The Mariners and Coors Light yesterday announced a new three-year sponsorship agreement that will see Coors Light become the team's official beer. As part of the deal, The Rail Bar in The 'Pen, presented by Root Sports, will be rebranded the Coors Light Rail Bar and Coors Light will be the presenting sponsor of the Root Sports Mariners pregame program before every Mariners home game. Coors Light also will mark the Mariners' 35th anniversary this summer with a series of pint glasses that will feature the likenesses of former Mariners Jay Buhner, Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez. Other elements of the agreement include placement of the Coors Light brand on the Safeco Field main center field scoreboard as well as on rotating home plate signage and LED ribbon boards (Mariners). In Seattle, Nick Eaton noted Budweiser has served as the Mariners' official beer for 30 years and he wrote, "Here in the microbrew mecca, it's a little disappointing that the official beer of the Seattle Mariners is Coors Light." Eaton: "Don't worry. If you love Budweiser and other beers, you will still be able to buy those at the game" (SEATTLEPI.com, 3/6).
