section and for the first time Mik had to deal with sitting next to someone. He did not like that at all and felt crowded and most off all is very rude about being around old people and it was an old woman next to him. The Angels game was similar, but the seating allowed Dad and I to sit on each side of him and he did not really notice, but here he was stuck next to the stranger. It turned out that it was Strike Out Stroke Day at the Park and it seemed pretty much all the handicap seating had the same problem, however, I imagine the family section has the issue regularly. More on the poor accessibility related to the seating in the Accessibility Review later.

The game itself was rather enjoyable, especially after Mik finally got lost in his PSP game. As it often seems with an American League game there was a lot of hits and runs. It may just be me, but it seems it is all about offense in the American League and the scores end up higher more often than the more defense oriented National League. Anyways, it was exciting to see a lot of home runs (5 total with 4 of them by Twins) in the game including the Twins #16 hitting two 3 RBI homers (one in the first inning and one in the second inning).

Day 16: Late Night on the Road Again

Plenty of posts coming about today related to Game 8 at the Metrodome and other Minneapolis doings, but currently still trying to get all the photos uploaded to go with them and it is rather slow going. The internet was working great in Minnesota the other night and until we left the Minneapolis area, but since then it has not been that great, although it is still better than the pretty much non-existent service in Montana and North Dakota.

Mik was not all that happy with today and became a pill again. He seems to like being on the road way more than actually being at the places that are the point of the trip. Once we finally got on the road again and out of Minneapolis he returned to his sweet self. He is excited about not sleeping in the tent tonight and sleeping in his comfy spot on the floor of Mom's apartment. Mom just texted us that she just landed in O'Hare, so Mik is now extremely excited about tonight and seeing Mom, too. He even stated that finding out we are for sure seeing Mom (have known for a few days it was a possibility, but for those of you that know her you know it is never for sure she is somewhere until she is actually there) was more exciting than the Lakers (his NBA team) currently ahead of Orlando in Game 1 of the Finals.

About 2 and half more hours until Chicago and I think we are all happy about a night in the apartment. I like tent camping and all, but not when I am also trying to use the Internet and my laptop does not work as a laptop because the battery has not held a charge for over a year. At least we do have a few electric sites further on in the trip including Saturday in St. Louis. Dad, of course, is happy for a night sleeping on sort of a bed.

Day 15: Bismark to Minneapolis Area

We did not get to Bismark until almost 5am this morning. It seemed a waste to put the tent up, so we just slept in the car at the campground. We then hit the road again around 10am. We pretty much drove straight through again, except the hour and a half stop at the mall to see the Roger Maris Museum.

We got to the wrong campground around 5:30pm and then ended up having to drive another hour to the south side of Minneapolis to get to the one we actually had the reservation at. I meant to get the reservation at the one we first ended up with, but apparently I accidentally clicked the wrong KOA when I made the reservations. At least this one is still about the same distance from the ballpark and I did not have it mixed up the other way around or we would have been backtracking to the one we first stopped at.

We set up camp and had mac and cheese for dinner. Mik is excited about tomorrow being the first night of the trip we are staying at Mom's apartment in Chicago. Right now he is bugging us to go to bed, so I am going to take him back to the tent and let Dad stay here in the laundry room on his computer.

Baseball Museum 3: Roger Maris Museum

Today (Day 15 of the trip) we visited the Roger Maris Museum located inside a mall in Fargo, North Dakota, as a stop along to way from Bismark to Minneapolis. The museum is a rather simple display of Maris artifacts and memorabilia and a small theater with Yankee Stadium seats from the era Maris was a Yankee. The artifacts on display include uniforms of the four teams Maris played for, Maris' Golden Glove Award for 1960, Maris' two Sultan of Swat Awards for Outstanding batting achievements in 1960 and 1961 (this was the year he hit 61 home runs and broke Babe Ruths 1926 single season record of 60) and several of the home run balls from the year Maris hit 61 including the 60th (the 61st is in the Baseball Hall of Fame).

There really is not much to the museum and it is kind of tucked away in the mall, but it was worth stopping at. Even Mik seemed to enjoy it as he actually turned his PSP off and watched the movies about Maris that were constantly showing in the little theater. He definitely overall enjoyed the stop because he got a Pretzel dog at Pretzelmaker, which he rates the best hot dog he has had on the trip so far and even better than the Wetzel Pretzel one he had at Downtown Disney.

Mik’s Food Scrapbook: Safeco Field

Like at pretty much every game so far Mik started his eating at Safeco Field with a hot dog. He rates it one of the better ones he has had on the trip so far. By the way he got a hot dog at a gas station in Montana on the way to Bismark and he said it was the only hot dog worse was the Dodger Dog at least so far.



Dad found a Japanese food place and got me Summer Rolls, which turned out to be okay, but they were mostly filled with lettuce and were very skimpy on the shrimp to the point it almost seemed liked it really was just lettuce. They also came with a spicy sauce that was actually quite flavorless. At that place he also got me some edamame, which was as good as usual, although it would have been nice with some salt. Mik tried the edamame and thought it was too boring and tasteless.



About midway through the game I sent Dad to get Shiskaberries (chocolate covered strawberries on a stick). Dad got this for me and I just had Mik hold it so I could take a photo. At first he said I needed to make sure I noted that he did not actually eat it, but then he ended up being too tempted and had to try it. He through the chocolate was too much and overpowered the strawberries, but that did not keep him for continuing to eye it as I ate it and having several more bites.



The last thing we had at the game was Tropical Tye Dye Dippin Dots. Mik thought it tasted too much like kiwi, which he dislikes, and only had one bite. I thought it mostly tasted like orange. I thought it was good, but rainbow ice is still my favorite Dippin Dot flavor.

Kj's Baseball Collection: Safeco Field

Finally at the Mariners game I got another ballpark baseball for my collection. There were several other interesting balls including a Ken Griffey Jr and one that was colorful and had baseball terms on it like safe, strike, out, etc. Since they actually had a Safeco Field one, though, that is the one I choose. It is a similar look to the one from Dodger Stadium, but it has a better view being of the infield rather than the outfield. It also has the S logo on one side and the circle Mariners logo on the other.