An Advertising section about homes for sale SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2011 DOWNTOWN LIVING Home-field advantage: Residents can follow the crowd noise for sports action eptember is prime time for Seattle sports fans, as all four of the city’s Sprofessional teams are in action. For those who live downtown, it can feel as though the games are being played in their own backyards. CenturyLink Field (known until recently as Qwest Field) is the home field of the ’s Seahawks and ’s Sounders FC, while Safeco Field hosts Major League ’s Mariners. Both are located in the neighborhood just south of downtown known as Sodo. Uptown at Seattle , the defends its title as 2010 champion of the Women’s National Associa- tion at KeyArena. Throw in the occasional college football game, international soccer match or regional college basketball tournament — not to mention a slew of popular sports bars — and downtown Seattle becomes a haven for the sports nut and casual fan alike. For those not close enough to walk, the Kingdome as the team’s home and quickly each year since joining in 2009. Its rabid area’s public-transit systems can deliver you earned a reputation for being one of the supporters regularly march to the stadium to and from the venues. The loudest stadiums in the NFL. Ear-splitting from Pioneer Square and stand, chant and Monorail runs between Westlake Cen- crowd noise has led to numerous penal- even sing throughout the matches. ter and Seattle Center until 11 p.m. daily ties against opposing teams and famously The Sounders have one of the top for rides to and from Storm games. The registered on the Richter scale during last records in the league this season. They con- Sounder train makes special weekend trips season’s playoff game against New Orleans. tinue their march toward the MLS Cup with to King Street Station, and Sound Transit’s The Seahawks home opener is Sept. 25 a match today at 1 p.m. against Real Salt Link light rail stops at the nearby Stadium against the Arizona Cardinals. Other games Lake. Ticket info is at sounders.com. Station for Seahawks, Mariners and Sound- at CenturyLink Field this year are against CenturyLink Field will also be the ers games. Atlanta and Cincinnati in October, Balti- location of this year’s Apple Cup, the annual Here’s where you can catch your favor- more and in November, and –Washington ite Seattle team: Philadelphia, St. Louis and San Francisco in State college-football matchup being played December. Ticket information is available this year on the west side of the Cascades on CenturyLink Field by visiting seahawks.com. Nov. 26. It will be the first of several games Qwest Field, recently renamed Cen- Sharing the field with the Seahawks that the Huskies will play there; all of the turyLink Field following a sponsorship for their home games are the Sounders, team’s home games in 2012 will take place change, opened in 2002. Known then as the city’s hugely popular soccer franchise. at CenturyLink Field while Husky Stadium Seahawks Stadium, it replaced the iconic The team has led the league in attendance is being remodeled. Safeco Field — the National Basketball Asso- Now in its 12th season as the ciation’s SuperSonics — left town home of the Mariners, Safeco Field for in 2008, in part Home teams remains one of the jewels among because of team owners’ claims that major-league ballparks. It is located KeyArena was not a viable NBA venue. adjacent to CenturyLink Field, and Seattle’s remaining pro basketball What: Pro football many seats offer fans a view not just of team, the Storm, filled the void left When: September–December the action on the field but of the city behind by the Sonics — and more. Where: CenturyLink Field, 800 skyline, Puget Sound and Olympic Having already won a WNBA cham- Occidental Ave. S. Mountains as well. pionship in 2004, the Storm captured The stadium opened in 1999 with the title again last year. It is among the a retro-modern architectural style, league’s top teams again, and will wrap What: Pro baseball combining a brick façade and natural up the regular season Sunday with a 6 When: April–September grass with amenities such as luxury p.m. matchup against Chicago. Tickets suites and a retractable roof — perfect are available by visiting Where: Safeco Field, for those rainy Seattle evenings. wnba.com/storm. 1516 First Ave. S. Fans who want to dine while they The arena was built in 1962 as part watch the game can choose from the of the World’s Fair in Seattle. Known SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC usual baseball fare of hot dogs, peanuts originally as the Washington State What: Pro soccer and beer. But in true Seattle style, Pavilion and then the Washington State When: February–October concession stands also offer sushi (the Coliseum, it was later renamed the Where: CenturyLink Field, 800 “Ichiroll” is named after outfielder Seattle Center Coliseum and became a Occidental Ave. S. Ichiro), crepes, Thai food, crab sand- popular venue for events ranging from wiches, pasta and much more. ice shows to pro wrestling. SEATTLE STORM The Mariners’ 2011 season The facility was rebuilt between concludes with a home stand against 1994 and ’95 to bring it up to NBA What: Pro basketball Oakland Sept. 26–28. For tickets, visit standards of the day, and the city of When: June–September mariners.com. Seattle sold naming rights to KeyBank. Where: KeyArena, In addition to Storm games, 305 Harrison St. KeyArena KeyArena also is home to the Rat City Seattle sports fans have experi- Rollergirls, a flat-track roller-derby enced the highest of highs and the league, and the men’s lowest of lows at KeyArena during the basketball team. past several years. In April, it was the site of a profes- The city’s oldest pro sports team sional bull-riding competition.