How to beat pricey parking, traffic for Seattle Seahawks playoff game
Revive I-5, high parking prices complicate trip to Seahawks playoff game
As the Seattle Seahawks prepare to host the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Saturday, fans are being urged to plan ahead for heavy traffic, limited parking and ongoing Revive I-5 construction.
SEATTLE - As the Seattle Seahawks gear up to take on the 49ers this Saturday, getting to the stadium is going to be a battle of its own.
Between sky-high parking prices and the latest round of Revive I-5 construction slowing everyone's roll, the "12th Man" will need a solid game plan just to reach their seats.
On Thursday, parking lots showed some nice prices.
How do you feel about $16? Maybe $25? Come Saturday, they won't be so cheap.
Parking lot outside Lumen Field (FOX 13 Seattle)
What they're saying:
"I am excited to be honest," said Chase Caughey, manager at The People's Burger near Lumen Field.
Caughey expects to feed a lot of fans on game day.
"We pump out up to 250 to 300 burgers in about three to four hours," he said.
But before Saturday's game against the San Francisco 49ers, you need a plan to get there without a headache, considering Revive I-5 work near the Ship Canal Bridge will only hamper your game day drive.
What you can do:
King County Metro recommends using its Trip Planner tool for up-to-the-minute information about your route.
"With the Revive I-5 construction and 76,000 fans, it's going to be crowded. So, understand that it might take a little longer to get in and it might take a little longer to get out," said King County Metro's Al Sanders.
I-5 Ship Canal Bridge in Seattle
Sanders said there are 22 routes that will get you close to Lumen Field, as well as Link 1 Line routes from Federal Way to Lynnwood that will help you get to the game.
He said the West Seattle Water Taxi will also have three late sailings at the end of the night.
Sound Transit officials said they've cancelled planned work and boosted schedules.
There will be special Sounder train service in addition to Link light rail, ST Express, and King County Metro service.
Link light rail station at Lumen Field in Seattle (FOX 13 Seattle)
For Park and Ride fans, officials said those spots will fill up fast, so park early.
Sound Transit's Henry Bendon said a day pass is just six dollars.
"When the game ends. That's where the big crowd is. We all know this. We've seen the videos of the platforms that fill up. But, we deploy a bunch of extra trains. We stage them in pocket tracks and in the yard, so that we can surge service and get people out of there as fast as possible," he said.
Dig deeper:
Seattle police are also prepared and told us they will have more DUI emphasis patrols.
"We'll have extra officer presence down there, we'll have specialty units down there," Det. Brian Pritchard said.
They also said if you are driving and parking somewhere, don't leave any valuables and lock your car.
"During the time of the game, we do see an increase of car prowls in that area," Det. Eric Munoz said.
(FOX 13 Seattle)
And about those parking spots?
"I've seen up to $120 for the parking garage," Caughey said.
They might be cheap today, but we all know those prices can get real steep, real fast.
We checked SpotHero.com for game day prices as of now. Those prices are inching much closer to $100 and typically involve a 5 to 15-minute walk to Lumen Field.
So what's a fan to do?
"Have fun, you know, cheer loud, and then, you know, come down and get a hot dog, get a burger. The line might be long, but we are really fast," Caughey said.
We expect packed restaurants, bars, and hotels around Lumen Field. Officials encourage people to plan for a safe ride home and to never drink and drive.
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How much does it cost to go to a Seattle Seahawks playoff game? We ran the numbers
Despite the steep costs, demand remains high.
Rideshare services are another way to get home safely and they also offer options to schedule your ride ahead of time.
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The Source: Information in this story came from Sound Transit, King County Metro, Seattle Police and original FOX 13 Seattle reporting and interviews.