Lumen Field- Sounders

Home of the Seattle Sounders

Seahawks Guide

Seeeaaattleee…Sooounderrrs. Welcome to the Emerald City, where the Seahawks aren’t the only football team to reign supreme. First kicking off in 1994 (and later become part of the MLS in 2009), the Sounders also call Lumen Field home.

Here is what you need to know before you go to a game.

Best place to take a selfie– This one is pretty short sweet and to the point. The field is too beautiful to not take a photo with. Try and take a picture near mid-field either before the match has started or after. For some reason, the stadium clears our pretty quickly. So, waiting until the very end to snap a shot could be worth the wait. You should be able to accomplish this from any level.

Food at the stadium- During a warm Seattle summer day, something warm might not necessarily sound good. However, the best finds at the stadium are Beecher’s Mac & Cheese and dumplings from Din Tai Fung. While both are not unique to the Lumen Field, these local favorites cannot be found at any other stadiums outside of Seattle. You can find Beecher’s in sections 305 and 335. Din Tai Fung is also located on the third level at section 332 (or 208 and 236 of the club level.)

If you’re sitting in the club level, the perfect way to cool down is with a nice glass of frozen rosé …aka frosé .

Another spot to scout out is the PNW Grill. They rotate a local menu created by local chefs. Find them at section 115.

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Getting to the field- Parking in the Lumen Garage could cost you a pretty penny. Luckily, there are several lots within walking distance, where prices will run a bit lower. However, the best value for parking is getting to area early and finding street parking. Most street parking will be free after 6 PM on weeknights and Saturday and free on Sundays.

If you are visiting and staying downtown, I would recommend taking the light rail to the game. Both the Chinatown stop and Stadium stop are within walking distance to the field and will cost ~$5 round trip.

Best place to sit- Depends. How loud do you want to be? Do you want to stand the whole time? Chances are, if you are reading this then you are not a die-hard Sounders fan. For you, I would highly recommend sitting in the club level (200’s). This level flanks each side of the field lengthwise and gives fans access to private concessions, bathrooms, and shelter in bad weather. However, be advised that sections 203, 215, 229, and 241 do not give you access to the club amenities.

However, if you want the full experience, here is a list of fan sections.

• Emerald City Supporters- sections 121-123
• Gorilla FC- section 120
• North End Faithful- “North end of Lumen Field, including not only the north end zone, but the north ends of both the east and west sides of Lumen as well.”- Soundersfc.com

The mascot- Introduced in 2019, Sammy the Sounder (aka a Puget Sound Orca Whale) was added to the squad. Unfortunately, he is so new that I don’t have much more insight on him yet…other than the fact that he’s super cute.

You should know- March to the match. Beginning in 2005, Sounders fans started the tradition of walking from Occidental Square to Lumen Field. They not only walk, but chant…loudly! (I mean this is Seattle.) With an hour or so until kickoff, the fans begin their four block march, while never ceasing to cheer. These folks are Sounder ’til they die.

What’d I miss? Let me know in the comments!