CenturyLink Field is a multipurpose stadium located in Seattle, Washington, United States. This is the home field for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL) and Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer (MLS). Originally called Seahawks Stadium , it became Qwest Field in June 2004, when Qwest telecommunications operator acquired naming rights. It received its current name in June 2011 after Qwest acquisition by CenturyLink. It is a modern facility with views of downtown Seattle and can accommodate 69,000 people. The complex also includes an Event Center with the Washington Music Theater (WaMu Theater), a parking garage, and a public plaza. The venue hosts concerts, trade shows and consumer shows along with sports events. Located within 1.6 km (1.6 km) from Downtown Seattle, the stadium is accessible by several free lanes and forms of mass transportation.
The stadium was built between 2000 and 2002 on the Kingdome site after voters approved funding for state development in a state election held in June 1997. The ballot created the Washington State Public Stadium Authority to oversee public ownership of the venue. Seahawks owner, Paul Allen, formed First & amp; Goal Inc. to develop and operate new facilities. Allen is closely involved in the design process and emphasizes the importance of open space with a familiar atmosphere.
The crowd was very loud during the Seahawks game. It has twice deployed the Guinness World Record for the loudest people roar in the outdoor stadium, first at 136.6 decibels in 2013, followed by a measurement of 137.6 decibels by 2014. Both recordings were finally solved by mobs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The current record set by fans at Arrowhead on September 29, 2014, in Monday Night Football matches against the New England Patriots, reached 142.2 decibels. Noise has contributed to field gains in team homes with an increase of false start (movement by offensive player before play) and postponement of the match (failure of violation to break the ball before end of play) penalty against team visit. The stadium is the first in the NFL to implement FieldTurf field. Many American and high school football games have also been played at the stadium.
CenturyLink Field is also designed for football. The first sports events to be held include United Soccer Leagues (USL) Seattle Sounders. The USL team began using the stadium regularly for home games in 2003. The MLS Seattle Sounders FC expansion team, starting its inaugural season in 2009 at the stadium. CenturyLink Field is the MLS Cup venue in 2009. The venue also hosts 2010 and 2011 final tournaments for the US Open Cup. Sounders FC won both and new attendance records are set annually hosted at CenturyLink Field. In August 2013, the Sounders broke the new home attendance record when 67,385 fans watched them play the Portland Timbers.
Video CenturyLink Field
Funding
The Seahawks played their home game at Kingdome from its inaugural season of 1976 to 1999. In 1995 a proposal was made to issue local bonds to fund a facility renovation project. The proposal failed, and as a result, Seahawks owner Ken Behring threatened to sell or move the team. In 1997, local billionaire Paul Allen promised to acquire the team if a new stadium could be built and said that the team could not make a profit until they left Kingdome. He called on state legislatures to hold a state-specific referendum on a proposal to finance the new stadium. Allen also agreed to cover any cost swelling. With Allen agreeing to pay a $ 4 million fee, the legislature agreed. The ballot was scheduled to take place in June 1997 but in May a Seattle resident filed a lawsuit claiming the legislature had no authority to call for such a vote, as it would be paid by a privately-held party who could get results. The case was postponed until after the vote. The proposal was filed with voters for providing new homes for Seahawks and a place for top-level football. It was adopted on 17 June 1997, with 820,364 (51.1%) supporting and 783,584 against. The vote was close in Seattle, but received 60% approval in Seattle's northern and eastern suburbs. Unpopular public funding is far in the eastern part of the country. In October, a Supreme Court judge Thurston ruled that the legislature was acting rightly and in the public interest, and he rejected the pending suit. Washington Supreme Court upheld the decision that December.
The voter approval of the referendum creates public-private partnerships. The Washington State Public Stadium Authority was formed to oversee public ownership of stadiums, exhibition centers, and parking garage complexes. Allen buys Seahawks and forms First & amp; Goal Inc. to build and operate the facility. The budget for the project was $ 430 million. Of this cost, $ 44 million was allocated to build the Event Center, $ 26 million for the parking garage, and $ 360 million for the stadium. First & amp; The goal is to cover the cost swelling and pay up to $ 130 million from the project while community contributions are limited to $ 300 million. Public funding packages include new sports-related country lottery games, tax on facilities and parking, sales tax and suspension credits, and an eight-year extension of 2% tax on hotel rooms in King County. Taxes on revenues and parking are set at 2% to pay off the project's tax-exempt bonds. These taxes will be kept below 10% permitted to maintain tax exempt status, but the percentage will be raised to the full amount when the bonds are actually paid in 2021. At that time, they will be a source of special funding for maintenance and modernization of facilities.
In September 1998 First & amp; Goal signed a 30-year stadium lease that includes an option to extend the other 20. As per the agreement, the Public Stadium Authority receives $ 850,000 per year from First and Goal (adjusted for inflation), and First & amp; The purpose of storing all revenue from the stadium and parking garage. The company receives 80% of revenues from the exhibition center while another twenty percent is allocated to state education funds. First & amp; The target is responsible for all operating and maintenance costs, which are estimated at $ 6 million per year, and must maintain facilities in "first class" conditions. Other details of the lease include affordable seat availability, coordinated efforts with neighboring Safeco Fields to prevent congestion, provision for naming rights, investing in public arts in stadiums, and gifts from luxury suites to any Seahawks' game enthusiasts.
Maps CenturyLink Field
Construction and layout
The architectural firm Ellerbe Becket, in collaboration with Loschky Marquardt & amp; Nesholm Architects of Seattle, designed a project of 1,500,000 sq ft (140,000 m 2 ). Allen was closely involved during the design process. While growing up he attended a match at the Husky Stadium outside the University of Washington. The goal is to create a similar experience and atmosphere in a new place. The exhibition center section of the project was designed over a 14-month period by Loschky Marquardt & Nesholm Architects while First & amp; The goal of managing construction. Town meetings are held to discuss their impact on the public, and the company creates a $ 6 million mitigation fund for the surrounding environment. In accordance with the program established by the development team, a $ 81 million contract is awarded to minority-owned businesses and women. Apprentices accounted for 19% of the workforce through other programs with local unions.
In September 1998, construction began in a new exhibition center and parking garage. In October 1999 the exhibition center opened and held the event. On March 26, 2000, to make way for the stadium, Kingdome was destroyed in the world's largest explosion of a single concrete structure. Almost all Kingdome debris is recycled with roughly half of it used for the new stadium. The designers were challenged by the soft soil at the site because it was a tidal marsh until public works projects in the early 20th century adjusted the water line near Elliott Bay. The top layer is a soft layer taken from a rating project that has flattened the hill section of Seattle. To account for the soft soil, this complex is above more than 2,200 poles driven 50 to 70 feet (15 to 21 m) underground to form what is essentially a dock for the foundation. Eight individually connected sections are built to take into account soil problems, temperature effects, and earthquake potential. The exhibition center and adjacent parking garage are separate structures and not part of the eight-part stadium.
The CenturyLink Field site is the smallest of the ones developed for the new NFL stadium. The upper level is the cantilever at the bottom to fit within the limited space. Along with the seat angles and lower placement closer to the field, this provides a better field view than is typically seen throughout the country and allows for a capacity of 67,000 seats. Space is available to increase total capacity to 72,000 for special events. Included in capacity are 111 suites and over 7,000 club seats. The stadium has 1,400 seats for disabled and their colleagues located in various sections. In 2009 CenturyLink Field was ranked 21st of 31 stadiums in the NFL for total seating capacity.
CenturyLink Field Configuration is a U-shape with the north end open to provide a great view of downtown Seattle and the large northern square. Safeco Field's large, retractable roof along with Mount Rainier to the southeast can be seen from the partially open south end. Concourse stadiums are built into a wide, and they provide additional views in the surrounding area. The 13-storey tower was set up at the north end of the stadium visually complementing the Seattle skyline. The tower has a vertically oriented scoreboard which is the first of its kind in the NFL. At the base is a bleach seat for 3,000 called "Eagle Nest". Another addition not previously seen in the NFL is the field-level luxury suite located just behind the northern end zone.
Allen rejected plans for a roof that could be opened during the early stages of the stadium design. The lack of a roof that can be opened makes it open to the elements, provides a better view, and reduces the total cost of the project. The roof, at 200,000 sq ft (19,000 m 2 ), covers 70% of the seats but leaves the field open. The roof covers 720Ã, ft (220 m) between support of concrete poles at the north and south end of the stadium. The two halves are held from the bottom with scrolls. From the top, two arches with additional support up 200Ã, ft (61 m) above the field. Post-voltage cables are used to achieve final shape and positioning. To minimize damage during an earthquake, the roof has a friction pendulum dampening system. It breaks the roof from the stake so it can move independently of the structure. Technology has never been applied to large scale roofs before CenturyLink Field.
The roof was originally painted white to aesthetically differentiate it from Safeco Field and nearby industrial estates. The east side of the stadium has a large glass curtain wall overlooking the nearby International District. The exterior of the stadium also consists of salmon-colored concrete, and the western side of the structure is partially covered with red brick. The coloration and fasade are designed so that the stadium will blend with the old building in adjacent Pioneer Square. To reduce costs, the exterior is not equipped with brick work or steel ornaments.
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake rocked the Seattle area during construction. The structure responds as expected by the designers, and there is minimal damage. The project is completed on a budget and one month ahead of schedule.
By 2015, the stadium is expanded with the addition of the Toyota Fan Deck including a new Flag flag-raising platform. This expansion is privately funded by Seahawks and an additional 1,000 seats are available for purchase by current season ticket holders, Blue Pride's waiting list for season tickets. Additional seating pushed the stadium capacity to 69,000-plus.
Surface
In 2002, CenturyLink Field became the first stadium in the NFL to install FieldTurf field. Its surface is made of plastic fibers rooted in a mixture of rubber and soil sand. The field was replaced in the spring of 2008 after tests showed that compression of sand and rubber increased the risk of injury to players. FieldTurf won the bid for a second installation over Polytan. For replacement surfaces, one inch (two and a half centimeters) pour the rubber foundation to prevent compression from reoccurring. Under the naming rights agreement, Qwest pays $ 500,000 for the installation and First & amp; The purpose of paying the remaining amount, which is kept secret. In 2010 the quality of FieldTurf has declined with a knife to be tangled. It also failed to test the quality of FIFA into a 2 Star rating. The new FieldTurf surface is set in 2012 and meets the requirements of the 2 Star field after the test.
The 1997 state referendum states that the stadium will feature a natural grass surface, but FieldTurf is not an option when the stadium was initially presented to voters in accordance with the Public Stadium Authority. The Seahawks management was reconsidered after Seahawks played at FieldTurf at Husky Stadium during the 2000 and 2001 seasons. Synthetic grass was installed because it was easier to maintain than natural grass. The potential damage to the natural grass field caused by the frequent rain in Seattle also makes the surface an attractive option. To keep a strong grass surface under heavy football usage in the late fall and early winter rains, $ 1.8 million of irrigation and heating systems will be needed. Seahawks coach at the time, Mike Holmgren, said the FieldTurf installation was the right decision and stated that "the players love it, and I think this surface will offer better products on the pitch for the fans."
Local football fans fear that a lack of natural grass will hinder Seattle's chances of receiving an MLS expansion franchise. They confirmed that voters had approved the facility with the understanding that the new stadium was aimed at football and soccer. In compromise, First & amp; Goals agree to pay for lawn to be installed for special events when needed.
There are various opinions about artificial surfaces and temporary surface grasses used for soccer games. After the Brazilian national team defeated the Canadian team 3-2 in 2008, the Brazilian coach commented that one of the reasons his team's poor performance was a loose lawn. The Grenada national team struggled to cope with an artificial surface as they lost at the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. In July 2009, the US Soccer Federation voted for D.C. United RFK Stadium over CenturyLink Field for the US Open Cup. General Manager D.C. United speculated that the RFK grass pitch is one of the reasons his team has a stronger bid. Sounders general manager Adrian Hanauer told The Seattle Times in 2010 that surface replacement is a continuous conversation between Sounders and Allen's Vulcan Inc. When Los Angeles Galaxy travels to Seattle in May 2012, FieldTurf is listed as one of the reasons David Beckham and Robbie Keane are not on the list.
Between August and November both games host Seahawks and Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field. Each team has emphasized the importance of playing their game without another team's painted line on the pitch. Around 2003, at the request of Seahawks, the local EcoChemical company developed for a new type of paint that was "designed to fail." The new paint is relatively easy to remove with a washing machine and a special chemical solution, a process the company describes as environmentally friendly. With fresh paint, changing the pitch between American football and football takes 14 hours in dry weather, although painting and other colors require additional time.
The new grass field, using FieldTurf Revolution 360, was installed in February 2016 ahead of the 2016 Sounders season.
Football
Seahawks
Prior to the opening of the stadium in 2002, Allen and Bob Whitsitt said they hoped the new stadium would help turn the Seahawks into a Super Bowl contender and that Seattle would be considered the host of the championship game. Seating can be expanded up to 72,000 for the purpose of holding the game, but the NFL usually does not consider a city with an outdoor stadium where the average temperature in February is below 50Ã, Â ° F (10Ã, Â ° C). The number of season tickets available in Qwest is limited to 61,000 after the Super Bowl appearance. The next waiting list is the first for Seahawks since the early 1990s.
The team's first season in their new home was in 2002. Their first game at the new facility was the loss of the 28-10 preseason to the Indianapolis Colts on 11 August 2002. They went on to end their first season on a new field with 7-9 notes. In the 2003 season, the team were unbeaten at home and reached the playoffs. This is the first time the franchise has won 10 games in a season in 17 years. Seahawks returned to reach the postseason during the 2004 season and played their first playoff game at CenturyLink Field on January 8, 2005. In that game, they lost to St. Louis Rams who have beaten them twice that season. The following season, Seahawks were unbeaten at home for the second time in three years and won their first NFC Championship, but lost in Super Bowl XL. Between 2002 and 2005, Seahawks won 24 of their 32 regular season games at the stadium.
In 2006, Seahawks had a 9-7 record and hosted the Dallas Cowboys in the wild card round in the playoffs. The Seahawks trailed 20-13 with less than 7 minutes remaining but returned to win 21-20. In 2007, the team won seven of their eight home games and won the fourth division title in a row. CenturyLink Field was again the site for their wild card game, and they beat Washington Redskins 35-14. In 2008, the Seahawks went 4-12 and only had two home victories. Holmgren left the organization after this season. When he was interviewed about memorable moments and fans, he said that CenturyLink Field was "an incredible place to compete and play professional football." He called the match at the stadium "an experience."
In 2010, Seahawks was the first NFL team with a record of losing to ever win a division title in a season not shortened by strikes. Seattle won their fifth consecutive home win with a 41-36 win over the New Orleans Saints. "God blesses the voters," said defender Craig Terrill after the game in connection with the importance of the stadium for the franchise.
Under Pete Carroll, the Seahawks are unbeaten at home during the season 2012. Seasonal tickets for 2013 are sold out with a 98% renewal of franchise updates.
CenturyLink Field is often sold out for Seahawks games. Although the team struggled in 2008 and 2009, the team retained the seasonal ticket holders base. Prior to the 2008 season, 14,000 single game tickets that had not been provided were sold out less than 15 minutes after they were available. At the end of the 2009 season, Seahawks have sold out 60 games in a row. After 9-23 over two seasons in 2008 and 2009, the number of seasonally available tickets increased to 62,000. The biggest crowd to attend the Seahawks match at CenturyLink Field is 69,055 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers on 29 November 2015.
Advantages of home field
CenturyLink Field has earned a reputation as one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL. That, at one point in time, is in the Guinness World Record books as the loudest stadium in the world. Partial seating decks and roofs, both trap and amplify the incredible amount of noise and bounce back into the field. This noise may contribute to raising false initial penalties because opposing violations may lose audibles and staples, as well as game suspension due to reduced efficiency of games that communicate against violations. From 2002 to 2012, there were 143 fake early penalties on the visitors' team in Seattle, second only to Minnesota Vikings. During the same time period, Seahawks have collected a 59-29 home victory record, with a 33-55 simultaneous track record
When Tod Leiweke was hired as the new CEO of Seahawks in 2003, he had a large flagpole installed at the southern end to fly the 12th Man Flag in recognition to the 12 men. The organization has retired the number in 1984 to honor the 12th man. Local celebrities, sometimes former Seahawk, raised flags during pre-match television network events. The Seahawks currently call their fans as 12s.
In 2005, the stadium got national attention when the visiting New York Giants made 11 initial wrong penalties. Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren linked a penalty with the enthusiasm and noise of the crowd. He dedicates the ball used to make game-winning field goals for fans, and is now featured in the stadium. The Giants general manager, Ernie Accorsi, asked the senior vice president of the NFL whether Seahawks had broadcast artificial crowd votes over the public address system during this match. The NFL sent a note early in the 2006 season about the complaint and sent officials to monitor two matches. Holmgren denied the allegations, and the crowd responded louder than usual when the Giants returned to CenturyLink Field. Since 2005 the Seahawks have tracked the number of incorrect starts made by the visitors and displayed statistics on the scoreboard to motivate the crowd. In 2013, the stadium has a high number of fake start since then. In preparation for the 2005-06 NFC Championship Game at CenturyLink Field, the Carolina Panthers practiced with jet engine sound recording in the background to prepare the volume of the crowd.
Kickers suffered further losses while trying field goals at CenturyLink Field. The proximity of the stadium with Puget Sound and the open north end creates a challenging breeze to measure. The former Seahawks shooter, Josh Brown, adjusts to the wind, and he believes the water vapor in the air causes problems for others.
On September 15, 2013, Seattle Seahawks fans managed to break the Guinness World Records for the loudest stadium in the world. The 131.9-decibel record occurred during the San Francisco 49er quarterback sack of Colin Kaepernick in the first quarter. Fans then broke their new record during the third quarter of the same game when the 136.6 decibel level was reached during the goal line standing by the Seahawks defense. The record was broken by audiences at Arrowhead Stadium on October 13, 2013, with a sound pressure level of 137.57 decibels. The record was later reclaimed by Seahawks fans on December 2, 2013 with 137.6 decibels against the New Orleans Saints but lost once more to Arrowhead Stadium in Monday Night Football matches between Kansas City and New England Patriots on 29 September 2014, in 142.2 decibels.
Higher Education
CenturyLink Field has hosted several college football games. The hometown Washington Huskies played their 2005 season opener against the Air Force Falcons at the stadium in Tyrone Willingham's first match as head coach. In 2011, the University of Washington initiated a $ 250 million renovation to Husky Stadium, so Huskies and Washington State Cougars played the 2011 Apple Cup at CenturyLink Field. The Huskies also play their entire 2012 home football schedule at CenturyLink Field.
Except in 2010, the stadium hosts non-conference home matches at the Washington State Cougars each season between 2002 and 2014. This includes the 86th "The Palouse War" against Idaho Vandals in 2003. Cougars are in and their crowds range from 30,927 to 63,588. CenturyLink Field is about 300 miles (500 km) from the university. The university's athletic director said that 50,000 must be present to make it worth moving the game from Pullman. Cougars advanced 6-6 in the annual game. This game generates additional revenue invested in facilities for the football program while also increasing exposure to the western side of the country.
In April 2009, it was proposed that the annual Apple Cup between Seattle-based Huskies and Pullman-based Cougars will be held at CenturyLink Field for six years starting in 2010. Both programs can not reach an agreement on how to share tickets. The business community of Pullman has expressed concern that playing games away from the area will hurt the local economy.
Qwest Field hosted the 2002 Seattle Bowl, in which Wake Forest defeated Oregon 38-17. The premiere Seattle Bowl was played a year earlier at Safeco Field, but the game was halted when the organizers were unable to obtain funding prior to 2003. Subsequent attempts to revive the Seattle Bowl were unsuccessful. Seattle Sports Commission is pushing new bowl game proposals. In 2008 a business plan started for a match in 2010 that will be a fundraiser for Seattle Children's Hospital.
The lower NCAA division teams have been playing in the stadium for years. From 2003 to 2008, the Second Division football team of Western Washington University and Central Washington University meet annually in a competition called "The Battle of Seattle". Central won all except the 2004 game, and each meeting attracted over 11,000 people. Western stopped its football program after the 2008 season, but Central reached an agreement to continue the series with Western Oregon University for matches in 2009 and 2010. "The battle at Seattle VII" saw Central make a comeback to win 23-21 ahead of 5,374.
On October 31, 2009, Division I FCS Eastern Washington University Eagles played a home game in Seattle for the first time. Along with the intention of attracting alumni from the metropolitan area, the athletic directors from East Washington and Washington State have expressed the importance of dealing with alumni at receptions and other events on the western side of the country. Billed as "Showdown on the Sound", the match was a 47-10 win over Portland State Vikings. According to Eastern athletic director, the Qwest Field lease was $ 50,000 for the day.
SMA
CenturyLink Field has been used for high school soccer. The Interscholastic Washington Activities Association puts the annual Emerald City Kickoff Classic event at the stadium. This event is a series of seasonal games among some of the best teams in the state.
The stadium has a meeting between one of the best teams in Washington and one of the best of other countries in the game "Best of the West". On September 4, 2004, the Washington High School at Bellevue and De La Salle High School in California played in front of over 25,000 records of state high school attendance. Bellevue ended a record 151 victory in a streak of De La Salle in a 39-20 victory. On September 16th, 2009, Bellevue defeated another highly respected school at Qwest Field in a 30-16 win over Long Beach Polytechnic. USA Today recently rated both teams very high with the third Long Beach and Bellevue ranked 16th in the country.
After the event organizer announced the match between Skyline Washington High School and the Jesuit High School of Oregon in 2009, he said he proposed the possibility of broadcasting the game to Fox Sports, but Fox did not broadcast the game. Skyline went on to close the Jesuits 17-0 during the Emerald City Classic.
Inside CenturyLink Field, there is a huge artwork called The State of Football that respects high school football in Washington state. This section shows Washington's depiction and holds a football helmet replica of every high school football team in the state. This art is part of the $ 1.75 million Stadium Art Program assigned through First & amp; The purpose of rental facilities.
Soccer
CenturyLink Field is also designed for football. The stadium meets the requirements of FIFA's line of sight and provides a separate dressing room for the football team. The location of the camera is selected for optimal sports television coverage. A number of exhibition matches have taken place at CenturyLink Field, including top clubs like Manchester United, Barcelona, ​​Celtic, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Club AmÃÆ'Â © rica and Chivas de Guadalajara. This game has proved very popular, and the first sale of 66,772 fans at CenturyLink Field is a football match between Manchester United and Celtic. National teams such as Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico and China have played exhibition matches at the stadium. Artificial grass has been temporarily coated with grass for international matches.
Seattle is the location of the opening round of the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2005 between the United States national team, Costa Rica, Canada and Cuba. Two games from the opening round of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup were also played in the stadium on July 4, 2009. In the second match, the United States comfortably beat Grenada, who played in their first major international competition, 4-0. The Gold Cup returns in 2013 with Panama defeating Martinique and Mexico defeating Canada in opening group matches.
CenturyLink Field is one of 58 facilities in the United States considered for World Cup matches if the country hosts a tournament in 2018 or 2022. When discussing Seattle as a candidate, Sunil Gulati of the US Soccer Federation calls it "world-class facilities." to host qualifying in June 2013 - only the second city with the first over 3 decades earlier. The United States occupied Panama 2-0 in front of a raucous crowd.
On 22 November 2009, Seattle was the 14th annual MLS Cup spot between Real Salt Lake and the Los Angeles Galaxy, where Salt Lake won the Cup on penalties (5-4) ahead of 46,011. The stadium is the eighth stadium to host the event.
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The first sporting event at the stadium was a double-header on July 28, 2002, which included Sounders Select Women and Seattle Sounders from the USL team. The women beat Vancouver Breakers 4-3, while the men beat Vancouver Whitecaps 4-1 in front of 25,515 people. The USL team began using this facility regularly as their home land in 2003. Although team management is concerned about high lease and underutilized seating capacity, they are attracted by the opportunities and sponsorship location. The Sounders increased their average attendance from 2,583 at Seattle's Memorial Stadium in 2002 to 3,452 at the new stadium in 2003. In 2005, the Sounders beat Richmond Kickers 2-1 in a penalty shootout for the USL championship ahead of 8.011. Scott Jenkins scored the last goal and announced his retirement after the game.
In 2008, the expansion franchise MLS Sounders FC decided to develop the Starfire Sports Complex near Tukwila, and the USL team played most of the season at the facility. At that time, team management thought that practicing and playing at Starfire could provide a better transition for those wishing to play for a new MLS team. The last match for the USL Sounders at Qwest Field was the 2008 season opener against the Portland Timbers rivals. The match ended with a goalless draw in front of 10,184.
FC sound
The potential to attract an MLS expansion team helped boost public support to build the stadium in 1997. In 1996, Seattle was considered one of the original 10 MLS teams; However, this region does not have an adequate outdoor stadium. In 2007, it was announced that Seattle would be home to the expansion team. The first regular Sounders FC season match was at the stadium on March 19, 2009. Fredy Montero scored the first goal in Seattle's 3-0 victory.
Before the opening of their first season, the Sounders already had the highest number of season ticket holders in MLS after they sold all 22,000 season ticket packages on offer. The team created a website used to identify seating arrangements for seasonal ticket holders based on personal interests including preferred methods for watching matches and foreign team preferences. For the first half of the inaugural season, the top and bottom are removed, limiting the seating capacity to 27,700. The club hopes to create a familiar and supply-and-demand environment that will reward season ticket holders and encourage early seat purchases. The stadium continues to sell league games in limited seating configurations. However, the majority owner Joe Roth said that he "would not be happy" until the whole place opened.
The stadium is designed to easily open up the seats gradually if needed. After the crowd is sold out, additional sections are opened, increasing the total capacity to 32,400. In the Sounders' first year they set MLS records with an average home attendance of 30,943 people. The official capacity increased to 35,700 after the 2009 season. In 2011, The Sounders continued to hold the highest average attendance in the league with 38,496. The official capacity is increased again to 38,500 with the opening of Hawk's Nest for the 2012 season. The team averaged 44,247 spectators in the 2015 MLS season.
The Sounders set a record for the presence of a single country football match when they host Manchester United ahead of 67,052 in July 2011. On October 15, 2011, additional seats were available for a record 64,140 crowd during last regular home games, a Sounders 2 -1 win followed by a ceremony honoring retired goalkeeper Kasey Keller. And on October 7, 2012, another attendance record was broken when 66,452 fans attended for a 3-0 win over the Portland Timbers, following retirement ceremony of Retired Roger Levesque, Golden Scarf.
CenturyLink Field has hosted two US Open Cup final tournaments. On October 5, 2010, the 81-year-old's attendance record was broken when Sounders FC beat the Columbus Crew 2-1 ahead of 31,311. The record was broken one year later when CenturyLink Field returned to host the final on 4 October 2011 when 36,615 spectators watched Seattle defeat the 2-0 Chicago Fire.
Like the Seahawks, the Sounders have received attention for the swarming crowds and loud fans. The Seattle Times reported that "new standards for the presence and mood of the game of the day have been set" due to the hard sells crowd. Emerald City's vigorous supporters have dubbed the reception section behind the southern destination "Brougham End" for a road that runs along the southern edge of the complex.
Other events
The stadium became the annual venue for the Supercross race in 2005. Seattle has been abandoned outside the circuit since Kingdome hosted the race in 1999. It takes more than 650 dirt trucks to build a course for an event attended by around 50,000 spectators.
CenturyLink Field Event Center is connected to the square in the stadium and consists of two exhibition halls, conference rooms and concourse. The center hosts pre-match events for Seahawks and Mariners. According to the General Stadium Authority's website, the event center accounts for more than half a billion dollars for the region's economy. The center was renamed CenturyLink Field Event Center in June 2011, after Qwest Communications acquisition by CenturyLink and renaming the stadium.
The previous Event Center has been called "the worst place in town" for the concert, but in 2006, AEG Live and First & amp; The purpose of forming a partnership is to create a new theater in the Event Center room. Washington Mutual gained the naming rights for a new theater, calling it "WaMu Theater." Theater room can be assembled as needed inside buildings and equipment, including a 104 foot (32 m) wide stage, can be dismantled and stored at the stadium. Theater acoustics are enhanced by mounting panels on the ceiling and large curtains. Depending on the seating configuration, the capacity can be 3,300, 4,000, or 7,000. Seal performed its inaugural concert on November 6, 2006. Although the naming rights agreement ended after Washington Mutual's bankruptcy amid the 2008 financial crisis, the space retained the name of WaMu Theater, altering the abbreviation for now meaning "Washington Music" Theater. "
The facility has been used for public speaking engagement. For example, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, Tenzin Gyatso, delivered a 28-minute speech to 50,817 people on April 12, 2008.
The football stadium shakes the experiment
During the Seattle football game on January 8, 2011, the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) recorded what is dubbed the "Beast Quake", for Marshawn "Beast Mode" Lynch, a performer whose performance excites Qwest Field (then named) stadium crowd enough for the resulting shock to be recorded on the PNSN instrument. In 2014 and 2015 additional sensors are added in and around the stadium. Motivation for experiments includes performing rapid reaction exercises for the seismometer network team to install the sensors and interpret the results, and to test the ability to handle increasing web traffic from interested visitors from the general public. Trembling was detected at the stadium after a 90-yard touchdown runs for January 10, 2015 playoffs, dubbed as "Kam Quake" for the breakaway player, Kam Chancellor. The PNSN scientists say that the biggest event of all is "Dance Quake", which is caused by all the jumping and dancing that follows the 2-point Marshawn Lynch touchdown during the 2014-15 NFC Championship Game on January 18, 2015.
Facility contract and naming rights
The stadium was originally named Seahawks Stadium. The name was changed to Qwest Field in June 2004 after the telecom operator bought a naming rights of $ 75 million for a period of 15 years. According to the agreement, the proceeds of the sale should be used for maintenance and upgrading. A portion of each profit then goes into the $ 10 million fund that is guaranteed for the youth playfield. Because of CenturyLink's recent acquisition in Qwest, the stadium was officially renamed CenturyLink Field on June 23, 2011. There is speculation as to whether there will be a new nickname for the venue. The informal reader poll conducted by The Seattle Times shows that "The Clink" is a popular suggestion. During the Sounders FC match, this field was titled "The Xbox Pitch on CenturyLink Field" as part of a sponsorship deal with Microsoft.
In addition to 48 standing concessions, restaurants and lounges are located throughout the stadium. Along with typical dishes, local Pacific salmon sandwiches, Dungeness crab cakes, and microbrews are served. In 2006, Levy Restaurants replaced Aramark in a five-year contract to provide food and beverage services for stadiums and exhibition centers. In 2013, Sportservice manages and operates all general concessions and premium meals at the stadium.
In May 2007, Seattle-based Jones Soda beat Coca-Cola to sign a five-year contract to pour the rights of non-alcoholic drinks at the stadium, making it the only place in the NFL that has no contract with Coca-Cola. -Cola or Pepsi. Jones Soda, known for its unusual and holiday-themed sodas like Blue Bubblegum and Turkey & amp; Gravy, said it works to develop a sense of football related soda, such as "grass-stains." In June 2010, Seahawks and Jones Soda announced a joint decision to end Jones' sponsorship, after which Coca-Cola reclaimed seller rights with a new five-year agreement.
Transportation
CenturyLink Field is bordered by Pioneer Square District, International District, and the Industrial District area of ​​Seattle. Approval of the stadium referendum requires a transportation management program to coordinate transport options. First & amp; The facility lease agreement of the Goal facility also includes provisions to reduce congestion. The "Double Event Agreement" with Safeco Field was established so that two events with a combined presence of over 58,000 will not happen within four hours of each other. The agreement was also implemented to coordinate mass transportation to the stadium on match days. Local and regional buses serve the area with stops within three stadium blocks, and the Metro Transit bus service in the area previously offers express routes from several park areas and lots of rides for the game. Train stadium services through Seattle's King Street Station and abundant tracks accommodate extra trains during events. Regional commuter trains run on Sundays if the Seahawks have a home game. Trains also run for the Mid-day Sounders FC match on Saturday. In 2008, commuter trains brought 64,000 spectators to two nearby stadiums. Amtrak, mainly through the Cascades corridor Pacific Northwest route, also serves the station. On July 18, 2009, light rail service between SeaTac and the city center began in time for an exhibition match between Sounders and Chelsea. Light rail connect to the baseball and soccer stadiums through the stadium station. The International/Chinatown District Station also offers easy access to the north entrance.
CenturyLink Field is bordered by Interstate 5 and 90 intersections to the east and State Route 99 to the west. The State Route 519 corridor connects I-90 to the environment. Local authorities are compromising with Seahawks and Mariners at new ramps on railroad tracks running along the east side of CenturyLink and Safeco Fields. A flyover for the S Royal Brougham Way, a road bordering the southern edge of the CenturyLink Field complex, to improve access and safety is completed in May 2010. The stadium has 2,000 parking spaces in the parking garage and 8,400 around it to accommodate car traffic. Beginning in December 2011, the construction of the mixed-use project of Stadium Place replaces many parts of the north. Developers must replace 500 lost parking spaces and submit parking revenue to the Public Stadium Authority per agreement with King County.
See also
References
- Notes
- Quote
External links
- CenturyLink home page
- Authority of the Washington State Public Stadium
- The CenturyLink Field page on the Seattle Seahawks site
- The CenturyLink Field page on the Seattle Sounders FC site
- Project information from Ellerbe Becket
- CenturyLink Floor Seating Chart
- CenturyLink Field at StadiumDB
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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