If there’s one NFL team that relies on its home stadium crowd noise as a competitive advantage, it’s the Seattle Seahawks. With 70,000 empty seats at CenturyLink Field because of the coronavirus pandemic, fake noise will have to stand in for the celebrated “12th Man” for the foreseeable future. The NFL’s 32 teams will be using artificial crowd noise, supplied by the league, and pumped through stadium sound systems to replicate a bit of what happens during games and to make the entire experience sound a bit better for television. The Seahawks open the season at Atlanta on Sunday and… Read More
Seattle Mariners majority owner and chairman John Stanton thinks the country could really use some baseball right about now to help heal some of its ailments. To get there, his team and the rest of Major League Baseball are instituting measures for dealing with coronavirus which could serve as lessons for other businesses. “Baseball really does represent an important part of the national psyche,” Stanton said during a virtual fireside chat with Madrona Venture Group last week. “I believe that in my soul, and and for us to get back on the field is vitally important and it is something… Read More
You might not have what it takes to throw a pitch for the Seattle Mariners, but you can at least stand around on the mound and watch. Virtually at least. T-Mobile and the Mariners are teaming for another unique experience tied to the return of Major League Baseball, as they continue to look for ways to engage fans who can’t be at T-Mobile Park because of the coronavirus pandemic. On Monday, a 360-degree high definition livestream — riding on T-Mobile’s wireless network — will stream on the Mariners’ YouTube channel at 1:30 p.m. PT. Shot during batting practice, the livestream… Read More
Here’s what we’re talking about on the GeekWire Podcast this week. The world of the COVID-19 pandemic is unlike anything any of us has ever experienced. We covered three stories this week that give us a glimpse into how the virus is changing our lives: We’ll talk about the new realities of work, through the lens of a Seattle area startup that just ditched its physical office space. Then on to education, with the latest on what classes will look like at the University of Washington and other schools this fall. And finally, sports. For Seattle Mariners fans, “take me… Read More
If you’re going to root, root, root for Mariners in Seattle these days, you’re going to have to do it virtually as baseball has taken on a whole new look in the age of coronavirus. Nearly four months after the pandemic forced Major League Baseball to shut down Spring Training, the Mariners are now conducting Summer Camp exercises at T-Mobile Park ahead of a shortened, 60-game season set to start on July 24. Fans can tune in to livestreams on the team’s YouTube channel to catch pre-season workouts. Two sessions air daily, from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 to… Read More
