Pioneer Square Info Session
January 22, 2026
Poster by Shogo Ota
TODAY’S TOPICS
GETTING WA FIFA READY
FIFA World Cup 2026
SeattleFWC26
(Local Organizing Committee)
Responsible for running games & coordination across continent; “Inside the Stadium Footprint”
Governments
Lead for local planning, non-FIFA logistics, activations, fundraising, embedding local values
Providing typical governmental services (transit, traffic control, law enforcement, etc.)
Partners & vendors
Prepare venues, support marketing, host local events
HIGHLIGHTING OUR CITY BROADENING THE BENEFIT
STOPS TOURS LOOPS
• Public Art
• Small Businesses
• Cultural Institutions
• Key Transit Hubs
• Notable Landmarks & Public Spaces
FREE DOWNLOAD
HOW TO PLAY
EXPLORE LOOPS AND TOURS PLAY GAMES AT STOPS HAVE FUN! WIN PRIZES
SEATTLE
CENTER
MARKET TO MOHAI
ELLIOT BAY
CONNECTO
R + OSP
WESTLAKE + CENTRAL DOWNTOWN
OVERLOOK WALK + WATERFRONT
CD: 23RD AND UNION
UNITY LOOP
A CURATED PATH CONNECTING THE ART, CULTURE, & SOCIAL HIGHLIGHTS THAT MAKE THE EMERALD CITY SPARKLE.
CD: JUDKINS PARK
CHINATOWN -INT’L DISTRICT STADIUMS PIONEER SQUARE
• 15 ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS
• 300 + STOPS
• FULLY INTEGRATED INTO SEA&WIN
• NEW AND TEMPORARY PUBLIC ART
• ALIGNED WITH TRANSIT & ASSESSED FOR ACCESSIBILITY
POLYGONS Follow the Flukes!
https://www.seattlechamber.com/world-cup/
STADIUM AREA OPERATIONS THE FIFA FACTOR
✓ More fans from out of area: staying in hotels downtown & places connected by transit; Likely longer stays.
✓ More dignitaries: VVIPs, Heads of state, etc. means enhanced security perimeters
✓ More charter buses: more spectator groups arriving together by chartered buses & private shuttles
✓ Restricted entrances: majority of fans required to enter via north gates
✓ Longer event: Stadium will remain open, with food & beverage, until 2 hours after the final whistle
SAFETY PERIMETERS
Stadium Perimeter (red dashed line)
• Lumen Field’s outer property boundary
• Fenced & locked down from May 15 to July 13
Security Perimeter (black dashed line)
• Match days only – starts 5 hours before kickoff, ends 2 hours after final whistle
• Enforced through combination of security personnel & portable barriers/fencing
• Occidental’s perimeter runs through middle of street to allow non-ticketed access to businesses
Match day restrictions operational
• 12pm kickoff – in effect 7am-4pm
• 1pm kickoff – in effect 8am-5pm
• 5pm kickoff – in effect 12pm-9pm
• 8pm kickoff – in effect 3pm-12am
DRAFT & SUBJECT TO CHANGE FEEDBACK TO LIAISONS!
MATCH DAY ONLY
• Red street closures for regular traffic in both directions with exceptions noted below
ANTICIPATED TRAFFIC CLOSURES
12PM KICKOFF – IN EFFECT 7AM-4PM
1PM KICKOFF – IN EFFECT 8AM-5PM
5PM KICKOFF – IN EFFECT 12PM-9PM
8PM KICKOFF – IN EFFECT 3PM-12AM
• Green solid street remains open in one direction west on Yesler, south on 1st Ave S, west on S Dearborn St
• Green dotted Ferry & Rideshare circulation allowed S Jackson & S Dearborn
• Green checkered Bus only restrictions on Royal Brougham; 2nd Ave S; S Main St; south on 2nd Ave Ext S; east on S Jackson St
• Royal Brougham Way open for FIFA credentialed vehicles only (between 1st Ave S & 3rd Ave S)
MATCH DAY ONLY
• Planning visit: Wheel the World landing page
• Rideshare/Vehicle drop off: at 1st Ave S & Charles Street
• Transit: Use CID Station; Metro shuttle will be available to bring fans to the ADA drop-off
ACCESSIBILITY
DRAFT MATCH DAY ONLY PEDESTRIAN
FLOW
• Preferred paths still being determined by SPD & SDOT
• Most fans are required to enter stadium via & queue in North Lot
• Visual ticket checks at Royal Brougham pedestrian overpass –people w/o ticket will be directed south of T-Mobile
DRAFT MATCH DAY ONLY SOUND TRANSIT
• Link: ticketed fans encouraged to utilize stations based on destination & origin
• PSQ: arriving from north or heading north post match
• ID/C: arriving from east or heading east post match
• Stadium: arriving from south or heading south post match
• Sounder: riders required to enter Lumen Field via Weller Street bridge, not direct from platform like at Seahawk games
DRAFT MATCH DAY ONLY
• No parking or operations within Orange Zone
MICROMOBILITY RESTRICTIONS
• Speed restricted to 8mph in Purple Zone
• Blue shows proposed Staffed Parking Corrals, Bike valet, and/or unstaffed ROW spaces
• Parking permitted in designated spots only within the Purple Crosshatch
MATCH DAY ONLY RIDESHARE RESTRICTIONS
• Temporary Rideshare staging lot is proposed in upland portion of Pier 48, with possible taxi-stand immediately south
• No pick-up or drop offs within the blue zone – pins can be dropped anywhere outside this zone.
• ADA drop offs on 1st Ave S & Charles Street
