Seattle is a sports city, no one could argue that. Not only is it home to six professional sports teams, but it’s also brought home 21 national & international professional team championships, including, four WNBA championships, three NWSL Shields, two MLS Cups, and a Super Bowl. And this past summer Seattle played host to the MLB All-Star Game.
In addition to the great teams that call Seattle home, the city also boasts some of the greatest fans in the country, all proudly wearing their team colors. Fans can also easily enjoy the city game vibe as each of the three primary professional sports venues is in the city center of Seattle. This means visitors could easily fly into the airport and hop on the local transit train to catch a game in about an hour, all without ever needing a car.
Whether you’re a local looking to jump into the Seattle sports spirit, or you’re a visitor hoping to catch a great game, here’s a fan guide to help you plan your visit.
Lumen Field
The largest venue in Seattle is Lumen Field. It’s home to the Seattle Seahawks (NFL), Seattle Sounders (MLS), and Seattle Reign FC (NWSL). Lumen Field is in the SODO neighborhood and near the Pioneer Square neighborhood of Seattle, which is the oldest neighborhood in the city. Lumen Field is also host to a variety of seasonal events and concerts throughout the year.
Getting to Lumen Field is easy if you’re walking or taking transit. Lumen Field is about a 15–20-minute walk from the downtown district and popular attractions like Pike Place Market. It’s also conveniently located next to the Intl. District / Chinatown Station for the Seattle Link Light Rail train and easily accessible by Sound Transit trains and buses. Driving to games can be hectic as the roads and interstate can back up. If you are driving, plan to arrive early and allow extra time and patience for traffic.
Here’s a local’s tip, when picking your seats at Lumen Field, keep in mind that the east side does have more sun exposure, and if you’re worried about Seattle rain, you’ll want to avoid Section 100 seats in rows A to Z, as well as the two end zone sections that don’t have cover.
Where to Eat
While there are delicious food options inside Lumen Field, if you’re looking to grab a bite to eat before or after a game, here are some recommendations nearby.
- Hatback Bar & Grille + Steelheads Alley: sports pub that will for sure be crowded but is perfect for those who love the game day vibe experience. Steelheads Alley is a craft brewery that shares the space with Hatback Bar & Grille and was created as a tribute to the 1946 Seattle Steelheads Negro League baseball team.
- Darkalino’s: this fabulous Italian cafe is located next to Occidental Square and has amazing food as well as a sneaker wall that will make any shoe enthusiast drool.
- 13 Coins: a Seattle classic with an Italian-American-inspired menu and a great interior with high-back booths as the signature touch. I highly recommend the Cookie Extreme for dessert!
Where to Stay
Seattle has some amazing hotels, and with Lumen Field located so close to downtown it’s easy to find a great place to stay for a game.
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Seattle Downtown Pioneer Square: this isn’t the Embassy Suites of your childhood. This Pioneer Square location is a sleek high-rise, located next to Lumen Field and public transit. It also is one of the few hotels in Seattle that has a pool, not to mention free breakfast.
- Hotel 1000: this luxury boutique hotel is conveniently located on 1st Ave S near Pike Place Market and is within convenient walking distance to Lumen Field. It has one of the coolest amenities for sports fans, a virtual game simulator called The Nineteenth, where you can play a round of golf as well as test your skills as a quarterback and soccer forward, and even zombie dodgeball.
Teams that Play at Lumen Field
Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field @stuffedsuitcase
Let’s kick off with one of our championship teams that plays in our largest sports venue, Lumen Field. The Seattle Seahawks are our championship NFL team and almost always play in front of sold-out crowds. Their season begins in the late summer and runs through the first of the year. Seahawks fans are affectionately known as “The 12s” and you’ll see plenty of 12 flags in the stadium. The stadium was also just voted the Best NFL Stadium by USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
Tickets can be purchased at seahawks.com through Ticketmaster.
Seattle Sounders FC Men’s Soccer
Seattle Sounders FC at Lumen Field @stuffedsuitcase
Fans who love to watch soccer, aka football, won’t want to miss catching a Seattle Sounders game at Lumen Field. The atmosphere is electric with a top-notch lineup and some of the best fans in the country. The Sounders are a championship team, bringing home two MLS cups, the U.S. Open Cup four times, the Supporters’ Shield, and most recently the Concacaf Champions League trophy in 2022. With Seattle being one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the soccer vibe of the city will only grow stronger.
Get game match tickets at soundersfc.com.
Seattle Reign FC Women’s Soccer
Seattle Reign FC at Lumen Field @stuffedsuitcase
Even if you’re not a soccer fan, you’ve probably heard the name Megan Rapinoe. She’s made her mark in the women’s sports field and has called Seattle and the Reign FC home for over a decade. This past season (2023) Megan retired from soccer, but there are plenty of great names still gracing the pitch at Lumen Field.
The Seattle Reign FC was founded in 2012 and is one of eight inaugural members of the National Women’s Soccer League. In 2022, the Reign started playing their home games at Lumen Field and opened the sport to a larger audience and more central venue. As with the Sounders above, the Seattle fans love their hometown Reign FC. Be sure to pack a bit of blue and red to join in the crowd of cheering spectators.
If you’re looking to watch some women’s sports in Seattle and can’t attend a game in person, head to Rough & Tumble Pub in Old Ballard. It’s a fabulous sports pub with multiple big screens all tuned into women’s sports. Plus they have some pretty great Seattle sports memorabilia on display as well!
Buy your game match tickets at reignfc.com.
T-Mobile Park
T-Mobile Park is a beautiful sports venue as it brings a bit of old brick charm together with modern-day amenities like a retractable roof and amazing dining options. If you’re planning to catch a Mariners game at T-Mobile, you should plan to eat in the stadium. A few of the top choices is Moto Pizza, a ma-and-pa shop that started in their house and sells out months in advance – unless you’re grabbing a slice at the stadium. And Marination features Hawaiian-inspired dishes like a Luau Plate that includes marinated meat with sides of rice, Hawaiian-style macaroni salad, and signature slaw.
Located in SODO, next to Lumen Field, and within fair walking distance of downtown, T-Mobile Park is easy to access. Hop on a public transit bus or train or join the crowds of locals who walk to the games. You can also grab a taxi at the stand on the corner of First Avenue South and South Royal Brougham Way, which is located on the NW corner of the stadium.
One of the unique areas at T-Mobile Park is “The Pen”. This area is in center field and opens two hours before game time, you must enter before the main gates open 90 minutes before game time. Visitors can watch pitchers warm up while they enjoy some food, drinks, and socializing. They even have a happy hour special the first hour of opening with $7.50 draft beers.
The baseball season is often sunny in Seattle, if you’re attending an afternoon game you might want to try to avoid the sun. Choose seats behind home plate and along the third baseline, preferably further back in the lower sections or anywhere in the 300s.
Where to Eat
- Hatback Bar & Grille + Steelheads Alley: this sports pub is directly across from T-Mobile Park and features some pub favorites as well as some PNW seafood favorites. Steelheads Alley is a craft brewery that shares the space with Hatback Bar & Grille and was created as a tribute to the 1946 Seattle Steelheads Negro League baseball team.
- Sluggers: perfect spot if you’re looking for that quintessential hole-in-the-wall sports pub to grab a bite and a beer before or after the game.
- Slice Box Pizza: it’s a local favorite and the perfect spot to grab an east-coast style slice of pie, just keep in mind that they’re not open late and they only serve until they run out of dough.
Where to Stay
- Silver Cloud Hotel: you can’t get closer to the stadium than the Silver Cloud Stadium Hotel. The Silver Cloud also has a rooftop pool, perfect for those summer season ballgame days.
- citizenM Seattle Pioneer Square Hotel: this hotel has a trendy NYC hipster vibe and is conveniently located across from the Seattle ferry terminal – great for taking a day trip to Bainbridge Island before an evening game.
Teams that Play at T-Mobile Park
Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park @stuffedsuitcase
If you’re a baseball fan, you probably know the names Ken Griffey, Jr, Edgar Martinez, and Ichiro Suzuki. They are some of the historic stand-out Seattle Mariners players, and one of them even has a Seattle road named after him. Baseball is a summertime sport, and you can’t beat Seattle’s summer weather. There’s no better place to find yourself than at T-Mobile Park on a sunny summer day with America’s game being played while you enjoy some of the best food offered at any professional stadium. Oh, and don’t forget to bring your trident along…
With about 80 home games a season, it’s easy to grab a ticket to a game at mlb.com.
Climate Pledge Arena
The game arena that perhaps best fits in with the Seattle spirit is Climate Pledge Arena. It was originally built for the 1962 World’s Fair and more recently was known as Key Arena. The roof of the building was designed by architect Paul Thiry to look like a Native traditional cedar-woven rain hat, and it has National Landmark status.
But the bigger story about Climate Pledge Arena is that it’s the first arena in the world to achieve the International Living Future Institute Zero Carbon Certification. This arena isn’t emblazoned with a corporation’s name, instead, it’s named after The Climate Pledge. Which was founded by Amazon and Global Optimism in 2019 and is focused on helping companies to be net zero carbon by 2040.
Climate Pledge Arena is home to the Seattle Kraken and Seattle Storm. Hopefully, we’ll soon have an NBA team to add to that list. It’s located in the Seattle Center neighborhood, next to popular tourist attractions like the Space Needle and MoPOP. Getting to Seattle Center is easy, from downtown you can even take the Seattle Monorail to Seattle Center. Climate Pledge Arena tickets also come with a free public transit pass for the game – so consider using that benefit to save on parking.
Where to Eat
- Tyger Tyger: this is a family-owned, Sichuan-inspired restaurant with a great bar and directly across from Climate Pledge Arena. The perfect spot to eat with friends and share a variety of dishes.
- Willmott’s Ghost: for a unique, upscale dining experience head to the Amazon Spheres for some Italian-inspired dishes, including the best focaccia bread. Then grab an uber, public transit, or the Seattle Monorail uptown for the game.
Where to Stay
- The Westin Seattle: for visitors who want to enjoy the attractions of downtown as well as catch a game at Climate Pledge, The Westin Seattle is a great option. It’s located downtown and next to the monorail, making it easy to enjoy sites like Pike Place Market before riding the monorail to Seattle Center for a game at Climate Pledge Arena.
- Hyatt House Seattle/Downtown: if you want to be as close as possible to the game, the Hyatt House is your best option. It’s located next to the Space Needle, an 8-minute walk to the arena, and offers free breakfast for guests.
Teams that Play at Climate Pledge Arena
Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena @stuffedsuitcase
Release the Kraken! Seattle finally brought professional hockey back to the city in 2021, and the NHL Kraken made the playoffs last year in their second season. On New Year’s Day 2024, the Kraken hosted the NHL Winter Classic outdoors at T-Mobile Park. Goaltender Joey Daccord led the Kraken to a 3-0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights as he posted the first-ever Winter Classic shutout.
While the outdoor match was fun, you’ll find the Kraken at Climate Pledge and crowds pack the Seattle Center wearing their Kraken navy and teal as they converge on one of the coolest venues in the world.
Fans will want to make sure they’re there at least 30 minutes before the game so they can watch warm-ups, and then when the players are ready to take the ice for the game get ready for a production that is a perfect fit for this team that plays by the sea.
Grab your tickets at nhl.com/kraken.
Seattle Storm Women’s Basketball
Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena@stuffedsuitcase
The Seattle Storm has brought home 4 WNBA Championships to Seattle, and some of the most popular players have worn the jersey, including Sue Bird, who is now one of the all-women owners of the team. The team was bought out from the Seattle SuperSonics in 2008 when the men’s team moved to Oklahoma City. And with the WNBA getting more media attention than ever, it’s the perfect time to support women’s pro sports in Seattle.
Attending a Storm game is great for the whole family as there are special breaks and activities for kids, including a dance team and halftime shows like a performing chihuahua. Plus, anytime you can jam to AC/DC’s Thunderstruck before a game, you know action is about to happen. If it’s your first Storm game, know that fans remain standing at the start of each half until the Storm scores their first basket.
Their schedule runs from May to September and tickets can be purchased at storm.wnba.com.
Other Seattle Sports Teams to Watch
Beyond the professional sports teams of Seattle, there are plenty of other minor league teams as well as a top-ranked college football team.
UW Huskies Football at Husky Stadium@stuffedsuitcase
The University of Washington is one of the most beautiful college campuses in the US. And its stadium doesn’t disappoint with being settled on Union Bay and having a sailgating tradition that you likely won’t find anywhere else. The Huskies are a top-ranked collegiate team and local Seattle fans pack the stadiums wearing their purple and gold gear. And while you’re watching, keep your eye out for the adorable furry mascot, Dubs.
Where to Eat
For a cool collegiate game day experience buy a Dawg Boat ticket and coast your way to the game on the water. You’ll start off at Anthony’s Chinook’s at Salmon Bay restaurant with a special Dawg Boat brunch menu and then make your way onto a boat that will take you to the stadium and bring you back afterward. It’s a truly unique PNW experience, but you’ll have to buy your tickets early as they do sell out!
Where to Stay
Watertown Hotel Seattle: this trendy hotel chain is located close to campus and offers some great amenities to get around. They do have parking available if you’re driving, and your daily amenity fee includes bike rentals, which are perfect for heading to a UW game if you’re not up for walking.
What Game / Team Can I See If I’m Visiting Seattle In…
Are you a general sports fan and just want to know what professional game you might be able to watch when you’re visiting? Here’s a monthly guide to help you find a Seattle game. Keep in mind schedules vary slightly each year.
