Revitalized Mariners bringing buzz, longer bathroom lines back to Safeco Field

For the past several years, it’s been tough for Tom Herche to find takers for his Mariners tickets as another season slipped away. The charter season ticket holder says this year, the buzz is definitely back.

Herche never considered giving up the seats he’s held since 1977, but he admits he’s gone to a lot fewer games as the Mariners stumbled to another disappointing finish. But this week he cleared his calendar to see games both Monday and Tuesday night.

“I usually don’t do two nights in a row. It’s much more exciting. It’s neat to be in a playoff race,” he says.

The Mariners expected over 35,000 fans for Monday night’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays in what was being billed as one of the biggest Safeco Field series in years as the teams battle for a wild card playoff spot.

Having Felix Hernandez on the mound significantly boosted Monday night’s crowd. But the Mariners also expect attendance in the mid-to-upper 20,000s for Tuesday and Wednesday, says Director of Public Information Rebecca Hale.

Longtime season ticket holder Ellen Duernberger of Seattle has her own gauge to measure increased excitement. It’s what she calls her “bathroom barometer.”

“When it’s over 30-35,000 fans, there are longer lines for the ladies’ room,” she says. “In the last few years, in August, you could walk right into the ladies room […] now the wait for the ladies room is almost like the days in the Kingdome.”

What a difference even a year makes. After 63 home games in 2013, the Mariners had drawn 1,456,940 fans. This season, they’ve drawn 1,552,214 fans, an increase of 95,274.

Last year, the Mariners were 54-63 on August 11, with any hopes for a post-season appearance already pretty well shot. This year, they’re 62-55 heading into the Toronto series.

“I keep looking at the scoreboard to see the teams that are trailing us, so I’m rooting when they lose games,” Ellen says.

The excitement transcends the stadium. The increased interest has pushed 710 ESPN Seattle, the Mariners radio flagship, to the top of the nighttime ratings. The station had slid to the #7 spot in May.

Herche says he’s hearing from a lot more friends who are following the Mariners more than in recent years and he’s excited about the prospects of a playoff push heading into September.

“It’s exciting to have a competitive team and they’re really fun to watch,” he says. “I think the changes they made could push them over the top […] we’ve got a lot of things to get excited about. There are more people asking for tickets. I definitely do notice it.”