Maintenance & Improvements
Under the lease, the Mariners commit to pay for all ballpark operations and maintenance costs, as well as all capital improvements at the ballpark, above the fixed contributions to capital improvements from the PFD and King County.
Long-term Capital Needs Assessment
In 2022, the Mariners and PFD commissioned an update to the Long-Term Capital Needs Assessment (LTCNA), to investigate the extent, cost, and timing of potential capital improvements anticipated to be required for the next 20 years, with the goal of maintaining the ballpark in a first-class manner. The LTCNA was developed by an interdisciplinary team of experts who evaluated all aspects of the ballpark, including: architectural components, technology, and building systems. The study included an on-site facility assessment, development of a baseline improvements matrix, and identification of potential necessary and upgrade improvements. See resources below to download the LTCNA.
Capital Improvements and Maintenance
The Mariners are responsible for operating and maintaining the ballpark consistent with the standards established in the lease. The operating standard in the lease requires the Mariners to operate the ballpark in a first-class manner, consistent with the way in which other first-class MLB ballparks are operated.
The obligations established in the lease for the Mariners’ maintenance and capital improvements to the ballpark are known as the Applicable Standard. The Applicable Standard requires the Mariners to maintain, repair, and improve the ballpark in a first-class manner consistent with the majority of the ten reference ballparks identified in the lease.
Reference Ballparks
The reference ballparks are those identified by the PFD and the Mariners as representing the “top one-third” of all MLB ballparks. This list of reference ballparks is updated every five years. The reference ballparks established in 2018 are as follows:
- Petco Park – San Diego Padres
- Coors Field – Colorado Rockies
- Truist Park – Atlanta Braves
- Target Field – Minnesota Twins
- Busch Stadium – St. Louis Cardinals
- Citi Field – New York Mets
- American Family Field – Milwaukee Brewers
- Oracle Park - San Francisco Giants
- Rogers Centre - Toronto Blue Jays
- Progressive Field - Cleveland Guardians
Plans and Reports
Each year, the Mariners submit to the PFD a Ballpark Operations Plan and a Ballpark Management Plan. The Operations Plan outlines how the Mariners will fulfill their obligations under the operating standard. The plan is subject to the PFD’s review and comment.
The Ballpark Management Plan describes how the Mariners will carry out their maintenance and capital improvement obligations in a manner consistent with the Applicable Standard. The management plan is subject to the PFD’s review and approval. Capital projects identified in the LTCNA are used by the PFD as a reference point for evaluating the Mariners’ plans, which are ultimately judged against the Applicable Standard.
In addition to the PFD’s review of the Ballpark Operations Plan, the PFD contracts with a third-party expert to conduct a “Maintenance and Operations Review.” This inspection is intended to assist the PFD in determining whether the ballpark is being operated and maintained in a manner consistent with the Operations Plan, Operating Standard, Ballpark Management Plan, and the Applicable Standard, as defined in Article 8 of the lease.
See resources below to access the most recent plans and reports.