Seattle is planning a unique show to accompany the FIFA Men’s World Cup this summer: giant drone-powered scoreboards lighting up the night sky after every match hosted in the city.
On each of the six Seattle match days, fans will be able to look toward the Space Needle and watch hundreds of drones create a glowing display showing the final score and national flags of the teams that just played. The aerial performances, organized by Visit Seattle, are expected to last around 12 minutes and will happen after the games wrap up each night.
The best viewing spots will be around the International Fountain and Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center, where visitors can catch clear views of the drones soaring above the skyline. Best of all, the shows are completely free and open to the public.
Current scheduled drone show dates include: June 15 at 10 p.m. following Belgium vs. Egypt, June 24 at 10 p.m. after Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Qatar, June 26 after 11 p.m. following Egypt vs. IR Iran, and July 1 at 11:30 p.m. after Match 82. Additional shows are planned for June 19 and July 6, with exact times still to be announced.
The idea is designed to give both locals and visitors another way to celebrate the World Cup atmosphere beyond the stadium itself. According to Visit Seattle officials, the drone shows will mix soccer excitement with Seattle-themed visuals and a message of welcoming fans from around the world.
Stephanie Byington, Visit Seattle’s chief marketing officer, told The Seattle Times that the organization explored dozens of possible ideas for public events during the tournament before landing on the drone scoreboard concept. What made it stand out was its originality: a drone scoreboard tied to live match results hasn’t been done before at a World Cup host city.
The production is being handled by Sky Elements, a company known for large-scale drone entertainment shows. While the overall performance will stay mostly the same throughout the tournament, the score and country flags will be updated after each match.
Visit Seattle also looked at multiple possible locations around the city for the displays before ultimately choosing Seattle Center, which offers the perfect backdrop with the Space Needle towering above the skyline.
You can find more info on Visit Seattle.
