Even Baseball Changes

2023 Season

If you've been watching the news lately, you will have heard there are changes this season to the game of baseball. There's a pitch timer that limits how much time a pitcher has to throw the ball. There are several other changes as well. Will these improve the game or change something that's worked forever? Only time will tell.

Results from other changes are easier to predict, like the new food lineup at T-Mobile Park. This quote is from a news release from the Mariners and T-Mobile Park: "…which has earned T-Mobile Park a national reputation for fresh, locally-inspired, best-in-class food and one of the best ballpark dining experiences in all of professional sports." Having not made it to many other ball parks, hard for us to confirm, but we will say there is a huge variety of foods to choose from. They've done a great job of giving you more reasons than just baseball to come to the Park. And much of it is local, whether it's from a local group (like Marination Mobile) or done in-house and overseen by Executive Chef Javier Rosa (photo).

New offerings this year are:

• Chick Chick Boom in Right Field, which is the first emoji food stand (i.e., the stand name is in "emoji"). There are chicken tenders and waffle fries, garlic waffle fries, and a "Mind Blown Sauce" created by Chef Javier (photo).
• Three new Walk-Off Markets (where you walk in, grab what you want, and walk out) can be found in sections 141, 185, and 341, along with the original in section 126. Different locations have different offerings. In sections 185 and 341, anyone over 21 can use the new Walk-Off Brews.
• A Ham Swaggerty sandwich appears this year in honor of utility player Sam Haggerty; this got a thumbs up from us.
• Another player-inspired item comes from Chef Ethan Stowell and Ballard Pizza, the Cal Zone.
• The Big League Burger is new this year, created by Chef Javier and can be found in two Big League Burger outposts.
• Din Tai Fung is back with a second location with items that have become favorites like chicken fried rice and spicy chicken wonton soup. We liked their spicy wonton potstickers, but weren't as crazy about the pork and veggie bao buns.
• Edgar's Cantina items have been updated and new items include crispy fish taquitos and shrimp quesadillas (which was not a hit in our opinion). A folded over brisket quesadilla was quite good. The selling point was to be able to walk around and eat your quesadilla instead of having it flat. Not sure we've ever walked walk around with a quesadilla (or wanted to), but if you do, this one's for you (photo).
• Holy Smoke BBQ now offers a brisket sandwich and a loaded baked potato. Our favorite here was the Sticky Smoked Pork Wings tossed in their signature sticky sweet and tangy BBQ sauce, sauteed diced jalapeno, and pomegranate. It is sticky, so watch what you touch.
• Marination has a new luau plate lunch option: sweet ginger miso chicken, and they also serve their Fresh Mango Lemonade.
• If you're a pizza lover, you know that Moto Pizza in West Seattle has been hard to get as they sell out in advance. Now all you have to do is buy Mariners tickets and grab it at the Park. It is deep dish, so know you may not have room for any other food options! They will offer several pizzas: Mr. Pig, Root Pizza, Kissed, pepperoni (so very good), and a cheese pizza. Just for the Park, there's a shared pizza box made so that every piece gets that crispy edge.
• Salt & Straw is back with classic flavors, rotating "Seattle" flavors, and new for 2023, Beecher's flagship cheese with apple pie cinnamon rolls, a T-Mobile exclusive. Another thumbs up, along with their Marionberry.
• Scotty's Juice offers new batch flavored cocktails like spiked strawberry lemonade, Palomas with fresh grapefruit juice and spiked raspberry lemonade. The downside: seems like lots of sugar. The upside: refreshing and delicious.
• Happily (for us) Coca-Cola is still the "Official Fan Refreshment" of the Mariners. There are 11 new offerings: three new flavors of BODYARMOR, two of VitaminWater, and Coca-Cola Creations (have no idea what Creations are, but surely there will be sugar and refreshment).
• St. Michelle Wine Estates wines can be found in numerous locations. Wine options include over 40 varietals with most coming from Washington and Oregon, and some global offerings.

Last year a value menu was started and was very successful. They've expanded that program this year with 12 items from $2-4 which can be found throughout the park. The Value Beers program is also back with a renewed line up of local and national brands. Twelve beers around the Park will be priced at $5 and $6 for 12 ounce cans. They listened to fans about wanting at least some healthier options and you can now find hummus, pita, carrots, and apple slices.

Make this the year you get back to T-Mobile Park to watch the Mariners march toward the World Series (think it, believe it) and enjoy all the food along the way.

Connie Adams/April 2023