SPOKANE, Wash. – MLB’s Seattle Mariners, in partnership with national sports youth training company, EL1 Sports, have opened a new training facility in Spokane, Wash.
The training center is part of a multi-year partnership between the organizations to foster equitable access and increase youth participation in baseball and softball.
Formerly known as the Warehouse, the facility is now owned and operated by EL1, bringing the total number of facilities across the Mariners’ five-state region to eight since the partnership was first announced in February 2023.
“Since entering our partnership with EL1, we’ve been able to collaborate on several impactful initiatives and are proud to extend into even more communities across Washington and Idaho,” says Nova Newcomer, Mariners’ director of community relations. “This expansion is a testament to the appetite for more baseball and softball in our region, the excitement these facilities have generated for local families, and the increased access we are committing to through this partnership.”
The training centers support team training and offer new camps, clinics, and one-on-one lesson programming to support increased accessibility for area athletes from beginners through the elite level. Since establishing the partnership, the organizations have hosted 50 event days at over 25 locations, supporting more than 5,000 athletes. Organizers aim to double the number of athletes served in 2024, reaching over 10,000 across the Mariners’ five-state market.
“As a Tacoma native, it has been an amazing experience working with the Mariners on an initiative that is truly making a difference for kids in our region,” says Jameel Cante, EL1 co-founder and chief innovation and impact officer. “From our activations at Seattle’s All-Star Week to partnerships with community leagues and organizations, in and outside facilities, we’re thrilled about the impact we’ve been able to make so far and look forward to continuing to expand our mission to make baseball and softball more accessible and equitable throughout the region.”
The grand opening for the Spokane facility was held on March 9, along with another opening in Meridian, Id., on March 10. A grand opening for the Port Orchard, Wash., will be held on March 23. In addition, representatives from the training centers made surprise visits to area schools.
EL1 Sports offers an extensive range of programming, from “quickball” for beginners to partnerships with MLB, The Alliance Fastpitch, the Mariners, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Pittsburgh Pirates. The company operates across 22 facilities and hundreds of communities nationwide.
