Qwest Field- How Does it Compare to Other NFL Stadiums?

If F&B, fans, and atmosphere all receive high marks and their ticket prices rank in the lower third of the league, how does return on investment not rank as one of the leagues highest? Is access that big of an issue? Some people would argue the walk to Qwest from having to park further away, passing all the tail gaters and watching the “blue” converge, adds to the experience.

Also, the “Access” section focuses on cars only and neglects to mention the possibility of taking public transportation.

I’m biased, of course – I love Qwest. But I don’t understand the lower ratings for Access, ROI & “Etc”

Parking is not that expensive. Just a quick google search shows that $20-$30 is the going rate for most stadiums. And as was mentioned, there are tons of other options. There’s a light/commuter rail station right next to the north gate. Park and ride lots and a $2-$3 transit fare. The ferry terminal is 4 blocks away. On street parking is free in downtown Seattle on Sundays, and downtown buses run in a fareless zone. So you could conceivably park anywhere in the downtown core or in one of the $5 garages farther away, step on a bus, and be at the gate in 5min. I’ve had season tickets for 4 years and I’ve never had to pay to park, ever. And for fans traveling from far away, there are plenty of affordable hotels in downtown or within walking distance of the stadium.

Ranking Seattle a 3 for etc. seems hard to quantify. It’s a matter of taste, I guess – but Seattle offers everything any other major city could (except NBA or NHL shrug) It’s the cultural center of the Northwest and consistently voted one of the best areas in the country to live. Despite the reputation for rain, the weather isn’t THAT bad. (I’d much rather put up with a light mist and 40 degree winter day here than 10 below and a few feet of snow in the Northeast or Great Lakes)

I think in the end, how much you enjoy Qwest (or any other stadium) boils down to one thing: Tailgating, and how important that is to you. Qwest is a downtown stadium, the parking areas are spread out, there are few central tailgating areas, and city ordinances are strict on open fires and open containers. There is not the centralized experience of everyone gathering in the parking lot 3-4 hours before the game. For lots of people, that’s a dealbreaker, and the ritual of tailgating is just as important as the game itself. Seattle will never have that. The trade off, of course, is that we have many other options. You can bar hop, drink your way down 1st Ave. or walk over to the International District and load up on Pad Thai and Vietnamese Sandwiches before heading to your seat. For me personally, the atmosphere of Pioneer Square and all the options are much more enjoyable than being trapped in a parking lot – but to each their own.

I really love the feedback and appreciate the criticism that you all have. The fact is exchanges like that on what a Vietnamese sandwich is (and where to get one), how great it is that you can bring food into Qwest, and the best place to park are all reasons that I am creating this site, and hope to get true fans like the members found here to participate and comment.

I don’t mean to come off as if I’m shamelessly hocking my site, but did want to pipe back in with a quick thanks to those who took a look at the review, and those who commented. It’s a work in progress, and I appreciate the feedback.

Good luck to your Hawks, sorry they have become such an embarrassment down the stretch. At least the Monday night game had to make you feel a little better!

There is now way that I would pay 20 dollars to park. That is CRIMINAL. Like 10 dollars wouldn’t make you a ton of money if you owned one of those lots. People are just so greedy and money hungry that it is pitiful.

Oh and If I knew I could bring in outside food like pizza I would have. I guess you don’t know until you ask huh. I was usually just preoccupied with trying to sneak in liquor.