SEATTLE, WA – The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and Muckleshoot Casino Resort have partnered with the Seattle Mariners. The collaboration, which includes the designation of Exclusive Casino Partner, will allow the organizations to work together to impact the broader community throughout the Pacific Northwest.
“Indigenous culture is steeped in gameplay as a way to strengthen communities, nurture resilience, and advance wellness,” said Junior Maldonado, Muckleshoot Casino Resort Executive Director of Gaming Operations. “These connective values drive our shared identity with the Mariners. We are grateful for the opportunity to educate fans on the Muckleshoot heritage as this region’s first caretakers and to empower new generations to dream bigger.”
“This partnership is the result of two organizations coming together who share common values and beliefs,” said Catie Griggs, Seattle Mariners President of Business Operations. “We are excited to celebrate the tribe’s culture and traditions with fans at T-Mobile Park, while providing enhanced baseball and softball access to more children throughout our region.”
As part of the collaboration, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and the Mariners will host five baseball and softball camps featuring trainers who are former college and professional players, in areas where access to baseball and softball programming has been limited. The organizations also will work together to create a new after-school baseball and softball youth development program at the Muckleshoot Tribal School. The initiative will focus on middle school students, an age group that experiences the highest drop off for access to play.
Additionally, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe will support organizations that align with the Mariners Care Foundation’s core areas of focus. These organizations include Seattle Foundation’s Fund for Inclusive Recovery, which helps meet the critical needs of people most impacted by the pandemic, and Downtown Emergency Service Center, which serves thousands of homeless and formerly homeless people through low-barrier health services, survival services, and permanent housing.
Since being unveiled in March, the Muckleshoot Diamond Club has had tribal art and mural installations integrated throughout the space. From hand-painted baseball bats utilizing Coast Salish design to hand-carved canoes and paddles, the artwork showcases the Muckleshoot Tribe’s deep roots within the region. Additionally, a variety of wall maps representing the tribe’s ancestral hunting and fishing grounds and historic photos reflecting the tribe’s journey are carefully placed throughout the space. Adorned with designs of spears, four exterior Diamond Club seats are used to recognize members of the community who are making a positive impact.
During select homestands, fans can experience tribal-inspired fare in the Muckleshoot Diamond Club. Created in partnership with Muckleshoot Casino Executive Chef Andreas Hartmann and his culinary team, new menu offerings include fry bread, burlap-steamed Manila clams, salmon cake sliders, and tribal foods.
For the upcoming Native American Heritage Night presented by Muckleshoot Casino Resort on Monday, August 28, Muckleshoot tribal artists created a limited-edition Mariners jersey that will be given away to the first 10,000 fans ages 21+ through the gates.
