STADIUM HISTORY

In 1996, Paul G. Allen obtained an option to purchase the Seattle Seahawks and launched a campaign to win public support for a new world-class football/soccer stadium and exhibition center.  Six years later, the dream became reality as the Seahawks opened the 2002 preseason against the Indianapolis Colts in Seahawks Stadium, renamed Qwest Field on June2, 2004. After seven seasons, the stadium was renamed CenturyLink Field on June 23, 2011, and later rebranded to Lumen Field on November 19, 2020. The facility, built atop of the site of the Kingdome, is not only home to the Seahawks and Sounders FC, but the stadium accommodates many levels of soccer competition, including Major League Soccer, amateur, international, World Cup and collegiate soccer.

Lumen Field is designed with a 68,740 seat capacity (37,722 for MLS regular season), with 5,000 additional seats available for special events, and 1,400 seats for fans with disabilities. With a roof covering 70 percent of the seating area, fans will enjoy wide, comfortable seats with sideline seating a mere 52 feet from the playing field and end-zone seats just40 feet from the action. The facility also features a dozen elevators and expansive concourses with an ample provision of concessions stands and restrooms.

In addition to having perfect views of the field and surrounding areas, fans experience elements of diversity and culture in part of the Stadium Art Program. In 1998, a request for qualifications yielded a total of 254 responses from around the United States and Canada. After reviewing the full range of submissions, 12 artists and projects were selected. Today, the stadium includes nearly $2 million worth of art.

The Lumen Field stadium complex includes Lumen Field and the 325,000 sq. ft. Lumen Field Event Center. The versatile Event Center is often converted into an intimate music theater to host a wide array of musical acts from Paul Simon to Snoop Dogg. The Lumen Field event complex, which includes Lumen Field, Lumen Field Event Center and WAMU Theater, manages more than 300 event days that attract more than 2.4 million attendees annually.  In 2011, the stadium served as host to U2 with more than 70,000 fans in attendance, the largest attended event since the stadium opened in 2002.

Recent Upgrades

• Since 2011, the Seahawks have committed more than $90 million in stadium upgrades
• In 2012, two Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Vision video displays were installed. The new video displays introduced fans to a new and enhanced viewing experience.
• In 2013, capital improvements to the stadium included an expanded and re-designed retail store with an increased footprint from 3,000 to 7,400 square feet and 30 new mobile points-of-sale in addition to a new Beer Hall featuring 14 different selections.  FGI installed 47 new digital menu boards and HD TVs to provide flexibility in pricing and menu.
• In 2014, the Seahawks and Verizon made significant enhancements to the wireless network at Lumen Field to provide fans with free open access to Wi-Fi. Super Bowl XLVIII Roman Numerals were installed in the Northwest Plaza.
• In 2015, the Seahawks constructed the Toyota Fan Deck, which adds 1,000 padded seats in two new seating sections in the south end upper level.
• In 2016, the Seahawks added a high definition LED board below the upper bowl, renovated the working press box and added four new Press Box suites.
• In 2017, the Seahawks enhanced the food and beverage experience by adding even more local cuisines at the Stadium Street Market, Night Market, and the Elysian Zone.
• In 2018, Lumen Field received SAFETY Act Designation and Certification, the highest level of accreditation awarded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Lumen Field was the fifth NFL stadium and second MLS stadium to achieve this certification. In 2020, Lumen Field achieved GBAC STAR Certification, the industry’s gold standard for venue sanitization amid COVID-19. This accomplishment certified that Lumen Field had implemented the industry’s most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention.
• In 2020, in an effort to boost guest experience through faster lines and more efficient sales processes, Lumen Field transitioned to cashless operations for sales transactions at the stadium, the Lumen Field Event Center and WAMU Theater.
• In 2021, Lumen Field added numerous upgrades as part of COVID-19 health and safety efforts, including: 

- Hand sanitizer stations: 300+

- Self-service concession kiosks: 300

- Self-service ticket scanning pedestals: 110

- Additional “Grab and Go” concessions stations 

- Security magnetometer upgrades 

- HVAC system upgraded to MERV-13 in all indoor spaces

- Restrooms upgraded to feature touchless faucets, toilets and urinals

- Box Office​ upgraded with new technology to digitally send tickets to mobile devices on demand

• In 2022, the stadium committed to "Fanovation" fan-first innovation- an improvement plan to modernize and upgrade various areas throughout the stadium over the next few years. This year the below projects have been completed:

- Installation of 2 new north-end video boards (more than double the size of the previous video boards).

- New 6300 square foot premium food & beverage area, Cityside Bars, featuring two nearly 40-foot-bars, 83 feet of drink rails, and an oversized outdoor gas fireplace.

- Released a new concession experience, powered by Amazon Just Walk Out Technology, allowing fans to utilize checkout-less technology and get back to the gameday action. The District Market is open in sections 104, 105, 123, and 323.

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Lumen Field Funding‍

The $430 million facility is owned by the public and was funded by a private-public partnership. Private contributions totaled at least $130 million, while the public contributed up to $300 million through a lottery and a variety of taxes generated by events in the stadium/exhibition center.   

A breakdown of the funding package:

• $130 million private investment led by Paul G. Allen
• $127 million from new, sports related lottery games, similar to the Mariners’ baseball-themed scratch games
• $101 million in sales taxes collected in King County attributable to events in the stadium/event center
• $56 million from facility admission and parking taxes
• $15 million from extending King County’s share of the existing hotel-motel tax
• Paul G. Allen agreed to pay for any construction cost overruns
• $1 million per year of in-kind advertising for the new lottery games will be provided by Paul G. Allen
• All excess stadium revenues will fund youth athletic facilities throughout Washington State in addition to a $10 million contribution from Paul G. Allen
• $14 million of the public contribution will come from interest earned on the $50 million private contribution from Paul Allen
• As an added measure, the debt on the Kingdome was retired, freeing property taxes for other purposes

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