What a day! Seattleites, you know how to show out and support the Seahawks. As fans from across the region filled the streets of downtown Seattle and cheered on our talented athletes and coaches, City staff and community partners were hard at work making sure the day was safe and joyful. I want to personally thank everyone who attended today’s parade for bringing so much excitement and pride for our beloved Seahawks. This is your city and we are filled with gratitude to be home to this party!
The pride and excitement we feel for the Seahawks’ Championship victory is amplified by efforts of the people who made this event possible. In addition to the Seahawks, the Seattle Sports Commission and their partners at Seafair, and the Seattle Office of Economic Development’s special events office who organized the event, I would like to recognize the many organizations from Washington State, King County, and departments across the City of Seattle who planned and carried out this celebration.
Our public transportation partners collaborated to bring hundreds of thousands of riders into the city center with increased service and special efforts to manage crowds in light rail stations. From special shuttles to adjusted routes, fans flowed smoothly into downtown easily and got home safely. For many, this was their first transit ride into Seattle, and we hope you are already planning your next trip downtown using the region’s transit system.
I want to thank the Seattle Office of Emergency Management for coordinating dozens of departments across the city to activate the Emergency Operations Center – keeping our community safe and informed. First Responders, including Seattle Fire and Seattle Police, ensured parade-goers had access to security and medical care.
To all the fans who attended today and plan to attend events in the future, come early and stay late! We invite you to take your time and enjoy all of what downtown has to offer. As we look forward to hosting World Cup events this summer, today’s success is proof that Seattle, our businesses, and our community are ready to welcome the world into our beautiful city.