I'm scared to bid below 4* in downtown seattle but I never have a problem out at the airport 3*. It isn't that far and a rental car is cheaper than the differene between $80 4* downtown + $20+ if you need to park the car vs $32 3* airport pays for a lot of rental car and parking. yes there will be parking costs if you stay at airport or outlying and go downtown but weekend it isn't to bad if you are willing to walk a little / look for a good lot. I think Lake Union, Bellevue, Renton all just about same commute o r easier than airport but airport to get the cheap rental car. i go there a few times over the summers from Olympia to Tacoma to Seattle and usually we just stay at Seatac area because it is cheap and easy. Yes we go to Mariners games and Park n Ride from Bellevue is easy and the drive from SEA airport is easy too. if you rent a car and pay attention to game time, both start and finish, the traffic shoundn;'t be too bad otherwise at all on the weekend. usually only bad traffic right around Safeco I-5 near I-90 can be slow but it isn't NY or anything.