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The Crosscut Blog »
Apr 26, 2008 5:00 AM | last updated Apr 26, 2008 12:14 PM
So long, "Safeco Field"?
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NewsvineWith Safeco gone, what will we call the Field?
Locals may gaze across the landscape past the inexplicably lit-up-all-day-and-night Qwest sports facility and see that other Elysian field: Safeco, where the Mariners play. This week, in reference to the latter, we hear or read: "You will not be going to Liberty Mutual Field, I can assure you of that."
The assurance is courtesy of one Ted Kelly, chairman, president, chief executive and, for all we know, actuary-for-as-long-as-he's-expected-to-live of the above-mentioned company. Kelly was quoted thusly because Safeco Corp. has been purchased by his Boston-based group. Those of us who heard/read the insurance-oriented assurance may have accepted Kelly's claim. But maybe we also immediately wondered what Safeco Field will be called when it inevitably isn't Safeco Field anymore.
We wondered because, despite assurances (even insurance assurances), sports facilities, with certain exceptions, always seem to be renamed. Consider Minute Maid Park, formerly Enron Field, formerly Astro Field. Think of McAfee Coliseum, aka Network-Associates Coliseum and Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
The question that remains, then, would seem to be: When there no longer is a Safeco, what will we be calling Safeco Field? Certain opportunities clearly are gone. Nobody expects Chubby and Tubby Field, Twin Teepees Park or Herfy's Stadium. Amazon Field? Microsoft Park? Tom Douglas Stadium?
Some have thought since the stadium was imagined that "Dave Niehaus Field" would be appropriate. This was long before the from-night-one Mariners announcer was tapped for the Baseball Hall of Fame. The only problem: no apparent corporate payout for such a sentimental gesture. Even if it were to be a tear-stained decision, maybe "Ken Griffey Jr. Field" would be more appropriate, since the M's all-time greatest player often is cited (along with former Sen. Slade Gorton) as an indispensable entity in saving baseball in Seattle and spawning what announcer Rick Rizzs is fond of calling "the best stadium in baseball."
Offer your suggestion if you're willing. I don't actually have a favorite. A generic "The Yard" works, though it wouldn't surprise me to be sitting on my press-box perch someday soon and facing, from above the bleachers, a bright sign indicating . . . Liberty Mutual Field!
Report a violationPosted by: rasul on Apr 26, 2008 6:16 PM
Then I'd have a statue out front of a little guy, say about my size (5'6") lifting over his head a yacht filled with steroided ballplayers and obese, cigar smoking, fat cat owners.
Report a violationPosted by: Luke42 on Apr 27, 2008 3:28 AM
"Well, Dave, I'm not the first coach to say this, but I gotta tell you, when those Taxpayers start cheering for their guy, it's pretty intimidating..."
Bob Costas: "As the first pitch of the seventh game of the World Series approaches, we're live with Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels at Taxpayer Park. Mayor, how did your city come up with such an odd name for a baseball stadium?"
Mayor Greg Nickels: "It's been dismissed as a 'Seattle thing,' but I really believe the people wanted something that would endure, something that would stand in the minds of baseball fans for generations as the place to play ball."
Report a violationPosted by: hacknflack on Apr 28, 2008 10:10 AM
Starbucks MIGHT be interested, but first they would need Baseball's approval to rename the bases Short, Tall, Grande and Venti.
Costco Field would be awesome... the Hot Dogs would be $1.50 and come with a soft drink, but they might be limited on what teams they could play, and the lines would be a little slower as everyone fumbled for their Card at the restrooms.
Nordstrom’s Field would be terrific too. If a player did not perform well, we could take him back for a refund. Bet the uniforms and shoes would be pretty spiffy too... but the ushers would be exhausted from writing all those thank you cards...
Boeing Field would seem a no brainer, but then the County might get confused and swap the WRONG Boeing Field to the Port of Seattle... But the Roof might open faster with Boeing on the job. And Jet Cooked Hot Dogs... hmmm.
Then of course, Microsoft might step in and rename it Vista Field. Suddenly the team would no longer be able to play with 85 percent of the existing teams, and once in a while you would have to call tech support to clear the field.
Amazon Field would be intriguing. You could bring your cell phone or blackberry and use it to order up concessions, and it would track what you had last game, and suggest what you might like this game...
As I think about it, we should call it SPS Park... the city can think it historic reference to Seattle, Portland and Spokane RR, with the old rail yard behind... but it really stands for Seattle Process Park. Nothing in town honors the way we do things here.
You wait for the entity to threaten to leave. You argue about it for months in the media and hearings. You put it to a vote. The voters turn it down... once maybe even twice. Then you build it or remodel it anyway, and make it impossible to use anymore or in any other way. Then the entity does well, all is forgiven, and we pay for it...
The Seattle Process Park... A perfect honor to bestow upon our favorite edifice, the one we voted against and grumbled over until they made the play offs...
At least we were smart enough to make the visitors to our city pay for the 25 years remaining of the Kingdome Mortgage... There is a name for that, too...
Report a violationPosted by: RobertJ on Apr 28, 2008 10:17 AM
Report a violationPosted by: dbreneman on May 1, 2008 11:05 AM
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Report a violationPosted by: awilliams53 on Apr 26, 2008 5:00 PM