With today officially marking 20 years since Lumen Field first opened its doors on July 20, 2002, the Seattle Seahawks, First & Goal Inc. and Seattle Sounders FC have announced plans to celebrate Lumen Field’s 20th anniversary with new capital projects designs to modernize and upgrade various areas throughout the stadium.
“As we celebrate 20 years of incredible sports and entertainment events at Lumen Field, we are thrilled to re-imagine and transform our guest experience,” said Chuck Arnold, President, Seattle Seahawks and First & Goal Inc. “We’re calling these upgrades ‘fanovation’ – where our fans and their experience are at the forefront of our decisions. We are excited for our guests to see several new innovative projects come to life at Lumen Field over the next three years.”
“From its earliest conception, Lumen Field was designed with soccer in mind,” said Sounders FC Owner & President of Business Operations Peter Tomozawa. “The Sounders and our fans have shared a host of incredibly special moments under those towering arches, and we hope to share many more in the coming years, both with Sounders and FIFA World Cup matches. The stadium upgrades undertaken by FGI are going to take an already world-class facility and truly make it a superb place where all fans will come away with memories. We are excited to see this work come to life over the next few years and are thrilled to be able to share this enhanced Lumen Field on the world’s largest sporting stage in 2026.”
Lumen Field renovation projects for 2022 include the following:
Cityside Bars Offer Premium Field View
A new 6,300-square foot premium food and beverage area named Cityside Bars is being added in the north end of the stadium. Open to all fans on Seahawks and Sounders gamedays, this project transforms the currently unused space underneath the stadium’s iconic Hawks Nest into a covered open-air fan gathering area with premium lower-level views of the playing field. The space features two nearly 40-foot-wide bars along with 83 feet of drink rails facing the field, an oversized outdoor gas fireplace, and Pacific Northwest-themed finishes. The new amenities at Cityside Bars are scheduled to be completed by this fall, in time for the final stretch of Sounders FC’s season and any playoff matches.
New North Video Boards
Installation of two new north-end video boards will significantly enhance the fan experience. The Mitsubishi Pixel Pitch Diamond Vision displays (39.90’h x 70.34’w) will more than double the size of the previous video boards. Fans can expect to see the full 16x9 game presentation highlighted by enhanced graphics and 4K pan and zoom for highlights and replay reviews. Sounders FC fans have likely noticed the current construction of these new video boards on the north side of Lumen Field, which are scheduled to be completed by this fall, in time for the final stretch of Sounders FC’s season and any playoff matches.
Upper Concourse Concession Upgrades
For all Seahawks games and for special Sounders FC matches where the upper level of the stadium is widely opened, concession enhancements are on the way for the upper concourse. An area titled District Market is being added in the south end of the upper level behind the Toyota Fan Deck and offers a more modern, open food and beverage experience with the opportunity for checkout-free transaction technologies. The space will also feature food from the stadium’s community neighbors in Seattle’s International District.
Additional details on Lumen Field Fanovation projects scheduled for 2023 and 2024 will be announced in the future, including:
New Tunnel Club Premium Hospitality Area
Lumen Field plans to add a new pregame Tunnel Club. This new premium offering provides fans a ticketed pregame hospitality club adjacent to the Seahawks locker room, which features all-inclusive premium food and beverage options. For Sounders FC matches, this new area will replace the current Field Club.
Verizon Lounge Upgrades
The stadium’s Verizon Lounge is scheduled to undergo numerous future renovations. The current Verizon Lounge serves as a buffet-style restaurant pregame, with two bars available throughout the game to Delta Sky360° Club ticket holders. Preliminary concepts for the space’s remodel include creating two standing room open-air decks with views of the field, a new premium bar, and general upgrades to finishes throughout the area. These changes are taking place after 2023.
A Proud Past and Bright Future
The Lumen Field stadium complex includes Lumen Field, the 325,000-square foot Lumen Field Event Center and WAMU Theater, and is home to the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, MLS’ Seattle Sounders FC and NWSL’s OL Reign. In addition, Lumen Field and Lumen Field Event Center typically host more than 300 event days and 2.4 million attendees annually during an average year. The venue has hosted many premier concerts, including Beyoncé, Metallica, Rolling Stones, Taylor Swift and U2, as well as international soccer matches, Supercross, corporate events and community gatherings.
The stadium’s first-ever sporting event was hosted on July 28, 2002, where the USL Seattle Sounders defeated the USL Vancouver Whitecaps 4-1 at what was then named Seahawks Stadium. Sounders FC’s winning ways on their home turf have continued, with the club owning a 130-46-44 regular-season record at Lumen Field since joining MLS in 2009.
The stadium currently holds a 154-game sellout streak for Seahawks games and Lumen Field has placed first or second in total MLS attendance every year since 2009, when Sounders FC entered the league. The Rave Green have set several attendance records at Lumen Field, including the 2019 MLS Cup – where 69,274 fans watched Sounders FC claim its second league title, marking the most-attended sporting event in Lumen Field’s history and the most-attended soccer match in the history of Washington State – and 2022 Concacaf Champions League Final – where the crowd of 68,741 set the record for largest standalone crowd in CCL history and saw Sounders FC become the first MLS club to win the coveted continental title.
In June 2022, FIFA announced Lumen Field as a host venue for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Celebrating the local community, including the support of women and minority-owned businesses in its hiring and vendor selection processes, is also a priority for the stadium and its commitment to the growth of the vibrant Seattle economy.
In celebration of the stadium’s 20th anniversary, Lumen Field will relive various memorable moments from under the arches. Sounders FC matchdays are set to feature some of the best moments at Lumen Field, both on the video boards and with a visual exhibit on the concourse level, and the team is asking for participation from fans to share favorite moments as well. Seahawks gamedays will feature iconic moments and bring back special guests to celebrate. The stadium’s social media channels will also celebrate significant anniversary dates, such as the first games for the Seahawks, Sounders FC and OL Reign, along with historic concerts and other events from its history. Fans will also have the chance to win tickets to 20 events at Lumen Field this year in celebration of the 20th anniversary. Fans can follow along on Lumen Field’s social channels for details.
Fans can visit LumenField.com/Fanovation for more information.
