Downtown Tomorrow
Downtown Seattle in the Spotlight for FIFA World Cup 2026
In 2026, the eyes of the world will be on Seattle as we welcome the FIFA men’s World Cup. One of 11 U.S. host cities, Seattle will host six matches at Lumen Field in downtown. Projections suggest the global tournament will generate at least $929 million for King County between June and July of 2026. The estimate includes more than $100 million in direct state and local tax revenue and anticipates 20,762 full- and part-time jobs will be supported.
This massive influx of visitors will be an economic driver for downtown Seattle and help boost the hospitality and service industries. Efforts are underway to ensure the benefits of the World Cup are shared throughout local businesses in surrounding neighborhoods, including Pioneer Square, the Chinatown-International District and SODO.
This event will not only celebrate global soccer but showcase downtown Seattle’s growth and capabilities as a major destination for international events.
More Light Rail Service to Downtown and the Region
Seattle’s transportation infrastructure is evolving with the ongoing expansion of Sound Transit’s Link light rail network. The East Link Extension, part of the larger Sound Transit 3 plan, is making significant strides. Fourteen miles long, the entire project — connecting the Eastside to downtown Seattle via the 1 Line — includes 10 stations from Seattle’s Chinatown-International District to Judkins Park, across I-90 to Mercer Island and south Bellevue through Redmond. The Seattle-Eastside connection is expected to be complete in late 2025.
This comes after the anticipated 2 Line opened in April 2024, bringing light rail to Bellevue and Redmond, and the 1 Line expanded to Shoreline and Lynnwood in August. The ST3 system plan will improve and expand the mass transit system by connecting major cities in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties with light rail and RapidRide buses.
Additionally, the approval of the Seattle transportation levy in 2024 marks eight years of funding for a variety of transportation projects, including key ones in downtown. The largest transportation investment ever in the city of Seattle, the $1.55 billion levy includes funding for Third Avenue, the Occidental Promenade and other key downtown areas.
Waterfront Park and Elliott Bay Connections are Transforming Downtown
More than 15 years in the making, Seattle’s new 20-acre Waterfront Park will officially be completed in 2025. The transformational redevelopment along downtown’s central waterfront met some exciting milestones in 2024, including the opening of the Overlook Walk, which connects Pike Place Market to the waterfront and boasts 360-degree views and Seattle Aquarium’s new Ocean Pavilion.
The Elliott Bay Connections project is the next milestone in the waterfront’s transformation. This effort will connect, restore and revitalize Centennial and Myrtle Edwards parks and create a continuous pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly route from Pier 62 to Smith Cove, with lush landscaping, restrooms, a new concession area, improved lighting and clear directional signage. The EBC project, expected to be completed ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, is funded entirely by private philanthropic donations with strong support from the Port of Seattle and the city of Seattle. DSA is the project implementation partner for the effort.
Revitalizing Memorial Stadium: A New Era for Seattle Center
The revitalization of the historic Memorial Stadium is moving forward, promising to transform this Seattle Center landmark into a modern, multi-purpose venue for student athletics, education, arts, culture, entertainment and community events. The project, expected to be completed in the fall of 2027, is a collaborative effort between Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle Center, with significant private funding secured to bring the vision to life. The partnership with Oak View Group further underscores the commitment to creating a top-tier, 6,500-seat venue.
A key driver for the project’s progress has been the robust private fundraising campaign, which has garnered support from prominent organizations and individuals. The capital campaign, led by One Roof Stadium Partnership, began with a $5 million gift from the Seattle Kraken ownership group and Oak View Group. Additional support exceeding $25 million has come from Seattle-based businesses, community foundations and local philanthropists. With construction on the horizon, the reimagined Memorial Stadium is set to become a dynamic hub for sports, entertainment and community engagement at the heart of Seattle Center.
New Arts Venue Coming to the Heart of Downtown
An exciting new addition to Seattle’s arts scene, Cannonball Arts is a contemporary art center set to open in 2025 at Third Avenue and Virginia Street in the heart of downtown. From the producers of Out of Sight, Museum of Museums and Bumbershoot Arts + Music Festival, in partnership with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Cannonball Arts spans 66,000 square feet. The center is dedicated to showcasing artists working across disciplines, mediums and genres, with a particular focus on bold, unconventional ideas. Cannonball aims to highlight works that may be overlooked by other institutions, particularly elevating underrepresented talents from the Pacific Northwest.
Integral to Cannonball’s mission is its Workforce Development Program, which will partner with nonprofit Third Stone to train and mentor the next generation of arts and music producers, curators and entrepreneurs, further solidifying its commitment to the local creative economy.
Record Seattle Cruise Season Anticipated in 2025
Seattle has the largest and fastest-growing cruise port on the West Coast with nearly 300 vessels in a typical season between April and October. This season the Port of Seattle anticipates another record cruise season. The Port estimates a record 1.9 million passengers will be moving through Seattle in 2025 on an estimated 299 sailings, surpassing the previous high of 1.7 million in 2023. Over the next two seasons, Seattle will be welcoming several new cruise lines. In 2025, Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth, a 2,100-guest luxury ship will begin its first Alaska cruise season and, in 2026, an additional two cruise lines will disembark from Seattle — MSC Cruises and Virgin Voyages.
Downtown Seattle: The Premier Destination for Arts and Culture
Downtown is poised for a busy 2025.
The Seattle Convention Center has 93 conventions already slated for the year. Ranging from Emerald City Comic Con and the Rubik’s Cube world championships to PAX West and more, these conferences will bring 367,000-plus people to the heart of the city. Additionally, downtown’s vibrant arts and culture destinations are expected to draw large crowds.
At downtown’s Paramount and Moore theatres, the Seattle Theatre Group anticipates 750,000 people for a combined 400 performances. A record 92,950 people attended “Wicked” at the Paramount during the 2024-2025 run. The 5th Avenue Theatre, which in 2024 saw the highest attendance for its holiday “Mary Poppins” shows since pre-pandemic, is projecting nearly 172,000 attendees for 172 locally produced events in 2025. McCaw Hall will host 62 performances through June 2025, including 39 from Pacific Northwest Ballet and 17 operas.
Additionally, world-class artists and comedians will perform at Climate Pledge Arena, T-Mobile Park and Lumen Field, which will also host professional sporting events throughout the year, including Seattle Mariners and Seahawks games as well as Kraken and Storm matches. Lumen Field will host FIFA Men’s Club World Cup 2025 in June, and Climate Pledge Arena will welcome college hoops fans from far and wide to first- and second-round March Madness men’s basketball games.
With thousands of performances and events across these dozens of venues, downtown will continue to solidify its position as the region’s premier destination for arts, culture and entertainment.