Mariners players criticize team for selling Blue Jays gear in stadium store
The Mariners are ready to take advantage of some free-spending Canadians this weekend when the Blue Jays come to T-Mobile Park.
There certainly won’t be a shortage of Toronto Blue Jays merchandise for sale when Canadians travel south of the border to Seattle this weekend.
T-Mobile Park, the Seattle Mariners’ home stadium, will play host to the Blue Jays for a three-game series from July 21-23 — an annual matchup that typically draws waves of fans from the B.C. area. And this season’s meeting shouldn’t be any different.
If fans visit the Mariners team shop, however, they will notice an entire clothing section — usually stocked with Seattle gear — has been replaced with Blue Jays apparel.
The Mariners team store has an entire rack dedicated to Blue Jays gear for this weekend’s upcoming series
(via @MarinerMuse) pic.twitter.com/XZHlaQVIXs— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 18, 2023
Appealing to the visiting crowd isn’t a new tradition. Most organizations jump at the chance to make a quick buck when an opponent has a large fan base travelling to its building.
Not many typically clear out a whole unit like the Mariners have done, though. But, then again, the number of Blue Jays fans that travel to the Pacific Northwest is more considerable than most.
Still, that didn’t stop some — including some Mariners players — from criticizing the team for openly allowing the Canadian takeover to bleed into their team store.
What the hell is this @MarinersStore 🤬 https://t.co/xtTre6lQ2g
— Paul Sewald (@ItsPaulSewald) July 18, 2023
Damn smh 🤦🏽♂️ https://t.co/JBLOM8I1Sa
— jp crawford (@jp_crawford) July 18, 2023
This is the most insane thing I’ve ever seen https://t.co/aEe9F89ZCV
— Paul Ross (@RealPaulRoss) July 17, 2023
yeah you don’t come back from this https://t.co/e6C5zEYYWu
— Justin Cuthbert (@jccuthbert) July 18, 2023
If the Tigers did this, I would never set foot back at Comerica Park nor ever watch a game again until the team was sold to new owners. Mariners fans should consider doing the same https://t.co/cDrRnsARhK
— Luke (@luke00070) July 18, 2023
Disgusting. Second rate organization https://t.co/LJ04s7KgEQ
— Dylan Stone (@Drhiphopz) July 18, 2023
Others, meanwhile, joked that the extra revenue could boost Seattle’s odds of signing two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani to a historic free-agent contract next winter.
Thank you Canada for your donation to the Bring Ohtani to Seattle Fund https://t.co/IMkuCGZuAU
— Mariners Fun Differential (@FunDifferential) July 17, 2023
Getting that Ohtani Money 🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/RjSpOZty3D
— Lost Season (@PrimeKelenic) July 17, 2023
How generous of Blue Jays fans funding the #Ohtani2Seattle movement! https://t.co/qeQFyE2xfD
— Cam (@Camd3n_10) July 17, 2023
Either way, the energy level at T-Mobile Park is destined to be electric once again as Blue Jays and Mariners fans battle for superiority in the crowd while rooting for their respective teams, transforming it into a playoff-esque atmosphere.
The ballpark is sure to resemble a mixture of blue and green across the three-game set, during which Toronto will look to improve its 33-51 all-time record at T-Mobile Park/Safeco Field.
The Blue Jays were swept by the Mariners on last season’s trip, leading to former manager Charlie Montoyo’s firing just a few days later.