Seattle, where tech innovation meets coffee culture, and where sports fans (and basketball fans, more specifically) are as passionate as they come.
Seattle , make love as theEmerald City for its dense green landscapes , is one of America ’s most scenic and active city , where tech excogitation meets coffee culture and where sport fans ( and basketball fans , more specifically ) are as passionate as they come . This year , the madness of March descends uponClimate Pledge Arenafrom March 20 - 22 for the first and second round of golf of the human beings ’s NCAA tournament .
Nestled between the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains , the city is known for its rainy conditions , theSpace Needle , Pike Place Market , the birthplace of Jimi Hendrix , the burial internet site of Bruce Lee , that “ Sleepless ” rom - com featuring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks , and that Bezos guy who sends you your packages . ( Though fun fact : NYC gets more average rainfall each year than Seattle . And whileperhaps only a rumorwithout major grounds , Seattleites buy more sunglass per capita than any other city is a major talking point . )
There is so much more to discover in Seattle including man - class cuisine , adventure of every kind and of class with its phenomenal , mystifying - rooted chronicle of basketball game , it ’s a hoop town through and through . The campaign to wreak back the beloved ( and sorely missed)SuperSonicsis just the beginning . TheWNBA ’s Stormhave surged in popularity , superstar iconography , and achiever of recently . Plus both the men ’s ( frankly , struggling,)Washington Huskiesprogram and the women ’s ( a few exciting tournament discharge in the last decade ) have shown just how deeply connect Seattle still is to basketball . Whether you ’re here to urge on or just soak in the atmosphere , this guide will help you make the most of your misstep to Seattle for the man ’s NCAA tourney .
Illustration by Don Caminos for Thrillist
How do I get tickets?
You should always check the staple apps first : Ticketmaster , StubHub , andSeatGeekfor uncommitted seat . But do n’t sleep on going old school and research some other strategies . First , call the ticket office . Live human beings can still be helpful , and a repp might be able to find out seats that are n’t available online . If you ’re secret plan to wait until you ’re on the ground , you ’re certain to hear the chirp of resellers—“Tickets ! Tickets!”—around the arena before the games . If you ’re comfortable attempting to push back a steal ( and especially if it ’s 10 minutes before backsheesh - off ) , this is a sound option for any NCAA postseason event . Post - gimpy scavenging also works . Hang out near the exits after the first set of games , and you ’ll in all likelihood find disappointed buff selling their seats for the next round . If their team just got bounced , they ’ll be far more concerned in swim their regret than sticking around for games they do n’t care about .
Climate Pledge Arena is a forward-looking , state - of - the - art venue , but geographic seats strategy still matters . recollect that the school day bands usually sit behind the baskets ( sections 7 , 8 , 20 , and 21 ) . If you love their energy , grab a tail end nearby ( anything in 17 , 19 , 22 , or 24 ) . If you favour a quieter viewing experience , aim for midcourt .
The modest bowl is where you want to be for the good atmosphere , but if you discover yourself in the upper levels , do n’t accentuate — this is one of the most well - designed sphere in the country , with excellent sightlines throughout .
Climate Pledge Arena|Courtesy of Climate Pledge Arena
And do n’t forget to be opportunistic ! After early games , many fans go forth , so be on the watch for prize seats opening up . A well-disposed chat with someone leaving could land you a free rise .
How do I get there?
Seattle - Tacoma International Airport(SEA ) is anAlaska Airlinessuperhub and also carries a net ton ofDeltaflights so you ’re in lot if you ’re a frequent flyer on either . The airport ’s also connect to the city by theLink light-headed rail — a 35 - minute drive will get you downtown for just a few bucks . If you ’re flying intoPortlandfor a cheaper flying ( a three - hr drive with a little dealings ) , you could also takeAmtrak ’s Cascade Mountains trainup to Seattle in about three and a one-half hours while enjoying some marvellous sentiment of the Columbia River Gorge and several national forests .
How do I get around?
Once you ’re in township , I recommend avoiding a rental car unless absolutely necessary . Seattle ’s dealings is infamously barbarous , and parking near the arena is expensive . Instead , use public transport , rideshares or your legs . The Link light rail , buses , and tram make get around prosperous and affordable , rideshares are everywhere ( learn rush pricing post - game ) and walking most of business district Seattle is very easy . If you ca n’t avoid renting a car , downloadParkWhizto avoid expensive parking in and around the arena .
What else should I know about the venue?
Climate Pledge Arena is a futuristic wonder — it ’s thefirst atomic number 6 - neutral arenain the worldly concern , and family to theNHL ’s Seattle Krakenas well as the Storm . It seats around 18,000 , and with the NCAA tourney in town , expect a very vital atmosphere .
The venue features top - notch local marketer , includingDumpling House(near discussion section 4 ) where you should try the wimp soup dumplings . For a peachy smash burger , attempt Molly D ( section 8) , fromClimate Pledge ’s executive chef Molly DeMers . For something healthier , Just Pokeserves tonic Hawaiian - style lagger bowls ( section 4 ) .
vex into the stadium should experience like a fairly sleek and New introduction process , but there are a few things to be aware of before heading in . verify your tickets are stretch on your speech sound before you arrive as they are a mobile ticket - only building . Screenshots wo n’t work out , so expend the officialClimate Pledge Arena appor your best-loved ticketing app .
Climate Pledge Arena|Courtesy of Climate Pledge Arena
If you want to avoid long lines , expend the entrance at 1st Ave N and Thomas St — it ’s often less crowded than the main gate and is a good entry and exit place . Doors lean to open about 90 minutes before tip - off . 5th Ave N and Harrison has a designated rideshare pickup / dropoff as well if you ’re going carless and ca n’t take the air to the venue .
Lastly , the bowl has a strict bagful policy . Small clutches ( 4.5 " x 6.5 " ) are allowed , but anything larger must be a unclouded bag ( 12 " x 6 " x 12 " ) . Backpacks are not generally permitted .
Other places to eat (and watch)
Tournament games pass off Thursday and Saturday , pull up stakes you an off day if you ’re in townsfolk for the whole long weekend . The woman ’s tournament starts Friday so if you ’re concerned in a wearisome day feeding , drinking and watching , Seattle has plenty of fantastic summercater legal community and unique blot to grab the military action .
Start atBuckley ’s in Belltown , a classic sportswoman bar with a expectant beer selection and tidy sum of goggle box , with close propinquity to the Edgewater hotel . seek the Thai sesame rib , which will daze you amidst a menu of otherwise expected Browning automatic rifle nutrient offerings .
Atlas Sports & Spiritsis a must - chaffer as well . A cozy sports bar adjacent to the arena with a vast fare and no famine of television , they serve ‘ Atlas plates ’ , root on by the originalNY Garbage Plate , basically a bunch of essence , cheese , onion , and fries on a denture .
Sam ’s Tavernisknown for their exuberant Bloody Marys and a lively sports crew . Try the Sammy ’s 50/50 , a Warren Earl Burger with a cake made of half core and half Viscount St. Albans , plus cheeseflower and avocado .
The Westyis bed for being a bigSeattle Soundersbar but remains a repose - back sportsman bar on non - game day . Their weekend brunch carte du jour goes until 2 p.m. if you need to persist in town over the weekend ; order the Irish nachos , with waffle fries replacing the traditional tortilla chips .
If you need to get a slight trend in yourself , check outFlatstick Pub . They have mini golf game , shuffleboard , casino - style games , and plenty of local and national variation on idiot box .
If you care your coffee and you need a kick after a long dark , you ’ll love what Seattle has to offer . My favorite isElm Coffee Roastersin Pioneer Square , about a 40 minute pass in the south of the arena down the waterfront , which present a valuable chance to get your steps in while you ’re eating and fuddle your means through the Pacific Northwest . I ’d stop at nothing to visit this beautiful wooded edifice . Their excellency is mostly in the espresso surface area but it ’s very improbable you ’ll go faulty with most orders .
Final tips
Its loveliness notwithstanding , Seattle ’s weather is unpredictable . March could bring rainwater , sun , or even snowfall fuss , so dress in layer and always carry a rain jacket . carry an umbrella will “ out ” you as a dorky tourer but if you ’re supersensitised to getting swamp , it might be the right call .
As mention , embrace the walkability of Seattle . There ’s so much to explore beyond basketball , and with the city ’s natural beauty , great food for thought , and unparalleled neighborhoods , you ’ll be happy you made the tripper .
Now , grab a coffee or that drink of your choice and enjoy the games but go out thatOklahoma City Thunderjersey at home !
