Seattle is going all in on soccer this summer. Now the city’s waterfront is about to get a dramatic upgrade for the World Cup.
The Seattle Sounders and Reign FC have teamed up with local partners to launch “Seattle Soccer Celebration,” a floating fan zone and mini soccer pitch that will sit just off Pier 62 on Elliott Bay. The one-of-a-kind floating soccer pitch will be packed with soccer fans enjoying watch parties and waterfront views during one of the biggest sporting events in the world.
The floating venue will operate daily from June 11 through July 6, with a different lineup of entertainment and programming planned every day. It will host World Cup match screenings on a massive video board along with youth soccer programs, cultural events, private gatherings, and community activities throughout the tournament.
The setup itself is huge: a 286-foot-by-76-foot barge that organizers say has been in development for nearly two years. The soccer pitch onboard also carries some symbolic weight. It’s being recognized as the 52nd mini-pitch built in Washington through the RAVE Foundation’s effort to expand access to soccer ahead of the World Cup.
The project is a collaboration between several Seattle organizations. The Sounders and Reign FC partnered with presenting sponsor Lenovo as well as the nonprofit Friends of Waterfront Park.
Joy Shigaki, President and CEO of Friends of Waterfront Park, said in the press release:
“Waterfront Park was designed to bring people together during the moments that define a city, and this summer Seattle will welcome the world to its front porch. Seattle Soccer Celebration transforms Pier 62 into a place where community, culture and global connection meet on the shoreline.”
The waterfront installation is also part of Seattle’s larger World Cup fan celebration plans. Waterfront Park, where the barge will be located, is serving as one of four free official FIFA fan zones across the city. The other three fan zones will be located at Seattle Center, Pacific Place, and Victory Hall near T-Mobile Park.
While the main fan zones are free to enter, the floating barge experience will mostly operate as a premium ticketed venue with room for around 500 guests at a time. Fans interested in attending upcoming events can sign up for ticket updates through the Seattle Soccer Celebration website.
