Seems like there is a growing number of out-of-town #12's coming to see the game. I've noticed the trend over the last few years, and it is awesome. So I thought I'd whip up a quick thread with some helpful "local" suggestions for newcomers and visitors.
If anyone would like to add to the thread, it might be cool to get a bunch of helpful info in one place.
Game Prep:
Drink LOTS of tea and honey:
Drinking 4-6 cups of Throat Coat (tea) with a few spoonfuls of real honey the night leading up to, and the morning of the game can be very helpful in preventing the loss of your voice the day after the game. Immediately following the game, a few ibuprofen if necessary and some more tea and honey, and you'll be a little hoarse but able to carry on a conversation.
Bring ear plugs:
If you're sensitive to noise, or have hearing difficulties, make sure to bring some ear plugs. It's going to get loud. Probably louder than you're used to. With a good pair of ear plugs, the volume will be reduced to safe levels (80-90db) and you still get to enjoy the chaos of it all.
Bring a parka if rain is expected:
Your section may be covered, but it's always better to be safe than sorry. Parkas also make good seat covers and will keep your butt dry if the seat is wet.
Bring food and water to the game:
Food and unopened drinks are allowed in the stadium. The food at the stadium is very expensive (~$10 for a slice of pizza or a hamburger, $8-10 for beer, wine and spirits). A 20oz bottle of water will cost you $4, and you can't keep the cap.
Jimmy John's - 102 1st Ave S.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/jimmy-johns-seattle-3
About 4-5 blocks north of the stadium on 1st Ave. Good food, excellent prices ($6 for a large sub), quick service. You can take the sandwiches into the stadium, they come wrapped in paper, and they're better than most food in the stadium. Highly recommended for pickup of food to bring into the game.
Saveway Market - 109 Occidental Ave S
http://www.yelp.com/biz/saveway-market-seattle
About 3 blocks north of the stadium, between 1st and 2nd Avenue, 1 block north of Occidental Square. The owner does a lot to help the homeless in the area, and prices are reasonable. Worth going to if you are parked north of the stadium.
Uwajimaya - 600 5th Ave S
http://www.yelp.com/biz/uwajimaya-seattle
A very unique Japanese grocery store only a few blocks from the stadium. You can buy sushi, there is an entire Asian food court, a bookstore, etc. It's a pretty cool and unique place to visit and you will be experiencing some Seattle history. Regularly priced groceries, sometimes long lines.
Parking:
Parking around the stadium is an expensive nightmare. You will pay $40 within 2-3 city blocks of the stadium, and the cheapest about $10-20 if you're further than 5-6 city blocks. Traffic will be a nightmare getting into and out of the SODO neighborhood where the stadium is located.
Various Parking Options:
CPS Parking - 721 1st Ave
http://seattleparking.spplus.com/Seattl ... rking.html
I love this parking garage. It's right next to the ramp onto the 99 South (Alaskan Way Viaduct), just on the northern edge of Pioneer Square. It's a short walk to the Stadium, and you'll pass Jimmy John's and a number of other places to party. This is where I generally park. Insider secret: If you take the 99 South, you bypass all the heinous game traffic and can get on to I-5 Southbound or Northbound, far south of the game, or drive all the way to the Northbound 405. Both routes bypass the heavy game traffic.
Park south of the stadium and walk
There are numerous parking lots about 5+ blocks south of the Stadium that will charge $10-20 for parking. It's a bit of a walk, but there is not much parking at all north of the Stadium, so this is your best bet. Parking is all over the place, it's an industrial area - just find any business with a large lot and they'll have someone collecting parking fees.
Ride the Sound Transit Light Rail to the Stadium!
http://www.soundtransit.org/rider-guide/link-light-rail
The Light Rail travels from Sea-Tac Airport (south of Seattle) all the way north to the front door of the Stadium, with a few stops along the way. The Tukwila International Blvd station offers free parking and will get you to the stadium in a few minutes for just a few bucks:
http://www.soundtransit.org/Rider-Guide ... vd-Station
Take the bus tunnel to the Stadium from downtown Seattle
http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/tunnel ... tions.html
If you park in downtown Seattle, or are staying in a hotel in downtown Seattle, there are bus tunnel stations all through downtown. You can catch any bus in the bus tunnel, ride it to the International District Station, and it will drop you off directly in front of the Stadium. A great way to avoid taxis and traffic, especially if you are staying in a hotel.
Park in Downtown Seattle
It's worth noting that many parking lots, such as the Pacific Place parking garage and the Macy's parking garage charge normal rates during Seahawks games - about $10-15 for a full day of parking. You can then walk to a bus tunnel station to avoid traffic, as mentioned above. If you're willing to walk 5-6 blocks, you can sometimes park for free if you park in Belltown. There are free parking spots on Sundays, and you can ride a bus to the Stadium or walk to a Bus Tunnel Station. Surface buses move very slowly on game day, you have been warned.
Getting into the Game:
If you're new to the CLink, you'll want to get to the game a little early. It's best to get to the ticket gate an hour before kickoff if this is your first game. It will take 20-30 minutes to get through the gates, and another 10 minutes to get directly to your seat.
The lines at the gates start getting really long about 30 minutes before kickoff. It can take forever to get through the body check, and you'll want to be prepared.
DO NOT have any open drinks or containers. They will tell you to throw them away. Only small see-through bags are allowed, which can be purchased at the team store or you can find the dimensions at the Policies page for Century Link here:
http://www.seahawks.com/gameday/stadium ... icies.html
Great places to eat, drink and celebrate before or after the game:
Temple Billiards
http://www.yelp.com/biz/temple-billiards-seattle-2
You can generally catch members of Seahawks.net hanging out here before the games. Pool tables, lots of TVs, cool bartenders, food is mostly pizza and sandwiches.
Slugger's Sports Bar
http://www.yelp.com/biz/sluggers-sports-bar-seattle
A 12th Man institution. The Real McCoy. This place is packed full of crazy 12's, before and after the game. Drinks and food are mediocre but if you want to celebrate with fans who've been around since 1976, this is one of the original spots.
FX McRory's
http://www.yelp.com/biz/fx-mcrorys-stea ... se-seattle
Excellent whiskey and beer selection, great food, tons of local fans, right across the street from the stadium's north parking lot. This place gets PACKED on game day and is right in the heart of the action. Great place for a post-game toast.
Pyramid Ale House
http://www.yelp.com/biz/pyramid-alehouse-seattle-2
By the South end of the stadium, directly across the street from Safeco Field. Huge crowds, quick drink service, decent food, fun place to be before or after the game.
King Street Bar and Oven
http://www.kingstreetbar.com/
Another Seattle classic. This place has been around since Jim Zorn was throwing touchdowns to Steve Largent. Tons of fans before and after games, also across the street from the stadium's north parking lot. The food is mediocre, the drinks are warm, but there's a huge Russell Wilson shrine, and these guys are HARDCORE #12's. If you want to get sloppy drunk after the game, this is a good place to do so.
Fuel Sports Bar
http://www.fuelseattle.com/
A great little bar right off Occidental Square. Good food, small place but excellent crowd. It's a fun place to grab a drink after the game as well.
Cowgirls, Inc.
http://cowgirlsinc.com/
This place regularly hosts parties before the game, where you can have shots poured into your mouth from a hot girl's cleavage. It's like a slightly naughtier Hooters, adults only. Great drinks, good food, awesome party. Across the street from the northwest corner of the stadium, on 1st Ave.