Article: Mariners take show outdoors Safeco Field opens with retractable roof in Seattle

After 221/2 seasons of being confined to the artificial light and sterile atmosphere of the nearby Kingdome, fans of the Seattle Mariners were welcomed to baseball in the great outdoors Thursday night.

Safeco Field opened its doors -- and its retractable roof -- much to the delight of a sold-out crowd of 44,607 as a new era began for a franchise that had one foot out of the city as recently as four years ago.

Despite a forecast for showers, Mother Nature cooperated enough to allow the interleague game between the Mariners and San Diego Padres to begin with the unique roof opened. Or, as the designers insist, retracted.

"I didn't think I'd ever see this day," said longtime Mariners ...

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