Big news from across the bridge—more seats are on the way.
Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC are proud to announce a phased seating expansion of Interbay Stadium to meet growing demand, and to reinforce the clubs’ long-term commitment to supporters, community partners, and everyone who utilizes the facility. Construction for the first phase is scheduled to begin and end in April 2026, adding 267 seats in advance of the 2026 season.
Phase 1 of the project, fully and privately funded by Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC, will be completed ahead of the 2026 season and will add 267 new aluminum bleacher seats to the Southeast section of the stadium. These seats will match the style of the existing aluminum bleachers currently in place at Interbay Stadium, preserving the stadium’s familiar look and atmosphere.
Interbay Stadium currently features 1,000 seats, along with additional standing-room capacity, meaning Phase 1 represents more than a 25% increase in seated capacity for the 2026 season. Construction of Phase 1 is scheduled to begin on April 6th and be completed by April 17th, well ahead of the season openers on May 15th.
A future Phase 2 would add an additional 267 aluminum bleacher seats in the Southwest section, along with the potential installation of a canopy cover to provide protected seating to both of the new sections. Once both phases are complete, Interbay Stadium would see more than a 50% increase in seating capacity.
This expansion will benefit all users of Interbay Stadium, including youth programs, community events, and other organizations that rely on the public facility throughout the year. Interbay Stadium was constructed in 1997 in partnership with Seattle Pacific University. The facility is owned and operated by Seattle Parks and Recreation and serves many users throughout the year, including SPU men’s and women’s soccer, high school soccer, youth soccer and lacrosse, adult recreational soccer, Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC, among others.
Phase 1 will cost roughly $205,000. The clubs view this as an important investment not only in their future, but also in the broader community. All users of Interbay Stadium will benefit from this project, and it will also bring up to 267 additional fans to the stadium and surrounding areas on match days.
These fans support local businesses in Interbay, Ballard, and Magnolia on their way to and from matches. In addition, a percentage of every purchase made inside the stadium—including tickets, concessions, beer, and merchandise—goes to Seattle Parks and Recreation, benefiting the entire city.
“This project is about growing responsibly while staying true to who we are and the needs of our community,” said Sam Zisette, Co-Founder and President of Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC. “Phase 1 is being fully funded by the clubs because we believe in reinvesting directly into the community that supports us. Demand for our home matches at Interbay has continued to grow, and this expansion allows us to sustainably welcome more people to our matches without fundamentally changing the character of the stadium or the ticket price to attend.”
“We’re committed to making the matchday experience at Interbay Stadium the best it can be, while keeping matches affordable and accessible. Looking ahead, Phase 2 will require continued community support to justify the completion of the project, meaning we can only complete Phase 2 if we see the demand is there this coming season.”
Further updates will be shared as construction progresses and as plans for Phase 2 are developed.
The bleacher construction and installation is being done by Nor-Pac Seating based out of Enumclaw, while the project management and design was done by Herrera Environmental Consultants which is based in Seattle.
The 2026 USL 2 and USL W schedules were released earlier this year and feature 13 home games for Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC collectively at Interbay Stadium between May-July. Season tickets, single match tickets, and group packages are now available at goballardfc.com/tickets and salmonbayfc.com/tickets.
More games. More fans. More soccer.
Matchday Experience
Matches will feature pre-match activities, a variety of food vendors and in-house concessions, beer, wine, and spirit options, and a general festive and community-centric environment. Additional details about the 2026 match day experience including updates to alcohol service, match day activities, and transportation and parking will be released soon.
The clubs recognize that the increased capacity will create extra strain on what was already a limited parking situation. Fans are encouraged to utilize other forms of transportation such as walking, the city’s public transit, or taking advantage of the Wombi bike parking area. If driving is still the best option for you, the clubs suggest carpooling and arriving early to find parking and enjoy the pre-match festivities. Additional guidance on transportation and parking will be released at a later date.
Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC will be announcing updates to matchday alcohol sales and service with significant changes pending permit approval. Stay tuned for an announcement at a later date.
The clubs will also be increasing the food options on match days to accommodate the extra fans inside the stadium. In addition to increased seating, Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC are adding another benefit to fans with cushioned seat backs available for purchase or to rent on match days for the 2026 season. A full “know before you go” match day guide will be available soon ahead of the 2026 regular seasons.
Tickets and Demand
These new bleachers are part of the existing seated general admission tickets. There are no assigned seats, so these seats are first come first serve.
Fans can expect demand for tickets to be at an all-time high during the 2026 FIFA World Cup window from June-July as hundreds of thousands of international soccer fans visit Seattle. The clubs will be encouraging visitors to experience Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC matches during their stay to support the local soccer in the area. Fans can secure their tickets now at tickets.upthebridges.shop
