Unlike most World Cup stadiums, Seattle Stadium — nee Lumen Field — is well connected by mass transit. There are more than 20 King County Metro bus lines, two light rail lines, a streetcar, both regional and national trains, and the ferry that all have stops that effectively serve the stadium. Also unlike many World Cup cities, normal fares apply, and frequency will increase.
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That’s good because it’s going to be even harder to park near the stadium than you’re probably used to. About 20 square blocks north of the stadium will be completely closed to car traffic at least four hours before kickoff and parking will be banned in that area starting at 2 AM the day of the game.
If you come in a car, you will walk farther than if you take mass transit, and parking will be expensive if you can find it.
Courtesy of Seattle.gov
Here’s a rundown of the options:
- Bus: Metro will add 60 buses for gamedays and 30–40 on non-matchdays during the tournament. A shuttle will also connect Seattle Center, the waterfront, downtown and the stadium district on match days. If you’re anywhere downtown, head to Third Avenue and you’ll likely find a bus heading to the stadium.
- Light Rail: Sound Transit recently connected its two main Link Light Rail lines by opening the world’s first floating train bridge, crossing Lake Washington alongside I-90 and dramatically expanding the region’s frequent transit footprint. During the tournament, trains will run every eight minutes on both the 1 Line (north-south from Federal Way to Lynnwood) and the 2 Line (Redmond through Bellevue, connecting at International District/Chinatown station before heading north to Lynnwood). Stadium, International District and Pioneer Square stations are all within easy walking distance of the stadium.
- Streetcar: Seattle has two disconnected streetcar lines — one running from South Lake Union to Westlake Center, the other from Capitol Hill through First Hill and down South Jackson into the International District (truncated at S. Jackson Street & 5th Avenue during the tournament). It’s definitely the slowest mass transit option but it can save you some walking.
- Ferry: Washington runs the largest ferry service in the United States and second largest in the world, with many lines serving downtown Seattle. During the tournament, Washington State Ferries will have 20 of its 21 boats in service, with most running from Bremerton and Bainbridge Island to the Seattle Waterfront — about a 10-minute walk from Seattle Stadium. Fast ferries will also run passenger service between West Seattle, Bremerton, Kingston and Seattle until midnight on match days. Keep in mind the fast ferries are all walk-on, meaning no cars.
- Regional Train: The Sounder connects Seattle to Everett in the north and Tacoma in the south. The North Line will run special trains on all matchdays; the South Line will run its normal weekday service for weekday matches and special trains on weekends. If you’re coming from outside the Seattle area, this might be your best bet as the light rail park-and-rides tend to fill up quickly.
- Bikes & Scooters: Few American cities can match Seattle’s bike infrastructure, and what makes it accessible to visitors is the abundance of bikes and scooters available to rent off the street. Although Seattle is notoriously hilly, the electric motors in these two-wheeled options help level things out considerably. You’ll find them throughout the city, especially wherever tourists gather — Seattle Center, for instance, is roughly a 15-minute ride from the stadium. Seattle just completed the Elliott Bay Trail that now connects Magnolia to West Seattle and includes a fully separate lane along the waterfront. The Burke-Gilman trail is 19 miles that runs mostly along the ship canal and connects Ballard to Bothell on the north end of Lake Washington. Last year, the “Bike Line” was createad that put signage along several different bike trails and connects Ballard to Seattle Center.
Look, the World Cup is a different kind of sporting event. If you’re used to getting in and out of a sporting event as quickly as possible, you’re going to be frustrated. Plan ahead, allow yourself to linger and take advantage of the numerous ways you can get out of your car.
