| CITY OVERVIEW
Stay in Seattle
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Seattle is famous for several things – it’s coffee (Starbucks and Seattle’s Best); its high-tech industries (Microsoft); its grunge bands (Nirvana and Pearl Jam); its rain (the city with most rainy days in the US); and the movie (Sleepless in Seattle). Seattle also has its fair share of sporting teams and events, making it one of the more popular destinations for sporting fans. Putting it simply, Seattle is the capital of the trendy North West USA. Seattle and its surrounds have been the recipients of a large migration of people seeking a more peaceful existence in the north-west. Located on Puget Sound, bustling downtown Seattle is only a 10-minute ferry ride to several largely uninhabited islands that are dotted throughout the Sound. There are several outstanding attractions in Seattle. The Pike Place Market is probably the tourist epicentre of Seattle, with shopping bargains, fresh produce and stalls of arts and crafts all throughout the century old building. The streets surrounding Pike Place Market are also filled with cultural food stalls, many plant shops, galleries and gift shops. Pike Place Market is on the waterfront on the middle western edge of downtown. In the northern edge of the downtown area is the site of the 1962 World Fair, the Seattle Centre. The Space Needle, which looked very futuristic in 1962 and still looks like it might take off into space, provides a great view of the Puget Sound region. As you could imagine, a monorail connecting the park to the downtown area must have looked unbelievable in 1962 but today provides a very functional service to what is now the sporting and entertainment precinct of Seattle. Other facilities here are the Seattle Opera House, the Pacific Science Centre, sporting arenas (see below), and the Fun Forest Amusement Park. Again, wherever there is a University precinct there are plenty of great cafes, restaurants and bars. It is no different in Seattle, with the University of Washington campus in the ‘U’ District, some 5km north-east of the downtown. It is easily accessible by bus. If you get the chance and you need to unwind, try and get on a ferry to one of the islands that make you feel like you are actually in some far-flung retreat well away from city life. Vashon and Blake Island’s are probably the quietest and lend themselves best to the American Indian culture that has been preserved and promoted. However, the most popular is Bainbridge Island and its main town Winslow, which is dotted with many restaurants and shops. Inland from Seattle are nature retreat and ski-resort areas worth visiting. Heading towards Mt Olympia and further to Mount St Helens are several ski resorts within close proximity to Seattle in winter. The pick of ski-resort towns is probably Snoqualmie Falls. |
| GETTING THERE
Fly to Seattle Within USA
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Seattle's Sea-Tac Airport is 21km south of the city, halfway between Seattle and Tacoma, hence its name. The Metro Transit and Gray Line's Airport Express and Shuttle Express all offer services to and from downtown to the airport. Amtrak trains use the King St Station, north of the new Seahawks stadium and just south of Pioneer Square. Greyhound's bus terminal is at 8th Ave and Stewart St, on the northern fringe of downtown. Seattle’s Metro Transit primarily operates a bus-based system and services much of metropolitan area. In the downtown area, most buses utilise the Bus-only tunnel, which has five downtown entrances. In the immediate downtown area, all bus rides are free during the day in the area between 6th Ave and the Waterfront, and between Jackson St in Pioneer Square and Battery St. The Washington State Ferry System is probably one of the most extensive commuter ferry systems in the world as much of the growing metro area is located in or around the Puget Sound. |
| NFL
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS Ticket information through NFL
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The NFL’s Seattle Seahawks are another team that have not experienced much footballing success. 1976 marked the first-ever game for the Seahawks but it took until 1983 before they experienced their first playoff match. Several more playoff berths were gained in the 80’s, but the 90’s were a very lean period for the Seahawks, with hardly any playoff berths since. |
| NBA
SEATTLE SUPERSONICS |
The NBA’s Seattle SuperSonics joined the NBA for the 1967-68 season and reached the upper echelon of the league during two different decades. The Sonics first reached the top of the mountain in the late 1970s. They reached the NBA Finals in two straight seasons, winning the crown in 1978-79 under supercoach Lenny Wilkens. After an up-and-down decade in the 1980s, Seattle was resurgent in the 1990s. The Sonics have also been one of the most consistent teams of recent times, with most seasons over .500 since the 1986-87 season. |
| MLB
SEATTLE MARINERS |
The MLB’s Seattle Mariners joined the Majors in 1977. They only have a handful of playoff appearances to their name, but their recent success suggested that a World Series appearance was not far away when they were under control of super manager Lou Piniella, a former manager of the Yankees who now manages the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Those days seem long gone now since Lou left. |
| WUSA
SEATTLE STORM |
The WNBA’s Seattle Storm was only admitted in the Year 2000 with Portland and made the playoffs for the first time in 2002 . |
| SAFECO FIELD |
Safeco Field hosts the Mariners and is located at 83 King Street Seattle. This baseball only stadium is located to the north of the Mariners previous home of the Kingdome, one of the most despised baseball stadiums in the country. Located at the southern end of the Seattle downtown area, Safeco Field was opened in 1999 and has a capacity of 46,500. Like many of the newer stadiums, Seattle's new ballpark was built to resemble the great ballparks of yesteryear. It is open-air and has real grass. However, unlike older parks, it also features a retractable roof that covers the ballpark, but does not enclose it. Safeco Field has become renowned as one of the hardest scoring Field’s in the Major Leagues and has become a great home ground advantage for the Mariner’s. Safeco Field’s reputation was enhanced by hosting the 2001 All-Star Game. |
| KEY ARENA |
Key Arena is home of the Supersonics and the Storm and is located at 305 Harrison Street, Seattle. It upgrades the Seattle Coliseum, which was opened in 1983 and has a capacity of 17,000. The original building was recycled instead of torn down and rebuilt - its shell was kept, while the interior of the building was completely renovated. The Key Arena is located on the grounds of the Seattle Center (formerly the site of the 1962 World's Fair) in the lower Queen Anne area of Seattle (in the vicinity of the Space Needle). The Arena is within walking range of all major Downtown hotels. However, you can access the Arena by Monorail that leaves regularly from the Westlake Center in Downtown (Pine Street between 4th and 5th). |
| SEAHAWK STADIUM |
QWest Field replaced the Kingdome and Husky Stadium as the home of the Seahawks in 2002. It has a capacity of 67,000 and was built on the site of the old Kingdome, which is located at the southern end of the Downtown area of Seattle at 800 Occidental Ave South Seattle. By public
transport, board any bus at Bay C or D in any Tunnel Station that go to
the International District Station (Over ten transit routes pass within 3
blocks of the site). Except in the Metro Tunnel, avoid
express routes as they go straight
past the new Stadium. |
| HORSE
RACING
Emerald Downs Racecourse, 2300 Emerald Downs Road, Auburn (season: mid April to mid September). Tickets available at course |
Emerald Downs is located some 35km to the south of Seattle, just north of the suburb of Auburn adjacent to the Auburn Municipal Council. There are two options in getting to the course. One is to catch the Coaster train between Tacoma and Seattle King Street Station - get off at Auburn Station. You can walk west along Main Street, then up C Street North to the racecourse and Emerald Downs Drive (about a 2km walk). A Pony Express Bus Service is also available from Metro at King Street Station. |
| NCAA
SPORTS - DIVISION 1
WASHINGTON STATE |
The
WSU Cougars are located in Pullman, the famous University (‘U’)
District section of Seattle, some 5km north-east of downtown. The Cougars
have teams in most sports, including football and men’s and women’s
basketball. The football team plays out of Cougar (or Martin) Stadium,
located on the campus. The basketball teams play out of Beasley Coliseum
(or Friel Court) and is also located on the campus further north along
Stadium Way. There
are several bus routes from downtown Seattle that go to the U District,
including Routes 7, 25, 43, 66, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74E, 76, 79, 355, 510,
511, and 512. Just get off at Main Street/Stadium Way and walk up Stadium
Way to get to the Football and Basketball Stadiums. |
