Qwest Field
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Qwest Field is a multi-use stadium in Seattle, Washington. It serves as the home field for the NFL's Seattle Seahawks and, since 2009, Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders FC. The stadium opened in July 2002 and was built on the site of the Kingdome, the previous stadium for the Seahawks, Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners, and several other Seattle sports teams. On March 26, 2000, to make way for the construction of the stadium, the Kingdome fell in the world's largest implosion of a single concrete structure.
[edit] History
The stadium was originally named Seahawks Stadium due to the lack of a corporate sponsor during construction. The name Qwest Field was announced on June 2, 2004, after Qwest bought the naming rights for $75 million over 15 years. Although some people began using the new name immediately, the official approval wasn't given until twenty-two days later (June 24) by the Washington State Public Stadium Authority. Seahawks owner Paul Allen funded about 30% of the stadium's cost out of his pocket, the remainder being paid by a funding package of user fees, sports lottery revenue, and taxes on related industries.
Allen was intimately involved in the stadium design. He rejected plans for a retractable roof, and directed the architects to minimize the stadium footprint as much as possible to bring fans closer to the action. Also, he had the architects design the structure of the stadium, especially the roof, to direct as much crowd noise as possible on the field. Qwest Field has since earned a reputation as arguably the loudest stadium in the NFL. Over the past several seasons, more penalties for false starts were called against visiting teams in Qwest Field than in any other NFL stadium.
Another special feature was added in 2003 after Allen hired star sports marketing executive Tod Leiweke as the Seahawks' new CEO. Leiweke, who had turned the Minnesota Wild into one of the hottest tickets in the NHL, notably had a large flagpole installed in the south end zone. Leiweke began a pregame tradition in which a local celebrity, often a former Seahawk, raised a large blue flag numbered "12" on this flagpole to the roars of the crowd. The "12" represents the fans as the "12th man"; in fact, the Seahawks had retired #12 in honor of their fans in 1984. The flag-raising is now a regular feature of network television coverage of Seahawks games. However, this new ritual soon garnered the attention of Texas A&M University, who claimed that they owned the rights to the phrase 12th Man and threatened to sue. In January 2006, however, a settlement between the university and the Seahawks allowed the use of the 12 Man, provided they acknowledge Texas A&M's trademark.
Another eye catcher at Qwest Field is the Seahawks tribute to high school football of the State of Washington. A section of the Stadium entitled "The State of Football", features a large depiction of the State of Washington and holds replica football helmets from every high school football team in the State. Another way in which the stadium supports the sport on the high school level is by hosting the annual Emerald City Kickoff Classic, a season opening series of games between some of the best teams in the state. The games also feature a meeting between one of the best teams in Washington and one of the best from another state. The most memorable of these games occurred in 2004 when the 3-time consecutive Washington State 3A champion Bellevue Wolverines ended the 155-game winning streak of the Concord (CA) De La Salle Spartans.
[edit] NFC Championship Game
Seattle Seahawks 34 Carolina Panthers 14
Qwest Field was home to the Seattle Seahawks domination over the Carolina Panthers, and their first ever NFC Championship. The Seahawks would advance to Super Bowl XL, where they would lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-10.
[edit] Picture Gallery
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