Lumen Field (Seattle)

Key Facts:

• Location: Seattle, Washington — built on the former Kingdome site; overseen by the Washington State Public Stadium Authority in partnership with First & Goal Inc.

• Opened: July 28, 2002

• Capacity: Approximately 68,000 to 69,000 (NFL capacity, expandable to 72,000)

• Home Teams: NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and MLS’s Seattle Sounders FC

• Architects: Ellerbe Becket and LMN Architects

📚 Historical Significance:

• Built following a public vote in 1997 as a multipurpose venue aimed at hosting world-class events

• Notoriously one of the world’s loudest outdoor stadiums — crowd noise has registered up to 137.6 decibels, even triggering seismic activity

• Venue for numerous high-profile soccer events, including MLS Cup finals, CONCACAF Gold Cup matches, Copa América Centenario, U.S. Open Cup finals, and the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League Final (record attendance of 68,741)

🏗 Architecture and Features:

• Partial roof design covering ~70% of seating, enhancing acoustics and crowd atmosphere

• Built with strong sustainability and accessibility features: over 1,400 ADA seats, multiple elevators/restrooms, EV charging, and water-saving fixtures

• Built via a public–private partnership, costing roughly $430 million

🆕 Upgrades for 2026 World Cup:

• FIFA requires real grass surfaces — installation of a natural grass field scheduled for early spring 2026 after Seahawks season

• Improvements include new irrigation, ventilation, expanded media areas, secure turnstiles, upgraded seating in the Hawks Nest, and enhanced lighting and security infrastructure

• Temporary renaming to Seattle Stadium to comply with FIFA naming guidelines

• Seattle expected to host around $929 million in economic impact from six World Cup matches