The Seattle Mariners have ended their legal challenge against the opening of a new strip club, DreamGirls, near Safeco Field. The agreement stipulates that the club will use discreet signage on its business.

Legal Dispute and Resolution

The Seattle Mariners had previously filed a formal objection with the city against plans for a strip club to open at 1530 First Ave. S., approximately 400 feet from Safeco Field. The team argued that this location violated a city ordinance prohibiting adult cabarets within 800 feet of community centers, public parks, open spaces, schools, and child-care facilities. The Mariners contended that Safeco Field, a place where children gather, should be considered a protected area under these city rules.

Roger Forbes, a Seattle adult-entertainment businessman and owner of Deja Vu Showgirls, sought to open DreamGirls, a sister operation of Deja Vu, at the specified location. His lawyer, Peter Buck, stated that the city had already approved adult entertainment for the site and argued that the law applied to public parks, not ballparks. Rebecca Hale, Mariners Director of Public Information, emphasized that the team's concern was primarily about proximity, noting that tens of thousands of students attend games on game days.

King County Superior Court Judge John Erlick ruled in June that the city had properly granted a permit to the club, finding it consistent with land-use rules defining a park and open space. The Mariners filed a notice of appeal in July following this ruling. The club's operators had delayed remodeling the site due to the ongoing appeal.

Under the settlement announced on a Monday, the Mariners agreed to drop their appeal of Judge Erlick's ruling. In exchange, DreamGirls pledged to use discreet signs on the business. This resolution concludes the legal fight that the Mariners initiated against the city, in which they argued the club violated an ordinance barring adult cabarets within 800 feet of specific public areas.

The Proposed Establishment

DreamGirls, a sister operation of Deja Vu, is planned for 1530 First Ave. S. This location is about 400 feet from the main entrance to Safeco Field. Roger Forbes, the businessman behind the venture, plans for the facility to be 5,000 square feet. The Seattle Department of Planning & Development had previously returned plans for the project to Deja Vu for corrections, with the review set to continue upon their resubmission.

Safeco Field Context

Safeco Field, now known as T-Mobile Park, is located at 1250 First Avenue South in Seattle, Washington. It opened on July 15, 1999, and has been the home of the Seattle Mariners (MLB) since then. The stadium has a baseball capacity of 47,368. The Mariners' initial opposition to the strip club was rooted in the belief that the ballpark, as a gathering place for children, should be protected by city rules regarding the proximity of adult entertainment businesses.

Key Facts

  • The Seattle Mariners dropped their legal challenge against the DreamGirls strip club.
  • DreamGirls, a sister operation of Deja Vu, will be located at 1530 First Ave. S.
  • The club's location is approximately 400 feet from Safeco Field.
  • The settlement requires DreamGirls to use discreet signs on its business.
  • King County Superior Court Judge John Erlick had previously ruled in favor of the club's permit.
  • Roger Forbes is the Seattle adult-entertainment businessman behind DreamGirls.