Mariners to Utilize Cheney Stadium for “Taxi Squad” Practices, Simulated Games Beginning July 27

*TACOMA, WA – *Cheney Stadium will host the Seattle Mariners “taxi squad” for a 70-day period during the Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season beginning Monday, July 27. Seattle’s players, field staff, Cheney Stadium staff and media who enter the facility will be required to follow COVID-19 safety protocols as directed by MLB and state and local health officials.

Mariners players and field staff entering Cheney Stadium for daily practices will be tested for coronavirus every other day and undergo frequent temperature checks. Any Cheney Stadium staff and media who enter the facility will undergo a temperature check and health screening. The stadium will also be used for Tacoma Defiance soccer, which is scheduled to return to Cheney Stadium for USL Championship matches without fans beginning on Saturday, July 18.

“The Rainiers have always been great to work with, and their willingness to jump in and host our squad is another great example of this,” said Jerry Dipoto, the Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations. “We are lucky to have a facility and staff of the caliber of Tacoma to partner with and are very appreciative of the efforts of the Tacoma franchise.”

“Professional baseball is meant to be played in front of big crowds, and has brought Americans together – like no other sport – since its inception,” said Tacoma Rainiers President Aaron Artman. “But this is the next best thing, and Mariners baseball at Cheney Stadium, in any form, is good news.”

At this time, fans will not be permitted to enter Cheney Stadium. Credentialed media will have limited access to the Commencement Bank Summit Club and designated areas in the seating bowl for select taxi squad events.

Always Together. We R Tacoma.

About the Tacoma Rainiers

The Tacoma Rainiers are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Tacoma has been a member of the Pacific Coast League since Cheney Stadium opened in 1960, and has been a Mariners affiliate since establishing the Rainiers moniker in 1995.

The most up-to-date news and notes about the Tacoma Rainiers and Cheney Stadium can be found at WeRTacoma.com, or by following the Rainiers on Twitter (@RainiersLand), Instagram (@tacomarainiers) and liking the team on Facebook.

We R Tacoma Team Store

The We R Tacoma Team Store is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT, and is always available online. Grab your Rainiers gear, your Defiance ‘fit, and follow the team store on Instagram and Twitter.

COVID-19 Information

More information on social distancing and how to prevent the spread of Covid-19 can be found at Tacoma-Pierce County Health. The most up-to-date information on how COVID-19 is affecting events at Cheney Stadium can be found here.