While the spotlight will be on the matches, the Seattle Convention Center (SCC) has another opportunity for organizations and businesses looking to tap into the excitement: Grab event space downtown.
“People may think finding event space in downtown Seattle would be challenging during that time,” Michael McQuade, SCC’s Senior Advisor, Commercial Strategy, says. But partially because of that assumption, the Seattle Convention Center has space available. “We can support whatever type of event you are looking to host,” he says.
Seattle is currently scheduled to host six matches at Seattle Stadium (the temporarily renamed Lumen Field). With global attention focused on the city, the tournament presents a unique opportunity for companies and organizations to gather people together.
One especially compelling option: Hosting a private watch party in the heart of the city.
“A FIFA watch party, where a corporate entity or organization wants to put on their own invitee party would be perfect,” McQuade says. “And not necessarily for a game here in Seattle, but for any of the other games that are being played during the tournament.”
Organizers should be aware that FIFA has strict rules governing public viewing events. Resources and guidelines are available through the Seattle Sports Commission’s Watch Party Playbook, and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce has also created a Small Business Readiness Playbook outlining considerations for organizations planning World Cup-related activations.
Beyond watch parties, the Center’s campus can accommodate a wide range of gatherings — from corporate receptions to brand activations, filming opportunities, and community celebrations.
“If a corporate sponsor wants to host an evening gala in a ballroom for 800 to 4,000 guests, we can bring that to life,” Aaron Davis, Assistant Director of Sales, says. “And if they’re looking to create an immersive brand activation in an exhibit hall for their guests, we have the space, the infrastructure and the team to make it happen.”
SCC’s downtown campus includes three buildings — Arch at 705 Pike, Arch at 800 Pike, and Summit at 900 Pine — with availability during the World Cup window from June 14 through July 7. Together, the campus offers flexible meeting rooms, large exhibit halls, and award-winning food and beverage services designed to support everything from corporate gatherings to large-scale productions.
SCC also has space available for a high-visibility, street-level, outdoor activation adjacent to the Summit building — adding another opportunity for brands looking to engage audiences during the tournament.
Located about a mile from the stadium and within walking distance of hotels, transit, restaurants and waterfront attractions, the Center expects the World Cup to create a unique atmosphere across the city.
“If there’s any time to come downtown, this would be it, during FIFA,” Krista Daniel, SCC Vice President of Event Operations, says. “The whole city is focused on hospitality, the energy, and the experiences.”
For the team at SCC, that spirit of connection and innovation is central to how they see the role of the convention center itself.
“We’re a blank canvas for anyone,” Davis says. “People use us as a canvas to express their brand and excite their base, and that’s what’s exciting for us too — we’re a great venue for those groups that have a creative idea and want to entertain it.”
Event planners, companies and organizations interested in hosting an event during the tournament window can reach out online to learn more about available spaces and possibilities.
