Monday marked the 25th anniversary of T-Mobile Park, which replaced the Kingdome and opened July 15, 1999, as Safeco Field.
From Hisashi Iwakuma’s no-hitter in 2015 to Cal Raleigh’s playoff drought-ending blast, the home of the Mariners has seen some of the highest highs and a few lows, as well.
We asked for your favorite memories of T-Mobile Park, and you delivered. Here’s a selection of submitted fan memories ahead of Monday’s anniversary.
(Some submissions have been edited for clarity and length.)
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I attended Felix Hernandez’s perfect game August 15, 2012. The final out of course was my favorite memory. Last year at the 2023 All-Star festivities, Felix [Hernandez] signed the scorecard I kept. Only 21,899 in attendance that afternoon. To witness something that has been done only 23 times in the long history of baseball is truly a special moment and to see the celebration following the last out was exhilarating.
—Herman Gilman
Mike Cameron making a leaping catch over the center field wall to rob the other team of a home run, and reassuring us that, yes, there is baseball life after [Ken] Griffey [Jr.]!
— Euguene Sun
The 2001 dream season with 116 wins.
— Karen Connelly
My favorite memory is a personal one. I took my wife, Tricia, there to a game in July 2005 to celebrate our engagement after proposing to her the night before. And, we share the same anniversary as T-Mobile Park, getting married on July 15, 2006. Go Ms!
— Rojohn Soriano
Had to be that opening day. Being a season-ticket holder in 1995, going through that playoff run and all the ups and down on would we get a new stadium or not, to finally be able to see the dream realized was amazing. I still have the ticket in the plastic holder they gave us.
— Gary Smith
I have several fun non-baseball memories that stand out. Seeing Paul McCartney there in 2013 with my family was special. I also saw The Who with my dad in 2019. Also, watching the Kraken win the NHL outdoor Winter Classic New Year’s Day this year, shutting out the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights, stands out the most.
— Jeff Brown
Sitting in the $5 bleacher seats with my bachelor party in May 2000. Getting ready to celebrate a silver anniversary of my own.
— Kevin Fischer
It ended in heartache but the 18 inning, 1-0 loss to Houston in 2022. My partner and I were new to Mariners baseball, but in that game we experienced both the beauty of an amazing pitching staff and the frustration of an offense that you hope will someday win the big one!
— Brook McBride
[Carlos] Guillen’s slap squeeze to sweep the White Sox — I was there — great seat behind home plate! So exciting.
— Rob Van
I’ve been to so many games at “The Safe”/T-Mobile Park and seen so many amazing things that it’s hard to pick just one. But my favorite, which I had no idea would be so significant at the time, was Ichiro’s very first game as a Mariner. He came in with massive hype and high expectations so I think some of us were a tad bit concerned when he went hitless in his first three at-bats. But he sparked a game-winning rally with a single in the bottom of the seventh in a season that would make Mariners history: Ichiro winning a Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, Rookie of the Year, and AL MVP. And of course the 116 regular-season wins, and of course, “Two outs? So what!” My second favorite moment in that stadium was being present for Ichiro’s induction into the Mariners Hall of Fame. What an amazing career he had and the most entertaining player I’ve personally ever seen. We were lucky to have him.
— Tim Baker
By far my best experience in the stadium was Paul McCartney’s tour in 2013 when he brought out Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear for an extended encore. The way Nirvana blended with McCartney, my musical worlds collided, and my head nearly exploded. So grateful to have been there that evening. Fantastic experience!
— Jon Oxley
My favorite memory is when I was there for Edgar [Martinez]’s final game. Commissioner [Bud] Selig came and announced that the DH award would henceforth be known as the Edgar Martinez DH award.
— Bob Gulrajani
The birth of my youngest son. I had tickets to opening of the stadium, got there early, sat in my seat, had a hot dog then my pager went off. My wife had just gone into labor and was driving to the hospital. I took one more look at the stadium and then headed to the hospital where my son was born six hours later. I watched the ceremony and game from the hospital room between labor, delivery and recovery. July 15, 1999, is a date I will always remember.
— Michael Fischer
Cal Raleigh’s game-winning HR to end the 21-year playoff drought. Best moment I’ve ever experienced at a baseball game.
— Brad Bissell
In May 2007 my then-girlfriend surprised me by inviting over 20 family and friends to celebrate the end of my naval service. At the same time, I was planning a surprise proposal with the same group of people. My parents brought the ring to that event and we got engaged in the right field stands with everybody we loved surrounding us. The relationship didn’t last, but the memory lives on!
— Anthony Avery
My favorite memory actually was at the open house just before games started being played there. My son and nephew ages 3 and 2 got down to the railing to see the Moose. For some reason he bypassed them and they were upset so I jumped over the railing put one under each arm and ran behind and passed the Moose and climbed back over the railing. Needless to say, an usher wasn’t happy and was going to have me removed and arrested but he had a heart when the boys cried and begged him to be “nice to my dad and uncle.” I got lucky!
— David Wallace
By far, I think my favorite memory is when the Mariners collectively held up the American flag to show solidarity and support after the tragedy of 9/11. … As a lifelong Mariners fan since April 6, 1977, and as a batboy in the visiting clubhouse in the Kingdome, I had waited my whole life for a season like 2001 that the Mariners had, a “Heaven on Earth,” dominant type of season. It did not end how we wanted it to, but the way the Mariners coaches and players came together to support the country in a very difficult time is, by far (to me), the most memorable moment in the history of Safeco Field/T-Mobile Park (and there have been many of them).
— Steve Goodman, Mountlake Terrace
Been a die-hard fan since 1977, and the absolute best was when we made it to the World Series! Oh wait, that’s still just my dream.
— Mary Johnston
Ichiro’s absolute laser throw from right field to third in his first month with the team to get the out on Terrance Long. Welcome, number 51.
— Craig Anderson
The 2nd game in the new stadium. I was hosting two educators from Amsterdam. I told them to pretend to not speak English as we approached a scalper. He named his price for two tickets. Both of my guests played their part well. We got the tickets for half of the original offer. They were in the left-field bleachers. But the best was to then meet my parents with their tickets … they have a brick on the walkway … using binoculars we could watch our Dutch friends doing the wave at their first baseball game. My dad played ball with Fred Hutchinson and Emmett Watson. Big fan. Great day.
— Michael Colacarro Jr.
The only rain delay in the ballpark’s history: I watched with my 10-year-old son as the roof began to close after rain began to fall. But the roof stopped extending, leaving half of the field and seats exposed to the rain. Play was stopped, and the grounds crew unrolled the tarp onto the infield. Undoubtedly, the crew had little or no experience with the tarp, and watching their gallant efforts was entertaining. A computer geek arrived and rebooted the computer that controlled the roof, and the game resumed! Even better, a TV station that evening broadcast my son’s description of the ground crew’s chaotic deployment of the tarp!
— Roger Carpenter
Walking on the field with my son on Little League Day and watching him run the bases. He’s not so little anymore …
— Matt Lewis
Once I won the lottery for rights to buy tickets, I knew that I would be able to say I attended the very first Mariners home game in both the Kingdome and Safeco Field.
— Vincent DP
In 2001, we took my 76-year-old father to his first Mariners game. We took the train up from Vancouver. We watched the M’s play the Twins — twice. We even made an appearance on the center field screen as “The Bobbleheads!” Great weekend for dad. Great weekend for us. He died three months later.
— Bill Boaz
Watching Tom Petty a month or so before his shocking death. My brother got us the perfect seats, with no one blocking us. He played every single song that we loved (well, he forgot “Don’t Do Me Like That”). It was just a special night in a venue I’d mostly been in to see Mariners games.
— Richard Huffman
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