TRAFFIC ALERT: Soccer kickoff may cause transit delays Thursday

The new Seattle Sounders professional soccer club makes its debut Thursday, March 19 at Qwest Field, and more than 34,000 enthusiastic fans are expected to the flood the streets of Downtown Seattle, Pioneer Square and the Sodo District for the game and the festivities.

The match begins at 6 p.m., but there are pre-game activities in Pioneer Square around 4:30 p.m. The city of Seattle is expecting significant traffic congestion around the stadium before and after the match.

Bus riders and motorists should expect traffic delays both before and after the match. Commuters may want to plan their trip home to avoid the south end of downtown if possible, or adjust their work schedule to leave a little earlier. Bus passengers should know that traffic delays in the downtown and SODO areas could affect connecting service beyond the stadium area.

If you would like to ride Metro Transit to the match, there is plenty of regular service to and near the stadium. Use the online Trip Planner to calculate the route that is most convenient for you. Be sure to plan both the trip to the stadium and the return, since bus service levels change in the evening.

Visit Metro Online for information about bus service, or call the Metro Customer Information Office at (206) 553-3000.