Seattle is the 15th largest media market in the United States, boasting a thriving economy and a passionate sports fanbase.
Unfortunately the Seattle Mariners remain an anomaly: a small-market franchise in a big city, struggling to capture a World Series title since their inception in 1977.
This paradox has frustrated fans and analysts alike. Baseball on the west coast is like football in the SEC.
Even when the team has never won a title and cannot seem get over the hump of the larger market teams, the Seattle fanbase shows out year after year anyway.
In recent years though, the stadium has had one of the lowest attendance ratings in the entire league.
A playoff appearance, even a wildcard loss would certainly bring attention to the team though and this year if they hold on, they have a chance to finally get into the postseason as contenders.
So, why is it that a team in a booming metropolitan area struggle financially and competitively?
And why do attendance and revenue challenges persist despite the city of Seattle’s size, population and economy?
🏟️Small Market Ownership in a Big Market City
Ownership Structure Limits Investment
The Mariners are owned by a small group headed by John Stanton, who also controls Seattle Sounders FC.
Which, makes the Mariners struggles that much more intriguing, as the Sounders have won multiple titles over the past decade and under Stanton’s reign.
Unlike mega-rich owners in other markets (think the Dodgers’ Guggenheim group or the Yankees’ Steinbrenners), the Mariners’ ownership lacks deep pockets or willingness to consistently invest at elite levels.
Stanton’s ownership approach focuses on controlled spending and sustainable budgeting rather than all-in competitive spending.
In simpler terms, Stanton is wealthy but his net worth pails to that of larger market teams.
He simply cannot compete with other organizations and their ability to pay top talent huge contracts.
For instance, Jaun Soto Signed the Biggest Deal in MLB History over the 2024 MLB offseason with the New York Mets.
The Seattle Mariners front office could not have paid Soto anywhere near the same dollar amount.
This fact makes it much harder to get superstars to come to Seattle or to even stay in the city when their arbitration period ends and they become eligible to enter the free agency market.
At the end of the day, business is business and players are almost always going to choose the best dollar offer available to them.
Financial Constraints Translate to Payroll Limits
The Mariners consistently maintain one of the lower payrolls in MLB, often ranked 25th or below out of 30 teams.
This payroll restriction limits their ability to attract or retain star players, forcing reliance on player development and trades rather than free-agent signings.
However, this also leads to the Mariners being called a farm team by MLB fans and analysts alike and this statement seems to be true.
Seattle has had MVP caliber players in the city with Griffey Jr., Ichiro, A-Rod and now Cal Raleigh.
However time and time again, the Mariners were unable to keep their superstars around once it became time for their big paydays.
Cal Raleigh just signed a 6-yr/$105 million contract with the Mariners that now makes him the 3rd highest paid catcher in the league annually (~$17 million/yr).
Whether or not he stays after the 2031 MLB season is something for the future to decide, but it seems that Raleigh will be the exception to the rule of top talent players deciding to resign in Seattle.
🌆Market Realities vs. Baseball Economics
A Tech & Outdoor Hub
The city’s economy is booming thanks to tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and Boeing, driving population growth and median incomes.
But this prosperity doesn’t directly translate into big spending on baseball. Seattle sports fans split loyalties across multiple teams.
The Seahawks (NFL), Sounders (MLS), Kraken, (NHL) and Mariners (MLB) all compete for attention and entertainment dollars.
Ticket Pricing and Fan Engagement Issues
Mariners attendance regularly ranks in the bottom third of MLB, with average attendance hovering around 22,000 per game, despite T-Mobile Parks’ ~47,000-seat capacity.
Factors include weather conditions, team performance, and marketing challenges.
When the city is raining and cold a majority of the year and towards the end of the season when baseball truly matters most, plus the team is failing to compete on the diamond.
It makes it hard for fans to show out consistently. However, when the Mariners are doing well and the sunshine finally does come down on the city, there is a reason that the stadium seats up to 47k.
Without full stadiums, revenue streams from tickets, concessions, and merchandise remain limited.
This is also why we see Rising Ticket Prices across the league even for teams that are not performing at a playoff level.
Media Market Does Not Equal Market Penetration
While Seattle is a large media market, Mariners broadcast rights and sponsorship deals are modest compared to larger-market teams.
Regional sports network deals bring revenue but don’t approach markets like New York or Los Angeles.
This constrains media income and franchise valuation.
🏆Why Has Seattle Never Won a World Series?
Limited Spending and Star Power
Competing in an era dominated by cash-rich franchises, the Mariners’ low payroll restricts access to top-tier free agents and star players who could push them over the championship hump.
High Turnover of Talent
The team frequently develops promising players but sells or trades them due to budget limits or rebuilding phases.
This disrupts team continuity and long-term championship planning.
Competitive Division
The American League West also has powerhouses like the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers, making postseason qualification harder.
The Astros, Rangers and Angels organizations all have deeper pockets than the Seattle Mariners, making them not as financially desirable as other teams in the same division.
Add in the weather difference between California and Texas and Seattle drops to the bottom of the list for player interest in the AL West.
🔮Will Anyone Ever “Come to Seattle” for Baseball?
- Challenges for Free Agents:
- Smaller contract offers
- Weather concerns (frequent rain, cooler climate)
- Competing entertainment options
Potential Bright Spots
The growth of Seattle’s tech economy over the past decade may lead to new ownership investment or innovative revenue streams.
Recent efforts to boost fan engagement, including dynamic ticket pricing and community outreach, aim to fill seats and grow revenue.
Spending Habits
Despite Seattle’s size and wealth, the Mariners remain a small-market baseball team by ownership philosophy, spending habits, and market dynamics.
Without a significant shift in ownership investment or an unexpected surge of talent and luck, the franchise’s quest for a first World Series championship continues to face uphill battles.
Want Every APSM Report In One Place?
The APSM Master Report Bundle includes all current APSM reports:
- Travis Hunter’s 2025 Net Worth Valuation
- Tyrese Haliburton’s 2025 Net Worth Valuation
- 7 Ways Athletes Build Wealth
- 7 Ways Athletes Go Broke
- (Will Include future additions of reports as APSM grows)
You’ll Get:
- Deep financial literacy designed through a sports lens
- Net Worth projections, contract forecasts & tax modeling
- Wealth frameworks & risk analysis
- Lifetime value mapping for both athletes and professionals
The most valuable way to learn the game of money through APSM.
Next Reads
- How the Dodgers’ Ownership Built a Multi-Billion Dollar Sports Empire
- How the Detroit Tigers Rebuilt their Franchise
- How Analytics Is Changing Baseball Finance
- Highest-Paid MLB Players of 2025
- Juan Soto Signs the Biggest Contract in MLB History
Credits
Written by: Aidan Anderson
Research and Analysis: Apostle Sports Media LLC
Sources: MLB.com database, Forbes Sports Money, Seattle Times, SBJ, Bloomberg, Baseball Prospectus, APSM Proprietary Analysis.
Featured Image: Public Domain / Wiki Commons
Disclaimer: This article contains general financial information for educational purposes and does not constitute as professional advice.
“But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
– John 4:14
Apostle Sports Media 