Brian Howell photos:

A compass rose embedded in the floor of Safecy Field's main concourse is a monument to the players who appeared on opening night, July 15. It’s upstars from the main rotunda entrance of baseball's newest ballpark.

Bob Mackin News Reporter

BASEBALL on green ‘grass and under blue skies, "What a concept?

Une! Sept. 17, Vancouver

had the triple-A Canadians — a heartbeat away from the

Major Leagues — at 48-year- old Nat Bailey Stadium.

The team is moving'to a new 10,000-seat stadium in Sacramento, Calif. [fa fran- chise from the singlc-A Northwest League take the C’s place here next season, . local baseball fans will have to cross the border and drive

_south on Interstate 5 to slake

their baseball thirst.

Everett’s Memorial Stadium, home of the NWL’s Aquasox, is the nearest pro

. baseball diamond. Ir’s a cazy

ballpark, smaller than the Nat, off exit 192. Parking’s free. _ The Aquasox run a 76-game schedule from mid-June through Labour Day week-

. end. The team is stocked with ’ Seattle Mariners’ prospects, many just out of high school

- Making their first steps toward the big leagues. If you were there on June 17, 1987, you would've witnessed Ken Griffey Jr. hit his first home run as a pro in his second game with the visiting

“Rellingham Mariners. There’s even 2 plaque outside the sta-

~ ditini’s left-field wall on the sidewalk near where the ball ’ landed. :.- ~, Less than an hour south on the freeway is the House that Griffey built, otherwise known

. as Safeco Field. ‘

The newest ballpark in the baseball is in its last weekend of its first season. The : Angahieim Angels close out the M’s home schedule Sunday.

The 45,000-scat stadium south of the Kingdome opened July 15 and is the per-

the Kingdome. The main entrance is an atrium filled with a giass sculpture of hun- dreds of baseball bats suspend- ed from the ceiling. Upstairs is a compass rose embedded in the floor, recognizing the M’s who suited up for opening night.

Every seat is a good one, even those in the outfield bleachers that sell for a bargain $5. Not a big baseball fan? Don’t need to be glued to a seat for nine innings or more? Safeco Field has enough diver- sicns to keep fiddly kids from succumbing to a short atten-

BASEBALL is America’s pastime, but Canadians are tion span. Stadium policy

welcome at Safeco Field.

allows fans to bring bag hunch- es.

Only a fence separates fans from the bullpens; adults can even sneak a peak through ground-ievel knotholes at the Bullpen Pub. The watering hole is below a hand-operated scoreboard next to the left- field foul pole. Fans can stand on a plaza at the outfield wall or clitnb to the fifth level to watch a panoramic view of the proceedings.

All paths lead to Safeco Field. It’s at the western ter- minus of the cross-country Interstate 90 freeway and right under a flight path to Sea-Tac Airport. Between innings onc

KEN Griffey. Jr. hitting his first home run at Safeco — can gaze from the eastern con-

Field July 18 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

course at the Burlington

* Northern /Amtrak railyard and pretend to be governing a giant toy train set. During a game, train whistles blow, elic- iting cheers from throughout the stadium and likely distract- ing the batter or pitcher.

If you were there july 18, you would’ve witnessed Griffey hit his first home run at Safeco against the Arizona Diamondbacks. It won't be casy for “Junior” to keep pace with Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa in the home run derby, because of'2 wind from lett field that often turns sure- fire homers into tly bails.

@ The M’s host Anaheim tonight at 7 p.m., tomorrow

under blue skies or the canopy-like retractable roof. at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 1:35

p.m. Gates open two-hours

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LIONS GATE BRIDGE CLOSURE SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1999 7:30 am — 7:45 am

The Lions Gate Bridge will be closed to all traf- fic from 7:30 to 7:45 on the morning of Saturday, September 25.

The closures are required to protect public safety while construction equipment is being moved to the South Tower of the bridge by helicopte .

This work is being completed as par: of the Lions Gi.te rehabilitation project.

Alternat: ve routes during these closures include the Iron:vorkers Memorial Second Narrows Bridge or SeaBus.

Your patience is appreciated during these short delays. : .

Fok ADDITIONAL INFORMATION GH THE Lions GATE PROJECT, please call the Information Line at (604) 473-1500

or Toli Free 1-877-473-0202,

ar visit the Lions Gate eb Site

wwwJionsgatebridge.gov.be.ca

Wang Dang Doedie| A rool raisin’, jump jivin’, Hariem musical cn gp . : her ae 2 by . Leslie Mildiner. conceived by Denis Simpson: ;

rant. and car rental taxes. before first pitch. Tickets, at Ticketmaster, .

From the moment of arrival, it’s like range from $28 for lower box to $5 for being transported in_a time machine back _centrefield bleachers in U.S. funds . Parking is plentiful, but not cheap, rang- ing up to $20 for a spot. For Mariners’ info, call 1-8300-MY-MARINERS.

fect, albeit costly, antidote to the rainy Northwest climate. The $517-million dol- lar price included a retractable roof, one that acts more like a canopy than a lid to to the golden age of the game. The red * , keep the rain out, and a natural grass field. . and yellow brick facade is a welcome Much of the funding came from restau- change trom the drab, grey concrete of