CenturyLink Field CenturyLink Field is a multi - purpose stadium in Seattle , Washington , United States . It serves as the home field for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League ( NFL ) and Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer ( MLS ) . It was originally called Seahawks Stadium but was renamed Qwest Field in June 23 , 2004 when telecommunications carrier Qwest acquired the naming rights . It was then given its current name in June 2011 after the acquisition of Qwest by CenturyLink . The complex also includes the Event Center with the WaMu Theater , a parking garage , and a public plaza . The venue hosts concerts , trade shows , and consumer shows along with sporting events . Located within a mile ( 1 . 6 km ) of Seattle ' s central business district , the venue is accessible by multiple freeways and forms of mass transit . The stadium was built between 2000 and 2002 after voters approved funding for the construction in a statewide election held on June 17 , 1997 . This vote created the Washington State Public Stadium Authority to oversee public ownership of the venue . The owner of the Seahawks , Paul Allen , formed First & Goal Inc . to develop and operate the new facilities . Allen was closely involved in the design process and emphasized the importance of an open - air venue with an intimate atmosphere . The stadium is a modern facility with views of the skyline of Downtown Seattle . The stadium can seat 67 , 000 people . The crowd at CenturyLink Field is notoriously loud during Seahawks games . The noise has contributed to the team ' s home field advantage with an increase in false start ( movement by an offensive player prior to the play ) penalties against visiting teams . The stadium was the first in the NFL to implement a FieldTurf artificial field . Numerous college and high school American football games have also been played at the stadium . CenturyLink Field was also designed for soccer ; the first sporting event held included a United Soccer Leagues ( USL ) Seattle Sounders match . The USL team began regularly using the stadium for home games in 2003 . The local MLS expansion team , Seattle Sounders FC , began its inaugural season in 2009 at the stadium . CenturyLink Field was the site of the MLS Cup in 2009 . Funding . The Seahawks played their home games at the Kingdome from their inaugural season between the 1976 and 1999 season s . In 1995 , a proposal was made to issue county bonds to fund a remodeling project of the facility . The proposal failed , and as a result , Seahawks ' owner Ken Behring threatened to sell or move the team . In 1997 , local billionaire Paul Allen pledged to acquire the team if a new stadium could be built and said that the team could not be profitable until they left the Kingdome . He asked the state legislature to hold a special statewide referendum on a proposal to finance a new stadium . Allen also agreed to cover any cost overruns . With Allen agreeing to pay the $ 4 million cost , the legislature agreed . The vote was scheduled to be held in June 1997 , but in May , a Seattle resident filed a lawsuit that claimed the legislature did not have authority to call for such a vote , since it would be paid for by a private party who could gain from the result . The case was delayed until after the vote . The proposal was pitched to voters as providing both a new home for the Seahawks and a venue for top - level soccer . It passed on June 17 , 1997 , with 820 , 364 ( 51 . 1 % ) in favor and 783 , 584 against . The vote was close in Seattle , but it received 60 % approval in Seattle ' s northern and eastern suburbs . The public funding was unpopular farther away in the eastern portion of the state . In October , a Thurston County Superior Court judge ruled that the legislature acted properly and in the public ' s interest , and he dismissed the pending lawsuit . The Washington Supreme Court upheld the decision that December . Voter approval of the referendum created a public – private partnership . The Washington State Public Stadium Authority was created to oversee public ownership of the stadium , exhibition center , and parking garage complex . Allen purchased the Seahawks and formed First & Goal Inc . to build and operate the facility . The budget for the project was $ 430 million . Of this cost , $ 44 million was allotted to build the Event Center , $ 26 million for the parking garage , and $ 360 million for the stadium . First & Goal was to cover cost overruns and pay up to $ 130 million of the project while the contribution from the public was capped at $ 300 million . The public funding package included new sports - related state lottery games , taxes on the facility ' s admissions and parking , sales tax credits and deferrals , and an eight - year extension of the two percent tax on hotel rooms in King County . The taxes on admissions and parking are set at two percent to pay off the project ' s tax - exempt bonds . Those taxes will be kept below the authorized ten percent to preserve the tax - exempt status , but the percentage will be increased to the full amount when the bonds are completely paid in 2021 . At that time , they will become dedicated funding sources for maintenance and modernization of the facilities . In September 1998 , First & Goal signed a 30 - year stadium lease that includes options to extend for another 20 . Per the agreement , the Public Stadium Authority receives $ 850 , 000 a year from First and Goal ( adjusted for inflation ) , and First & Goal keeps all revenue from the stadium and parking garage . The company receives 80 % of the revenue from the exhibition center while the other twenty percent is allotted to a state education fund . First & Goal is responsible for all operating and maintenance costs , expected to be $ 6 million a year , and must keep the facility in " first - class " condition . Other details of the lease include the availability of affordable seats , a coordinated effort with neighboring Safeco Field to prevent gridlock , a provision for naming rights , the investment in public art at the stadium , and the giveaway of a luxury suite to a fan each Seahawks ' game . Construction and layout . The architectural firm Ellerbe Becket , in association with Loschky Marquardt & Nesholm Architects of Seattle , designed the 1 , 500 , 000 sq ft ( 140 , 000 m ) project . Allen was closely involved during the design process . While growing up he attended games at the University of Washington ' s outdoor Husky Stadium . His goal was to create a similar experience and atmosphere at the new venue . The exhibition center portion of the project was designed over a period of 14 months by Loschky Marquardt & Nesholm Architects while First & Goal managed the construction . Town meetings were held to discuss the impact on the public , and the company created a $ 6 million mitigation fund for nearby neighborhoods . In accordance with a program established by the building team , contracts totaling $ 81 million were awarded to minority - and women - owned businesses . Union apprentices made up 19 % of the workforce through another program with local trade union s . In September 1998 , construction began on the new exhibition center and parking garage . By October 1999 , the exhibition center was open and hosting events . On March 26 , 2000 , to make way for the stadium , the Kingdome was demolished in the world ' s largest implosion of a single concrete structure . Almost all of the Kingdome rubble was recycled with roughly half used for the new stadium . The designers were challenged by the soft soil at the site since it was a tidal marsh until public works projects in the early 20th century adjusted the waterline of nearby Elliot Bay . The top layer is a soft fill taken from the grading projects that had leveled portions of Seattle ' s hills . To account for the soft soil , the complex sits on over 2 , 200 pilings driven to below the ground to form what is essentially a pier for the foundation . Eight individually connected sections were built to account for the soil concerns , temperature effects , and the potential for earthquakes . The adjoining exhibition center and parking garage are separate structures and not part of the eight - section stadium . The site of CenturyLink Field is the smallest of those developed for new NFL stadiums . The upper levels were cantilever ed over the lower sections to fit within the limited space . Along with the angle of seats and the placement of the lower sections closer to the field , this provided a better view of the field than typically seen throughout the country and allowed for a 67 , 000 seat capacity . Space is available to increase the total capacity to 72 , 000 for special events . Included in the capacity are 111 suites and over 7 , 000 club seats . The stadium has 1 , 400 seats for those with disabilities and their companions located in various sections . In 2009 , CenturyLink Field ranked 21st out of the 31 stadiums in the NFL for total seating capacity . The configuration of CenturyLink Field is a U - shape with an open north end to provide views of downtown Seattle and the large north plaza . The large retractable roof of Safeco Field along with Mount Rainier to the southeast can be seen from the partially open south end . The stadium ' s concourse s were built to be wide , and they provide additional views of the surrounding area . A 13 - story tower was erected at the north end of the stadium that visually complements the Seattle skyline . The tower features a vertically oriented scoreboard which is the first of its kind in the NFL . At the base is bleacher seating for 3 , 000 called the " Hawks ' Nest " . Another addition not previously seen in the NFL are field - level luxury suites located directly behind the north end zone . Allen rejected plans for a retractable roof during the early stages of the stadium ' s design . The lack of a retractable roof made it open to the elements , provided better views , and reduced the total cost of the project . The roof , at 200 , 000 sq ft ( 19 , 000 m ) , covers 70 % of the seats but leaves the field open . The roof spans between concrete pylon supports at the north and south ends of the stadium . Its two expansive sections are held from below by truss es . From above , two arches with additional supports rise over the field . Post - tensioned cables were used to achieve its final shape and positioning . To minimize damage in the event of an earthquake , the roof has a friction pendulum damper system . This disconnects the roof from the support pylons so that it can move independently of the structure . The technology had never been applied to a large - scale roof before CenturyLink Field . The roof was originally painted white to aesthetically distinguish it from both Safeco Field and the nearby industrial area . The east side of the stadium has a large glass curtain wall that faces the nearby International District . The exterior of the stadium also consists of salmon colored concrete , and the west side of the structure is partially clad with red brick . The coloring and facade were designed so the stadium would blend with the older buildings in neighboring Pioneer Square . To reduce costs , the exterior was not completed with brick or ornate steel work . A 6 . 8 M earthquake struck the Seattle area during construction . The structure responded as expected by the designers , and there was minimal damage . The project was completed on budget and a month ahead of schedule . Surface . In 2002 , CenturyLink Field was the first stadium in the NFL to install a FieldTurf artificial field . The surface is made of plastic fibers rooted in a mixture of ground rubber and sand . The field was replaced in the spring of 2008 after tests showed that compression of the sand and rubber increased the risk of player injuries . FieldTurf won the bid for the second installation over Polytan . For the replacement surface , a one inch ( two and one half centimeters ) poured rubber foundation was added to prevent the compression from reoccurring . Under the naming rights agreement , Qwest paid $ 500 , 000 for the installation and First & Goal paid the remaining amount , which was undisclosed . By 2010 , the FieldTurf ' s quality had decreased with the blades becoming matted down . It also failed FIFA ' s quality testing to be ranked 2 Star . A new FieldTurf surface was laid down in 2012 and it met the requirements of a 2 Star field after testing . The 1997 state referendum stated that the stadium would feature a natural grass surface , but FieldTurf was not an option when the stadium was originally presented to voters according to the Public Stadium Authority . Seahawks management reconsidered surface after the Seahawks played on FieldTurf at Husky Stadium during the 2000 and 2001 seasons . Artificial turf was installed because it was easier to maintain than natural grass . The potential damage to a natural grass field caused by Seattle ' s frequent rain also made the surface an appropriate option . In order to keep a grass surface robust under heavy football use during late fall and early winter rains , a $ 1 . 8 million irrigation and heating system would have been required . The coach of the Seahawks at the time , Mike Holmgren , said FieldTurf installation was the right decision and stated that " the players love it , and I think this surface will offer a better product on the field for the fans . " Local soccer fans were concerned that the lack of a natural grass field would hinder Seattle ' s chances of receiving an MLS expansion franchise . They asserted that voters had approved the facility with the understanding that the new stadium was intended for soccer as well as football . In a compromise , First & Goal agreed to pay for grass to be installed for special events when needed . There have been various opinions regarding both the artificial surface and temporary grass surfaces used for soccer matches . After the Brazilian national team defeated Canada ' s side 3 – 2 in 2008 , Brazil ' s coach commented that one reason for his team ' s unexpectedly poor performance was the loosely installed grass field . The Grenada national team struggled to cope with the artificial surface during their loss at the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup . In July 2009 , the U . S . Soccer Federation chose D . C . United ' s RFK Stadium over CenturyLink Field for the U . S . Open Cup . The general manager of D . C . United speculated that RFK ' s grass field was one of the reasons his team had a stronger bid . The general manager of the Sounders , Adrian Hanauer , told " The Seattle Times " in 2010 that replacement of the surface was a continuing conversation between the Sounders and Allen ' s Vulcan Inc . . When the Los Angeles Galaxy traveled to Seattle in May 2012 , the FieldTurf was noted as one of the reasons David Beckham and Robbie Keane were left out of the line - up . Between August and November , both the Seahawks and Sounders FC host games at CenturyLink Field . Each team has emphasized the importance of playing their games without the other team ' s painted lines on the field . After a Sounders FC match in 2009 , the grounds crew was able to redo the markings for the Seahawks within two days . American football . Seahawks . Prior to the stadium opening in 2002 , Allen and Bob Whitsitt said that they hoped the new stadium would help turn the Seahawks into a Super Bowl contender and that Seattle would be considered to host the championship game . The seating is expandable to 72 , 000 for the purpose of holding the game , but the NFL typically does not consider cities with outdoor stadiums where the average temperature in February is below . The number of season ticket s available at Qwest were capped at 61 , 000 following the Super Bowl appearance . The ensuing waiting list was the first for the Seahawks since the early 1990s . The team ' s first season at their new home was in 2002 . Their first game at the new facility was a 28 – 10 preseason loss to the Indianapolis Colts on August 11 , 2002 . They went on to end their first season at the new field with a 7 – 9 record . In the 2003 season , the team went undefeated at home and reached the playoffs . It was the first time the franchise had won 10 games in a single season in 17 years . The Seahawks again reached the postseason during the 2004 season and played their first playoff game at CenturyLink Field on January 8 , 2005 . In that game , they lost to the St . Louis Rams who had already defeated them twice that season . The following season , the Seahawks went undefeated at home for the second time in three years and won their first - ever NFC Championship , but lost in Super Bowl XL . Between 2002 and 2005 , the Seahawks won 24 of their 32 regular season games at the stadium . In 2006 the Seahawks had a 9 – 7 record and hosted the Dallas Cowboys in the wild card round of the playoffs . The Seahawks trailed 20 – 13 with less than seven minutes remaining but came back to win 21 – 20 . In 2007 , the team won seven of their eight home games and clinched their fourth consecutive division title . CenturyLink Field was again the site for their wild card game , and they defeated the Washington Redskins 35 – 14 . In 2008 , the Seahawks went 4 – 12 and had only two home wins . Holmgren left the organization after the season . When he was interviewed about memorable moments and the fans , he said that CenturyLink Field was " a remarkable place to compete in and to play professional football . " He called a game at the stadium " an experience . " CenturyLink Field often sells out for Seahawks games . Although the team struggled in 2008 and 2009 , the team maintained its base of season ticket holders . Before the 2008 season , the 14 , 000 single game tickets not already allotted sold out less than 15 minutes after they became available . By the end of the 2009 season , the Seahawks had sold out 60 consecutive games . After going 9 – 23 over two seasons in 2008 and 2009 , the number of available season tickets was increased to 62 , 000 . The largest crowd to attend a Seahawks ' game at CenturyLink Field was 68 , 331 on November 12 , 2007 , against the San Francisco 49ers . Home field advantage . CenturyLink Field has earned a reputation for being the loudest stadium in the NFL . The seating decks and partial roof direct exceptional amounts of crowd noise onto the field . The most vocal fans sit in the north end zone bleachers and their sound is amplified by the metal bleachers . This noise contributes to increased false start penalties since opposing offenses can miss audibles and the snap count . When Tod Leiweke was hired as the Seahawks ' new CEO in 2003 , he had a large flagpole installed in the south end to fly a flag showing a white number " 12 " on a blue background as a tribute to the fans . Seahawks fans already had a reputation for being among the most vociferous in the NFL when they played in the Kingdome . The organization had retired the number in 1984 to honor the fans and the flag salutes them as the " 12th man " . A local celebrity , sometimes a former Seahawk , raises the flag during the network television pre - game events . Origins of the " 12th man " term are not clear , but its use has been a decades - long tradition for several sports teams . In 2006 , the Seahawks reached a settlement on a lawsuit filed by Texas A & M University , which had previously trademarked the phrase for its football program . The deal did not result in any changes at the stadium . In 2005 , the stadium gained national attention when the visiting New York Giants committed 11 false start penalties . Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren attributed the penalties to the enthusiasm and noise from the crowd . He dedicated the ball used to make the game - winning field goal to the fans , and it is now displayed at the stadium . The Giants ' general manager , Ernie Accorsi , asked an NFL senior vice president whether the Seahawks had broadcast artificial crowd noise over the public address system during this game . The NFL sent a memorandum early in the 2006 season about such complaints and sent officials to monitor two games . Holmgren denied the allegations , and the crowd responded by being even louder than usual when the Giants returned to CenturyLink Field . In preparation for 2005 – 06 NFC Championship Game at CenturyLink Field , the Carolina Panthers practiced with the recorded sounds of jet engines in the background . The Fox Sports telecast producers measured the crowd noise level at a peak of 137 dB during Seattle ' s 34 – 14 win . Since 2005 , the Seahawks have tracked the number of false starts committed by visiting teams and display the statistic on a scoreboard to motivate the crowd . Crowd noise contributed to a league - high 24 false - start penalties in 2005 alone . In 2010 , the Seahawks were the first NFL team with a losing record ever to win a division title in a season not shortened by a strike . Seattle earned its fifth consecutive home playoff victory with a 41 – 36 win over the New Orleans Saints . " God bless the voters , " defensive tackle Craig Terrill said after the game in reference to the stadium ' s importance to the franchise . Visiting kickers experience further disadvantages when attempting field goals at CenturyLink Field . Both the stadium ' s proximity to the Puget Sound and the open north end create winds that are challenging to gauge . Former Seahawks ' kicker Josh Brown adjusted to the winds , and he believed the moisture in the air caused trouble for others . College . CenturyLink Field has hosted several college football games . The hometown Washington Huskies played their 2005 season opener against the Air Force Falcons at the stadium in Tyrone Willingham ' s first game as head coach . In 2011 , the University of Washington began a $ 250 million renovation to Husky Stadium , so the Huskies and the Washington State Cougars played the 2011 Apple Cup at CenturyLink Field . The Huskies will also play their entire 2012 home football schedule at CenturyLink Field . The stadium hosted a Washington State Cougars non - conference home game each season between 2002 and 2009 . This included the 86th " Battle of the Palouse " against the Idaho Vandals in 2003 . The Cougars won five of the eight games and their crowds ranged from 42 , 912 to 63 , 588 . CenturyLink Field is about from the university , but the team has indicated that these games and related events could possibly continue in the future . The university ' s athletic director has announced that the Cougars will return in 2011 . In the announcement , he said that 50 , 000 need to attend to make it worth moving the game from Pullman . In April 2009 , it was proposed that the annual Apple Cup between the Seattle - based Huskies and the Pullman - based Cougars be hosted at CenturyLink Field for six years beginning in 2010 . The two programs could not reach an agreement on how to divide tickets . Pullman ' s business community had expressed concerns that playing the game away from the area would be detrimental to the local economy . Qwest Field hosted the 2002 Seattle Bowl , in which Wake Forest beat Oregon 38 – 17 . The inaugural Seattle Bowl was played a year earlier at Safeco Field , but the game was discontinued when organizers could not secure financing before 2003 . Later attempts to revive the Seattle Bowl were unsuccessful . The Seattle Sports Commission is pushing for a proposal of a new bowl game . In 2008 , a business plan was begun for a game in 2010 that would be a fundraiser for Seattle Children ' s Hospital . Lower division NCAA teams have played at the stadium throughout the years . From 2003 to 2008 , the Division II football teams from Western Washington University and Central Washington University met each year in a rivalry game called " The Battle in Seattle " . Central won all but the 2004 game , and each meeting attracted more than 11 , 000 people . Western discontinued its football program after the 2008 season , but Central came to an agreement to continue the series with Western Oregon University for games in 2009 and 2010 . " Battle in Seattle VII " saw Central make a comeback to win 23 – 21 in front of 5 , 374 . On October 31 , 2009 , the Division I Eastern Washington University Eagles played a home game in Seattle for the first time . Along with the goal of drawing alumni from the metropolitan area , the athletic directors from both Eastern Washington and Washington State had expressed the importance of connecting with alumni at receptions and other events on the western side of the state . Billed as the " Showdown on the Sound " , the game was a 47 – 10 victory over the Portland State Vikings . According to Eastern ' s athletic director , Qwest Field ' s rental was $ 50 , 000 for the day . High school . CenturyLink Field has been used for high school football . The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association puts on the annual Emerald City Kickoff Classic at the stadium . The event is a season - opening series of games between some of the best teams in the state . The stadium features a meeting between one of the best teams in Washington and one of the best from another state in the " Best of the West " game . On September 4 , 2004 , Washington ' s Bellevue High School and California ' s De La Salle High School played in front of over 25 , 000 , a state high school event attendance record . Bellevue ended De La Salle ' s national - record 151 - game winning streak in a 39 – 20 win .