Seattle Mariners: King's Court and 5 More Player-Inspired Seating Sections

The Seattle Mariners attendance numbers are on a pace to yet again hit a record low, and management needs to find ways to stop the downfall.

Losing 12 games in a row, oddly enough, isn't the way.

The creation of the Felix Hernandez-inspired King's Court, is.

Every time Felix pitches at home, the fans in sections 149 and 150 in the right field corner are treated to a truly unique experience. In a nutshell, they all get a free yellow Felix T-shirt and go nuts. People dress up, people are treated to chicken legs and so on. 

It's an event that's giving life to a stadium that, otherwise, is losing its pulse.

So why stop at the King's Court? 

Here are some other ideas that might get fans excited again and back in the seats.

The Smoaking Section

Justin Smoak has seen his batting average fall dangerously low recently, and if giving him his own cheering section doesn't turn this slump around, I don't know what will.

As far as the area, I'd probably make it somewhere around the 115 and 116 sections, so the "Smoakers" would still be on the first base line, but Justin wouldn't be too distracted by his adoring fans.

This would also give them a chance to battle it out for his foul balls.

The T-shirts would obviously have a cross or anything religious on the front, and say, "Holy Smoak."

And if Smoak homers on one of his special nights? 

Set off fireworks (you know, because they make smoke), free haircut at Great Clips (because at every Sounders game, they are begging to give those away) for everyone in his section, and a free T-shirt for everyone in the stadium.

That'll give everyone an incentive to go, and it will create a buzz every time he comes to bat.  

Area 51

Ichiro has probably lost more fans than he's gained in the past few months, and creating some excitement around him couldn't be a bad thing. 

Area 51 would be made up of sections 108 and 109, right behind the right field fence.

Promotion?

T-shirts with a big map of Roswell, New Mexico on them, and a free Ichi-roll to everyone in his section every time he draws a walk.

Also, free Japanese flags to everyone in the stadium whenever he collects four hits on one of his special nights. That should help with the international crowd.  

Death to Ticket Prices

Franklin "Death to Flying Things" Gutierrez, while constantly spectacular in the field, has been "Death to Base Hits" at the plate.

Still though, on this young team, he is one of the most notable players with a loving fanbase. 

As for the promotion, super low ticket prices and a free T-shirt for the center field bleachers will do. Those seats are already cheap, so say $15 for a ticket and a shirt. Not a bad deal at all.

Throw in the fact that those sections already attract plenty of rowdy college students, and "Death to Ticket Prices" nights will be bonkers out in center field.

Every time Guti' homers on one of his nights, beer prices are slashed in half for 45 minutes.

Eh, on second thought, probably not the best idea...

On third thought, he probably won't be homering anytime soon... 

The "Dust"in Bowl

During a year when everyone has struggled to hit, Dustin Ackley's immediate success at the plate has made him a hero around these parts. He's absolutely deserving of his own section.

There's no great place for the "Dust"in Bowl, but putting it somewhere on the third base line seems like a good enough spot.

As far as promotions, I'm running a little short on ideas. In the King's Court, the most enthusiastic fan at each game receives a chicken leg, so how about this:

The best fan in Ackley's section receives some BBQ ribs? You know, because, uh, Ackley is from North Carolina, and they are famous for good barbecue.

Also, every time Ackely homers, 20 randomly selected fans in his section will get a free ticket, and 100 randomly selected fans throughout the rest of the stadium will get one.

If that doesn't draw fans, we might as well shut the stadium down.  

The Prince's Manor

I realize Michael Pineda's official nickname hasn't been deemed Prince, yet, but if you have the King's Court, you might as well have the Prince's Manor.

It can be everything Felix's section is, but smaller.

The sections for the Prince's Manor will be in the left field bleachers (Kings get better seats than Princes, clearly).

Everyone in the section will have "K" signs, but they will be small.

The best fan in the section at each game will receive a tiny chicken leg.

Prices will be smaller.

And so on.