You can have these ideas for free, Kevin Martinez!
The Seattle Mariners season to season in their history haven’t always had the best on-field product to root for, but something the organization has always been elite at is leaning into the Fun Differential, be it from humorous commercials (which made their glorious return this year) or from inspired giveaway promotions. The last several years they have developed a young core that broke the playoff drought, set records both team and individual, bursting with energy and personality, and that core appears to be hitting its stride. If you thought the Fun Differential was good with the teams before, then this year, You’re Gonna Love These Guys.
Now, the marketing team under Kevin Martinez certainly doesn’t need any help, but I am going to suggest a few ideas they can have for free just in case they want to use them. This year’s team is stacked with players top to bottom worth rooting for, and there are so many interesting ways that you can play off of that, so maybe just maybe these ideas will be new or at the very least inspire some new ideas of their own.
Note: an original draft of this article included the “Big Dumper Trucking T-Shirt Giveaway”—but of course those marketing whizzes at the Mariners beat us to the idea. On May 10 the Mariners will host The Dump Yard, a specially-priced $29 Main Level ticket for Friday, May 10 against the A’s. Tickets will include a special “Big Dumper Trucking” t-shirt. Please go and fill out the section so the Mariners are forced to promote something called the Dump Yard several times a year. We all deserve this. Deadline to purchase is May 9 at 5 PM PT.
Promotional Giveaway Themed Games
Trawlers and Tridents Dice Night
It may come as little surprise to many that the city known for being a tech industry hub also has a lot of people who are proud nerds. Dungeons and Dragons has long been a staple for many who would claim such a title, and in recent years due to the pandemic and the success of projects like Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves the role-playing game and others like it are even starting to drift into the mainstream. A lot of these games use a specific set of dice with varying numbers of sides, the most notable and unique of them of course being the 20 sided die, or a d20.
The Mariners can capitalize on this trend with a relatively low cost to produce item that adults and children alike would get excited for. Imagine a d20 system dice set, all in glorious Northwest Green/teal, and as is common in custom dice sets, a golden trident instead of the 20 on the d20. It would be guaranteed to be a critical hit.
Oops, All Aces Playing Cards Night
Even though they ultimately were off to a rocky start to the season, the Mariners rotation very well may be the best in the league. That happens when you have not one, not two, not three, but four players who arguably can make legitimate claims to “ace” status, although the definition of ace is admittedly not a universally agreed upon one. (Bryan Woo is still working towards a full return to health, but would any of us be surprised if he makes me come back and edit in a “five”?) Luis Castillo. Logan Gilbert. George Kirby. Bryce Miller. (Bryan Woo).
You can get Mariners themed playing cards in the Team Store and on their web store, but this deck would be special. Mariners themed on the backs of course, but it would come with 53 suited cards. Why 53? Because it would come with five aces, with one of each of the Mariners rotation on each of the aces. Why five? So that like the Mariners, you, too, can always have an ace up your sleeve.
George Kirby in Dreamland Plush Giveaway (sponsored by Nintendo?)
The connection between George Kirby and the mononym Nintendo character that shares his last name is an obvious one, but the team’s connection to Nintendo goes much deeper than that. Nintendo is a former majority owner of the Seattle Mariners, and after they sold their majority shares in 2016 they even retained a 10% stake in ownership. When George Kirby is on the mound it may be Nightmare in Dreamland for the opposing batters, but a collaboration between the Mariners and Nintendo for a Kirby plush in Mariners gear could be a dream come true for a lot of fans. And, given George’s choice of post game wear, it would seem he approves of the connection as well.
Los Bomberos Collectible Firetruck Night
Although the use of the nickname has fizzled a bit since it made its cinematic debut a few years ago, the inspiration behind the name and now burgeoning leader of the reliever corps has thrived in the time since. Andrés Muñoz coined the name Los Bomberos, inspired by his desire as a kid to grow up and be a firefighter, and of course his role on his team to come in and put out fires more metaphorical.
The Mariners are no stranger to doing promotional nights in celebration of emergency response workers, and this could be a special one where they invite local firefighters specifically to celebrate them, in conjunction with a giveaway of a Mariners themed collectible firetruck. A toy for the kids, a collectible for the adults, fun for all. Make it a weekend night game, and plan to bring back the light flickers and sirens with a call to the pen. Maybe they don’t call on Andrés Muñoz that night, but the odds are strong there will be one if not multiple relievers that could be called on that night just as worthy of the fanfare.
Rojas Colored Glasses Night
Admittedly, this one making the list is a little bit of laughing at my own joke, and a little bit patting myself on the back all in one. Not long after the trade that sent Paul Sewald to Arizona and brought in return Josh Rojas, Dominic Canzone, and Josh Rojas, I appeared on Meet at the Mitt, formerly known as The Lookout Landing podcast. After looking at Josh’s profile, including a former higher status as a prospect middle infielder that had since lost a little of its shine, I noticed a similarity. Or, as I put it, a “Rojas colored glasses” way of looking at the trade. In Rojas I saw a hitter who could make a similar turn-around and impact as another Seattle had put their faith in, a player by the name of JP Crawford. (Shout out to Kate who was on the same podcast, and all of the other Rohomies who have been with us every step of the way.)
Since then Josh Rojas has posted 1.2 fWAR and 113 wRC+ in 171 plate appearances. Sure, that may not be setting the world on fire, but that is exceptional for a player being used as a platoon/utility infielder. Last year those reps were primarily at second base, this year he is splitting time with Luis Urías at third. If his success continues why not honor him with his own promotional night? A pair of rose-red tinted sunglasses with a graphic of Josh either on the lens or on the earpieces so you, too, can see the world through Rojas colored lenses.
Away From the Park Events
For these ideas to work, more planning would need to be done. My thinking is this could be an All-Star Break team sponsored one day event, at some sort of outdoor venue. The usual invite of food vendors and merchandise, games, etc that you might find at a festival or fair should of course feature, but it would also be a fun opportunity to do some new and unique events that would stick in the memories of fans for years to come.
Nothing But Net Dunk Contest – Sponsored by the Seattle Kraken
This idea puts a new twist on an old favorite. The dunk contest part of putting someone, in this case likely a Mariners player, coach, or manager (sorry, Scott), remains the same. Only, in a fun cross promotional twist this wouldn’t just be throwing balls at a target in an attempt to sink the player, at least it halfway wouldn’t be that. Instead, notable names from the lineup of the Seattle Kraken would be getting in on the fun, and the target to dunk the players would be in a hockey net. The Kraken representatives would attempt to dunk the Mariners ones throwing baseballs, and some Kraken reps could brave the tank with Mariners folks doing their best to slap-shot them into the water. During the season we may root for them to raise Tridents Up, but on one hot day in summer it could be enjoyable to Sea Them Splash.
The Sing Out or Strikeout Dueling Karaoke Contest
Karaoke in my experience can always be a fun activity with the right group of people, no matter your skill level, and even though this would be a contest the aim is for fun not skill. Two separate karaoke contests would happen. First, a limited number of fans, likely chosen in advance for screening and logistical planning purposes, would participate in a karaoke contest. Winners could be selected with an old-fashioned “cheer for the winner” voting system enforced by some guest judges. The second contest? Not fans, but Mariners players and staff. Walk-up song? Give us a rock-up song! The prize for the winning fan can even be something fun like a meet and greet and signed gear from the winning Mariner, adding an element of surprise to the results.
Whether the marketing team decides to use these ideas or any that are like them is moot. The rough start to the 2024 season had many fans in a funk about the state of the team, and perhaps more than we should have we forgot just how fun these guys are. A deck full of aces. A generational superstar, and he isn’t going anywhere. A team full of players both stalwart and plucky to choose from for your favorites, and a million different ways you and I could think of to celebrate them. Have some ideas of your own? Sound off in the comments below, we would love to hear them.