With Seahawks, Kraken, and Sounders games in full swing, Seattle sports fans have more ways to get to the stadiums, and Sound Transit says more people are taking advantage of public transportation on game days.
After last year’s Super Bowl win, Seahawks fans are flocking to home games hoping the team can do it again this year. For fans living on the Eastside, there is now another option for getting to the stadium with the new crosslake connection.
Sound Transit’s David Jackson said ridership at Eastside stations is more than 100% higher on Sundays with games compared with Sundays without games.
“People are coming early. They’re taking advantage of the train,” Jackson said.
On opening night of the Seahawks season, Sound Transit said nearly 5,000 riders used South Bellevue Station, a 53% increase over the previous week’s baseline. That game was played on a Wednesday.
Jackson said fans can also avoid some of the costs that come with driving to a game.
“They’re not driving, they’re not spending $5 a gallon in gas, and they’re paying for parking,” Jackson said, adding that a trip costs $3 each way.
The increased game-day use isn’t limited to Link light rail.
Sound Transit has added an extra Sounder train from both the Tacoma-Lakewood and Everett corridors this season. The agency said more than 3,000 passengers are using Sounder for Sunday daytime games.
And football isn’t the only sport driving demand.
Jackson said crowds can also be seen at Westlake during Kraken games, where riders can transfer to the monorail. Sounders games are also popular with transit riders, he said.
For fans planning to use transit for an upcoming game, Sound Transit recommends getting to the light rail station early if they plan to use a park-and-ride before it fills up.