Seahawks Superbowl Sunday

I will admit that during the football season you will not find me hunkered down watching football games on Sundays and Mondays. The last Superbowl football game I watched entirely was 2007, when the Chicago Bears were in it (and lost). However, when the Seahawks made it, I knew I would be watching the game on Superbowl Sunday.

Leading up to the game, the city of Seattle supported their beloved Hawks with Hawkietecture by buildings and businesses incorporating and hanging up 12^th man decorations. It seemed like the majority of the United States (excluding Washington) wanted the Broncos to beat the Seahawks in the game.

However, 12 seconds into the game (irony not lost on the 12^th man nation), it looked like the underdogs were making a statement that they were in it to win it. Watching the game at a house party made for a relaxing and optimistic environment because the Seahawks were never behind. When the Seahawks won, it is hard to express the “surreal” moments that came after upon realizing the Seahawks were Superbowl Champions.

We immediately went downtown to soak in and celebrate the victory. Unless you were there it is hard to describe the “sense of community”. Thousands of fans were congregated throughout downtown, especially Pioneer Square (where the stadiums are located).  Police lined the streets and had streets blocked from car traffic because there were so many people downtown that the overflow of people from the sidewalks filled the streets as well. People were running in and out of traffic. People were climbing trees and buildings. Everyone was honking their car horns. Everyone was just elated of what they just witnessed on their televisions and was just soaking in the experience that they were living in the city that won the Superbowl.

Walking to Pioneer Square

Celebrating downtown in Pioneer Square

In Pioneer Square

Celebration in Pioneer Square

Why not drive down the streets with your car doors open?

Then that Wednesday, there was a downtown parade going from the Seattle Center (where the Space Needle is located) down 4^th Avenue to CenturyLink Stadium. All of 4^th Avenue was closed down to traffic. The parade was suppose to start at 11am so I arrived the Seattle Center at 10:30am. The parade ended up starting at 11:30am, and yes there were crowds of people. Some estimated that over 700,000 people showed up for the parade; however, some news sources indicated that the number in attendance was grossly overestimated. Schools allowed students to miss class and people called into work.

Legion of Boom!

Lynch throwing skittles to the crowd

As you can see it was quite a "chilly" morning for a parade

Climbing trees was needed for a "seahawk" eye view

4th Avenue is two blocks ahead, but there were so many people backed up to see the parade that people overflowed onto 5th and 6th Avenue as well.

View of 4th Avenue from inside the Central Library

The magnitude of devotion that Seattle has for the Seahawks can be viewed from outsiders and many as “over-the-top,” “unheard of from other teams that won the Superbowl,” and “annoying” but I challenge you to look at the whole circumstance from a different perspective:  the entertainment business is constantly scrutinized for how much of the news and headlines are filled with celebrities and sports when there are “real” problems worldwide; and I am not disagreeing with that. However, when something good happens, people have the right to celebrate and enjoy themselves. For myself, it was great to witness the whole experience, create memories, and be a part of the city’s history. 

Decorations on 5th Avenue

Decorations in the Lower Queen Anne Starbucks