On Wednesday, Seattle will host a grand parade celebrating the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory. City officials expect up to a million fans to attend the celebration, so anyone planning to join should carefully plan their day and arrive early.
The ceremonial presentation of the Lombardi Trophy will begin at 10:00 a.m. at Lumen Field, whose gates will open at 8:30 a.m. The home venue for the Seahawks and the Seattle Sounders has long been an iconic gathering place for residents, a symbol of the city’s sports culture and an important part of urban identity that goes beyond sports. Entry to this event requires a ticket, and according to Ticketmaster data, they are likely already sold out. Strict stadium rules will be enforced: only clear bags and small clutches are allowed, and alcohol and professional photo equipment are prohibited.
The parade itself will start after the ceremony and will proceed along a two-mile stretch of Fourth Avenue — from South Washington Street by the stadium to Cedar Street near the Space Needle. Parade access is free. Fans can pick up commemorative champion cards either with ceremony tickets or at participating Starbucks locations along the route, and T-Mobile customers can collect souvenirs at the team store.
Organizers strongly recommend using public transit, as downtown parking will be extremely limited and the stadium garages will be closed. The Washington State ferry system — one of the largest in the U.S. — will play a particularly important role in bringing thousands of attendees to the event. Ferries are essential because of the region’s geography: Seattle sits on a peninsula between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, and ferries connect the city to the Kitsap Peninsula, islands and coastal communities. Experience from the 2014 parade shows people begin staking out spots along the route as early as 6:30 a.m., and ferries fill up by 7:20 a.m., so it’s best to depart early for a good viewing spot.
For those who can’t attend in person, KING 5 will broadcast both the trophy presentation ceremony and the parade live. The weather is forecast to be clear and sunny, creating ideal conditions for a large street celebration.
Based on: Seahawks’ Super Bowl parade and celebration: What to know