Spectator Sports
The mild weather and some of the most phenomenal sports stadiums to be found anywhere make Seattle a great place to catch a game. The Mariners and the Seahawks both flirt with glory, though never quite seem to attain it; nevertheless, they have a loyal following and gorgeous digs. One of the best things about both Safeco and Qwest Fields is their location on the south end of downtown, on the outskirts of Pioneer Square. From a game, there are a number of great restaurants, bars, and brewpubs you can walk to for a celebratory (or commiserating) drink—especially good to know because you do not want to be mired in the postgame traffic trying to get out of the area.
With the departure of the NBA Seattle SuperSonics team in 2008, the city no longer has a professional basketball team. However, the WNBA is still playing pro b-ball, and the UW Huskies women’s basketball team is very popular in Seattle. Even the Thunderbirds, a WHL hockey team, enjoy a small but enthusiastic fan base. Catching a game of some sort also makes a good rainy-day activity; the retractable roofs of venues like Safeco and Qwest Fields mean that games don’t get rained out.
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Spectator Sports
2. University Of Washington Huskies
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Spectator Sports
Telephone: (206) 543-2200
Description: UW has only a men’s baseball team, called the Diamond Dawgs by fans. Tickets can be purchased at the Huskies Web site, on www.StubHub.com, or at the Husky ticket office; prices are $6 for adults, with a $15 family plan available that admits four. Most games are played at the Husky Ballpark, which opened in 1998. Occasionally the Dawgs will play special games at Safeco Field, and those tickets are $8 for adults. Adequate parking is available at Husky Ballpark, and public transportation is also plentiful and easy.
3. Seattle Storm
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Spectator Sports
Description: The Seattle Storm WNBA team came to Seattle in 1999, as one of four new expansion teams for the 2000 season. The Storm play at Key Arena at Seattle Center. Single-game ticket prices generally range from $14 to $55 for stadium seating and can go up to as much as several hundred for courtside seats. Tickets can be purchased online through Ticketmaster or at the Key Arena box office. Parking garages are available around Key Arena and Seattle Center, but due to its downtown location, public transportation is usually the easiest way to get there. The monorail goes from Westlake Center, at Pine and 4th, directly to Seattle Center.
4. University Of Washington Huskies
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Spectator Sports
Telephone: (206) 543-2200
Description: Many Seattle residents are big Huskies fans, and UW has both a men’s and a women’s basketball team. Tickets can be purchased at the Huskies Web site, on www.StubHub.com, or at the Husky ticket office; prices are $3–$35. Both basketball teams play at the Bank of America Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion, which underwent a massive $40 million renovation from 1999 to 2000. Parking is available at the arena, and of course public buses run regular routes there as well.
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Spectator Sports
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Spectator Sports
7. Seattle Thunderbirds
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Spectator Sports
Telephone: (253) 239-7825
Description: Part of the Western Hockey League, the Thunderbirds have been smacking the puck around the ice in Seattle since 1977, when they were called the Breakers. The WHL is a member of the Canadian Hockey League, and comprises the junior hockey teams. Players are scouted for the CHL and NHL from these teams. Tickets can be purchased at the Thunderbirds Web site, starting at around $12–$18. The team plays at ShoWare arena in the Kent Events Center, located 18 miles south of downtown Seattle. If you are driving, it’s a straight shot south on I-5 to exit 149; plenty of free parking is available. More than 20 local and regional bus routes also serve the transit center at Kent Station, in addition to Sounder commuter rail; check the Web site for specific transit information.
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Spectator Sports
Address: 2300 Emerald Downs Dr. (Auburn)
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Spectator Sports
10. Seattle Sounders
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Spectator Sports
Telephone: (206) 622-3415
Description: The Seattle Sounders FC is Major League Soccer’s 15th team. Actor, comedian, and soccer fan Drew Carey owns the team and was also instrumental in forming the team’s 53-piece marching band, the Sound Wave—the only soccer marching band in the United States. The Sounders play at Qwest Field, and tickets range from $25 to $95. Parking is available at and around the stadium, but both parking and traffic can be difficult. Public transportation options are easy and numerous.
11. University Of Washington Huskies
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Spectator Sports
Telephone: (206) 543-2200
Description: There are both men’s and women’s soccer teams at UW, and on the field at Husky Soccer Stadium the Huskies annually rank among the nation’s leaders in women’s soccer attendance. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone, or at the Husky ticket office; single-game tickets are $6 for adults, with a $15 family plan available that admits four. Both teams play at the Husky Soccer Stadium, a soccer-only facility that opened in 1997. Plans and fund-raising are currently in place for building a new, covered 3,000-seat stadium. Parking and public transportation are available.