SPOKANE, Wash. — As the Mariners continue their playoff push, fans across Spokane are coming together to share the excitement — and few places were louder Wednesday night than The Swinging Doors in North Spokane.
Every table inside the longtime neighborhood sports bar was filled as fans watched Seattle take on the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. For many, it wasn’t just about the game — it was about community, tradition, and being part of something that hasn’t happened in decades.
“Been a Mariners fan since they came into existence in ’76,” said Ron Landris, who drove up from Clarkston to watch the game. “I remember the ‘Refuse to Lose’ days of ’95. It’s been a lot of long years — and a lot of really cool years.”
Landris said he still remembers being at the Kingdome for the team’s 1995 playoff run.
“After the game got over and the Mariners went into the dugout, nobody left,” he recalled. “Everyone just waited and waited until they came back out. It’s been a long time coming.”
Inside the bar, lifelong fans mingled with new generations who have only heard stories of those moments.
“I think it’s always more enjoyable to do things with family,” said George Nachtsheim, who watched the game with his son Cameron. “He knows all the players, and it’s just fun to be here together.”
“We started going to games back in the Kingdome days,” Cameron added. “I can’t imagine how electric it is in the stadium right now, but I’m sure it’s insane — everyone’s waited so long for this chance to get to the World Series.”
At The Swinging Doors, that shared excitement could be felt from wall to wall — from trivia players at one end of the bar to fans waving rally towels at the other.
Even if the Mariners don’t make it all the way, fans say the team’s run has already given Spokane something to rally around — together.
