Venue Detail
Seattle Sounders FC
RSV Pro Facilities Report
March, 2015
Seattle Sounders FC
PO Box 80966 Seattle, WA 98108 Phone: 206-622-3415 URL: www.soundersfc.com Owner: Joe Roth and other investors League: Major League Soccer, Western Conference
Venue
CenturyLink Field, 800 Occidental Ave, Seattle, WA 98134 Owner: Washington State Public Stadium Authority Managed by: Team Built: 2002 Capacity: 24,500 Permanent concession stands: 48 Concessionaire: Sportservice Suite caterer: Sportservice Soft drink: Coca Cola
Naming rights
Sold to: Qwest Communications Int'l Price: $75,000,000 Term: 15 years Expires: 2019
Ticket prices
Season tickets range from $437 to $1,494 Single tickets range from $25.00 to $130.00
Attendance
2012 average attendance: 42,610 2013 average attendance: 44,038 2014 average attendance: 43,734
Suites
Quantity: 82 Term: 5 to 9 years Price: $50,000 to $150,000 Seats: 12 to 34
Club seats
Quantity: 7,000 Term: 3 to 7 years Price: $2,130 to $3,670
Financing
Cost for the Stadium is $430 million, and cost for the adjoining Stadium Exhibition Center is $70 million. The entire project is funded by a public-private partnership, with at least $130 million coming from the Seahawks. The public's contribution is capped at $300 million. The public share is funded from a state lottery, sales tax revenue and the county hotel tax.
After maintenance and operation costs have been met, any profits generated by these facilities will be divided three ways each year. A portion will go to the Seahawks football team. Another portion will be placed in a reserve fund to cover any unanticipated revenue shortfalls. And the final portion will be used to build youth playfields across the state.
The Kingdome was the home of the NFL Seahawks, but was razed to make room for a new venue.
The new stadium opened without a naming rights sponsor and with some premium seating unsold. That changed in 2004 when the team closed a 15-year deal with Qwest for naming rights to the stadium. The agreement is reported to be worth $4 million to $5 million a year. The stadium began as Qwest Field, but the company also has rights to the full complex with its exhibition center. That combination was known as the Qwest Center. In 2011, after its acquisition of Qwest, the venue was renamed CenturyLink Field while the complex became CenturyLink Field Event Center.
The deal also requires First & Goal, the Seahawks' sibling firm that operates the stadium, to buy products and services each year that exceeds 35 percent of the annual fee.
The team pays $850,000 a year to lease the stadium. The Seahawks keep all money from renting it to other users and 80 percent of the revenues from an exhibition center next door.
The Seahawks reduced the price of club seats between the end zone and 20-yard lines before the 2002 season from $150 to $95. The change included about 3,300 seats. Fans that have already purchased seats in the section could move into higher-priced areas or receive a refund. The team hoped the lower prices will increase sales. They said the weak economy has prevented the seats from selling as well as they hoped.
Team officials say the suites are the largest in football and each has its own rest room. Suites have two television monitors, stereo sound systems and other standard food and beverage facilities. Electronic panels allow suite holders to order food and beverage items at the touch of a button or check on team or player statistics.
The Seahawks were joined in 2009 by the MLS Sounders. (Facilities, MLS, Professional Sports, Soccer Venue)