|
|
| Home > City Guide - Seattle - Sport | ||
|
||
|
Sport Seattleites are quite sports-conscious and loyal to their local teams, whether Major League or university – bright purple and yellow banners of a howling dog denote the University of Washington’s Huskies, an all-sport team. Safeco Field (that opened in 1999), just south of Pioneer Square, is home to the Seattle Mariners Major League Baseball team (tel: (206) 346 4000). The Mariners far outpace any other team in Seattle obsession – attendance at their games in 1999 totalled 2.9 million, the second highest season attendance total in the team’s 23-year history. The KeyArena in the Seattle Center hosts the Seattle SuperSonics National Basketball Association team (tel: (206) 283 DUNK or 283 3865) and the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League (tel: (425) 869 7825 or (206) 448 7825; website: www.seattle-thunderbirds.com). Basketball season is October to April and ice hockey season from September to March. The Seattle Seahawks National Football League team events are currently taking place at the Husky Stadium, 3800 Montlake Boulevard Northeast (tel: (206) 543 2200); a new stadium, adjacent to Safeco Field, is slated to open in the 2002 season. Football season is October to December. Tickets for all Seattle’s major sports events can be purchased through Ticketmaster (tel: (206) 628 0888; website: www.ticketmaster.com). Cycling and hiking: The Burke-Gilman Trail is a 24km (15-mile) trail through the woods, from Gasworks Park at Lake Union to the University District and onto the suburb of Bothell and Lake Sammamish. It is ideal for the independent cyclist or trekker. Fitness centres: The YMCA, 909 Fourth Avenue (tel: (206) 382 5010), is the best all-purpose cheap public centre for working out. Golf: Jackson Park, 1000 Northeast 135th Street, in North Seattle (tel: (206) 363 4747) has one of the city’s most popular 18-hole courses, which gets very crowded at weekends, and a nine-hole executive course. The 18-hole West Seattle Municipal Court, 4470 35th Avenue Southwest (tel: (206) 935 5187), offers superb views of Elliot Bay. Daily green fees start from US$25 weekdays, US$28 weekends, plus about US$14 for a cart for 18-holes; the nine-hole course costs half that. Sailing and kayaking: One in five Seattle natives own some kind of boat. Kayaks can be hired from Northwest Outdoor Center, 2100 Westlake Avenue, Lake Union (tel: (206) 281 9694), or a sailing boat from Sailboat Rentals and Yacht Charters, 1301 Northlake Way, Lake Union (tel: (206) 632 3302). Tours, equipment sales and rental are available from REI, 222 Yale Avenue North (tel: (206) 223 1944). Skiing: The mountains are easily accessible from Seattle and Seattle Ski Rental, 907 Northeast 45th Street (tel: (206) 548 1000), rent equipment and can offer advice. Swimming: Queen Anne Pool at 1920 First Avenue West (tel: (206) 386 4282) is a public indoor pool. The YMCA (see above) also has a pool. Tennis: Most of Seattle’s larger parks, such as Volunteer Park and Woodland Park, have their own courts. There are indoor courts at the Seattle Tennis Center, 2000 Martin Luther King Way (tel: (206) 684 764). |
||
