Mariners update ballpark procedures to speed up entry before games

When the Seattle Mariners open the 2018 season at Safeco Field on Thursday, March 29 against the Cleveland Indians, guests will notice some operational changes designed to make it quicker and easier to get through the gates pregame. Changes include two CLEAR Lanes and kiosks for guests to sign up for expedited security service free of charge.
Safeco Field will be the first sports/entertainment venue in the Seattle area to provide CLEAR access. It is available at eight other MLB ballparks: Comerica Park in Detroit, Yankee Stadium and Citi Field in New York, Coors Field in Denver, Marlins Park in Miami, Oakland Alameda Coliseum, SunTrust Park in Atlanta and AT&T Park in San Francisco.
"We spent a lot of time listening to our guests over the course of last season, and one of the most frequent comments we heard was that for higher attendance games especially, it can sometimes take too long to get through the gates," said Trevor Gooby, Mariners Sr. Vice President of Ballpark Operations.
In addition to the two CLEAR Lanes, the following changes are designed to improve the guest experience at Safeco Field before games:
CLEAR Lanes
CLEAR Lanes and free enrollment kiosks will be available at Home Plate Gate and Left Field Gate. After a free, five minute enrollment, guests can begin using the CLEAR Lane immediately. Enrolled fans can bring with them through the CLEAR Lane one adult guest and children under 18, as long as they all have valid game tickets. All guests will still go through bag screening and a metal detector. Guests who already have CLEAR membership for access to airports or sports venues are able to use CLEAR Lanes at Safeco Field without any additional steps. Access to the CLEAR airport experience is not included with the free registration, but can be added to your account online or at any CLEAR airport location.
Additional Points of Entry
For games expected to draw large crowds, additional entry points with walk-through metal detectors can be added to expand ingress capacity by up to 20%.
Increased Staffing & Improved Signage
New signage that provides information to fans about prohibited items, bag size restrictions and metal detector procedures is being added outside gates. Additional Mariners event staff will be stationed outside the ballpark pregame to direct guests to gates with shorter lines and help guests prepare to go through metal detectors more quickly by removing cellphones, car keys and change from pockets.
No Re-Entry
In 2017, the Mariners were one of only eight MLB teams that allowed re-entry. Guests were permitted to scan in and out multiple times with the same ticket which added to congestion at entry screening locations. Eliminating re-entry will reduce the number of guest screenings per game, speeding up the entry process for everyone. This change brings the Mariners in line with MLB's recommended best practices for improved guest safety. Exceptions will be made in case of emergency.
Bag Size Restrictions
Per MLB regulations, only bags 16" x 16" x 8" or smaller are permitted inside Safeco Field. Guests will be able to test their bags for size outside the gates. Paid locker service will be available on the parking garage plaza on game days to hold oversized bags.
No Claim Check for Knives
No knives, regardless of size or type, are allowed inside Safeco Field. In the past, guests could check their knives to be claimed later. Guests will now have the option of returning the banned item to their vehicle, using the paid locker service on the parking garage plaza, or surrendering the item at the gate. No claim check service will be provided.
Bottled Water
Guests will now be permitted one clear, sealed, plastic water bottle, 32 ounces or less. Oversized bottles or those with broken seals must be surrendered or emptied at the gate. Bottles may not be frozen. Beverages in open containers such as coffee cups are still banned. In the past, guests had to empty or dispose of water bottles at the gates, contributing to slowdowns.