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
- 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
- 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.
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:
Lumen Field
Field Size
Seating
Suites
Amenities
Many conveniences for fans and visitors, including:
Design/Construction
Stadium Artists
Public Stadium Authority
The Washington State Public Stadium Authority (PSA) was created by Referendum 48, a ballot initiative passed by voters authorizing use of public funds to build a Stadium and Exhibition Center.
The PSA’s mission is to represent the public’s interest in owning Lumen Field & Event Center and overseeing First & Goal Inc.’s operation of the facility for the benefit of all Washington state citizens.
First and Goal Inc. is proud of the public-private partnership forged with the PSA. FGI continues to work closely with the PSA to ensure that the Stadium and Exhibition Center are an asset and symbol of pride to sports fans, event attendees, our residential and business neighbors and to all Washington state residents.