The $430 million CenturyLink Field and Exhibition Center, venue for the 2011 Apple Cup between Washington and Washington State, opened in mid-2002. It is owned by the public and funded by a public-private partnership, with the public contributing up to $300 million through lotteries and taxes generated by events in the stadium and exhibition center.
CenturyLink Field, first envisioned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, is the home of the National Football League’s Seattle Seahawks and Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders, both of which Allen owns. For the Seahawks, the stadium has 67,000 fixed seats, but has the capacity to expand to 72,000.
The Seattle Sounders (then of the USL) inaugurated the facility July 28, 2002, with a 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps. Since then, CenturyLink Field has hosted numerous high-profile events.
— On July 22, 2003, Manchester United defeated Celtic 4-0 at the facility in front of 63,588 fans, then the largest crowd to witness a soccer match in the Northwest.
— On Sept. 4, 2004, Bellevue High School defeated De La Salle of Concord, CA., 39-20, snapping De La Salle’s national-record 151-game winning streak.
— The Seahawks won their first NFC Championship at then-Qwest Field on Jan. 12, 2006, defeating the Carolina Panthers 34-14, a victory that earned the club a berth in Super Bowl XL.
— On April 14, 2008, the 14th Dali Lama of Tibet delivered a speech at Qwest Field that attracted a crowd of 50,817.
— On July 20, 2011, Manchester United defeated the Sounders 7-0 in front of the largest soccer crowd to watch a match in Seattle, 67,052.
QUICK FACTS
— ADDRESS: 800 Occidental Avenue South, Seattle, WA, 98134
— DATE BUILT: July 19, 2002
— OWNERSHIP: Washington State Public Stadium Authority (First & Goal, Inc.)
— SURFACE: FieldTurf
— CONSTRUCTION COST: $430 million
— STADIUM FINANCING: Extension of county-issued bonds serviced by car rental and hotel tax ($75 million); six lottery games ($91 million); private contributions ($130 million) from Paul Allen.
— NAMING RIGHTS: Qwest, $75 million over 15 years. After CenturyLink purchased Qwest in early 2011, the stadium was renamed CenturyLink Field on June 11.
— ARCHITECT: Ellerbe Becket and First & Goal, Inc.
— OFFICIAL WEBSITE: centurylinkfield.com
— TENANTS: Seattle Seahawks (NFL), Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)
CENTURYLINK FIELD FEATURES
— 67,000 fixed seats and expansion capacity to 72,000
— 1,400 seats dedicated to the disabled
— 10,000 cubic yards of concrete
— 3,756 miles of cable
— More than 800 televisions
— 12 elevators
— 50 concession stands
— 47 beer concessions
DIRECTIONS
— From I-5: Use exits at James Street, Fourth Avenue or Airport Way
— From I-90: Follow signs to Fourth Avenue South and turn right onto South Royal Brougham Way.
PARKING
For information, or to order season parking passes, call the Seahawks ticket office at 1-888-635-4295. Garages located near CenturyLink Field include:
— Seahawks Exhibition Center Parking Garage: 2,000-car garage on Royal Brougham Way across from Safeco Field.
— CenturyLink Field North Lot: At Second Avenue South and South King Street.
— Union Square Garage: On Fourth Avenue South across from the pedestrian bridge to the stadium.
STADIUM HOTELS
Silver Cloud Hotel Stadium
1046 1st Avenue S.
Seattle, WA 98134
Just north of CenturyLink Field, the Silver Cloud offers all the amenities, including 42-inch Plasma TVs, I-Pod docking stations and complimentary wireless and high-speed Internet access in every room. One of Seattle’s best sports bars, Jimmy’s On First, is in the hotel.
