The Mariners will move home games from Seattle through the end of March following the state of Washington’s decision to ban large group events in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Seattle had been scheduled to open the season at Safeco Field with a four-game series against Texas from March 26-29, then host Minnesota in a three-game series from March 30 through April 1.
The Mariners say they are working with the commissioner’s office on alternative plans.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday announced a ban on all large gatherings in the three counties of the Seattle metro area through at least the end of March.
In their statement, the Mariners said: “While we hope to be back to playing baseball in Seattle as soon as possible, the health and safety of our community is the most important consideration.”
The team said that it will give credits to season-ticket holders for games missed and will automatically refund single-ticket buyers that purchased tickets through the Mariners.
Teams throughout the United States are canceling or changing games. The NBA’s Warriors said they will play all foreseeable home games without fans because of San Francisco’s ban of gatherings of over 1,000 people. That affects baseball’s Giants as well, who said they won’t play a home exhibition game against the A’s March 24 and are trying to make alternate plans.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.