Memorial Stadium Memories

Memorial Stadium Memory Wall

The year was 1970 when Seattle Public Schools established a Metro League soccer program for the first time. The first game was a tournament in Memorial Stadium, and I was lucky enough to score a 50-yard breakaway goal that will go down in history as the first goal ever scored for Roosevelt High school. I went on to referee Metro League Soccer in my 40s at Memorial Stadium. What a joy as I love both playing and refereeing.

- Brian Ducey

I remember going to Memorial Stadium for high school football games in the late 60’s. I was only in junior high and we took the bus with older high school neighbors. After the game we would have fun on the Fun Forest rides and play arcade games, then take the Monorail and walk to Pike Place Market where we would catch the bus at 1^st & Pike back home at 11PM. Fun times!

- Garry Lund

I saw Jethro Tull at Memorial Stadium during the fabulous Bumbershoot music festival. It was very entertaining to see them invite a waiter onstage with a platter who served some martinis to the band. I will never forget that show. We had a blast!

- Mark Taylor-Canfield

As a member of the events crew, I remember an early 2000’s Bumbershoot load out. A small tape ball became a large tape ball. This was all the tape from a field of turf protection. After the load out, this mighty wad of tape went on a small tour as a bit of a hot potato visiting many Seattle theatrical venues as a surprise gift for many years.

- Sean W.

SEATTLE REIGN: 5 // PORTLAND THORNS: ZERO
July 27, 2014

Megan Rapinoe, Jess Fishlock, Hope Solo, Kim Little, Luuuuu Barnes, Keelin Winters, Naho & Bev, Sydney Leroux and so many more amazing pro and international soccer players playing up close under the towering Space Needle. So many passionate games, some a little wet and cold, some with wacky football lines, stinky dumpsters, and wet bathroom floors, and some with amazing hat tricks, Solo saves, ridiculous ref calls, and blue smoke-filled air after a goal.

10 years later: a couple FIFA World Cup trophies for the USWNT, a major investment and standards level up in the NWSL and women's sports in general (thank you USWNT + Meg Linehan), and the Reign now play at Lumen Field with the Sounders and Seahawks.

- Heather Larson

Memorial Stadium has been many things to me over the years. Growing up in Seattle, I’ve been to sporting events, concerts and even played flag football there.

My best memories of Memorial Stadium are related to high school and music. Will never forget when I was named Homecoming Prince (lost King to my best friend by two votes) and Ingraham High School’s football team won our homecoming game to break the state’s longest losing streak in 2001. I also attended Bumbershoot multiple times and enjoyed great acts like Common, Wu-Tang and Talib Kweli in Memorial Stadium.

Also, as the grandson of WWII veterans and a graduate of Seattle Public Schools, I’ve always appreciated that Memorial Stadium stood as a memorial to the students of Seattle Public Schools who passed away in WWII AND that it has provided a venue for public school students to play sports, gather and celebrate each other. It has been in need of an upgrade for some time and I’m extremely happy to see this venue brought into a more modern standard that will continue to serve its intended mission.

A big thank you to all involved in this process and for everyone that helped the Seattle community through Memorial Stadium.

- Miles DeCaro

Memorial Stadium is a big part of my family’s history.

Going back to 1948-51, when my dad attended Ballard High School and played football. My mom attended Cleveland class of 54’, and she remembers going to many of the football games. My parents married and moved to Shoreline to raise the family, but Memorial Stadium would find away into our family once again in 1983 when my brother played a playoff game vs Kelso high school while attending Shorewood. This was my first time downtown sitting in a big Stadium. I was nine. Shorewood lost but I was mesmerized! Watching football and seeing the Space Needle for the first time was like a Disneyland ride for me. Little did I know three years later I would be playing in a youth league championship football game there for Richmond Beach. I threw a TD pass to our offensive tackle to win the game 13-6 over KAYA! It was snowing and a dream come true game. Years would go by and once again I would find another way to visit this amazing stadium. Sound Garden was in town and touring their Super Unknown Album. Incredible feeling. I had just Graduated from Western Washington University it was 1995. The ultimate Seattle feeling. Later my coaching career would take me to the Bothell High School football team from 2000-2014. We would play at least two games a season at Memorial Stadium during the time Ballard, Franklin, Roosevelt and Garfield were a part of the KINGCO 4A. Many wonderful experiences. I would visit the stadium more times in these last fours than I had my entire life watching my son play his Friday night football games for the Ballard Beavers. Finally getting to coach him this last year, his senior season, Memorial Stadium’s final season was a storybook. Starting with my Dad and finishing with my son. So many wonderful games, memories had, relationships made. How could have we all have been so blessed? Thank you to all who have worked to keep her up. Thank you, to all who will reshape and shepherd her into the future. A true, true Seattle Landmark!

- Bill Christensen

Our father was a cameraman for KRSC-TV (later KING-TV) when they did the first television broadcast in the Pacific Northwest from Memorial Stadium on Thanksgiving Day, 1948! A historic day for television in Seattle.

- Bob Shawcroft

I have so many fond memories of Memorial Stadium. From Chief Sealth High School football games, to marching in the band on the field during halftime to seeing the great Pele play a soccer game there. I watched my sons play Soccer games there. When John Stanford was the superintendent he had start-of-school rallies there for the staff of Seattle Public Schools. I am excited to see the transformation.

- Teresa Stout

Lincoln High School choirs performing at graduation.

- Aimee Mell

I still have my ticket stub from Pearl Jam’s “Seattle Benefit Concert” at Memorial Stadium, July 21, 1998. I broke my eyeglasses in the mosh pit. Good times!

- Richard Berend

BBHS Cheer!

- Gigi McGinnis

First outdoor concert Heart then jump 20 years to the Grateful Dead (1975, then 1995) both shows I'll never forget!

- Michael McDonough

During the summer of 1967 I’d walk over to Memorial Stadium from my summer job at the Seattle P-I at 6^th & Wall. I was anxious to see the progress being made on installing AstroTurf so we would not have to play our football games on the horrible, muddy field that Memorial Stadium became in the rain. As noted in the photo, Memorial Stadium was one of the first two outdoor fields in the country to get the artificial turf. I can remember that first season of playing on it we were given new shoes at almost every game to test out. They were trying to figure out the best type of sole to use on the turf under different conditions. Except for the occasional skin burn it was a real treat playing on the carpet rather than in the mud!

- Bob Shawcroft

During the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962 there were waterskiing demonstrations in the space where the football field is now. It was noisy excitement I witnessed as a little kid during the fair.

- Wendy Norris

The Chief Sealth High School vs Bellingham High School 2024 football game was the first game of an incredible season for me and Bellingham High School. An incredible opportunity to travel to Seattle and play in a historic stadium – it was an historic moment.

- Owen Hanstead

High School football!

- Christian Hill

I was born in 1963, so I missed the World's Fair. I was always intrigued that there were water skiers and boats in the stadium. My dad was the band director at West Seattle High School back in the 70s. So, growing up I attended many Friday night football games with Dad and the West Seattle High School Marching Band. During my high school years, I was a member of the Seattle All-City High School Summer Marching Band. So, there were many rehearsals at the stadium. Lots of pre-practice Frisbee and football! I attended many concerts there as well – Foreigner, Heart, Soundgarden, Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult, Molly Hatchet, Screaming Trees – not to mention all of the Bumbershoot concerts! Lots of memories that I will always have.

- Doug Weaver

I remember going to Franklin High School Football games from 1962-66 . . . Turkey Day games . . . a muddy field before astroturf . . . Sounder soccer games . . . the sound of Pepe Fernandez’s leg breaking . . . attending concerts during Bumbershoot . . . the parking lot full of deadhead busses . . . the echoing sound from the speakers during football games you could hear while being at the Seattle Center grounds . . . sitting in the mostly empty stands at football games in the 1990's-2000's . . . high schools’ selling candy and soda from the long-closed concession stands. . . lots of cool memories. looking forward to the New Memorial Stadium.

- Joel Guevara

Memorial Stadium has always held a special place in our hearts, and its closing marks the end of an era filled with unforgettable memories. One of the most cherished chapters was watching my son perform there, summer after summer, as part of the Seattle All-City Band. From the first time he marched onto the field with his instrument in hand to his final season, those performances were the soundtrack of his teenage years. The stadium stands echoed with music, pride, and community spirit, and each marching was more than just a performance—it was a celebration of growth, dedication, and youthful joy. As the lights go down on Memorial Stadium one last time, I carry with me the image of my son on that field, part of something greater, and the music that will always play in our memories.

-Tamaki Nagato

Here is a Memorial Stadium fun fact that may have been forgotten. Memorial Stadium was the very first field outside of the Houston Astrodome to be covered with what was then called “Astroturf.” It was laid in time for the 1967 metro league football season. I was on the West Seattle football team and remember we had to scramble to get new football shoes with low cleats in order to play on it. The pretty green rug was a huge improvement over the former dirt field which would always turn into a mud bowl during the rainy season.

- David Lunde

I was there in 1994 to see Soundgarden…. and it was an experience I will never forget! Especially when Chris took out his spoons for spoonman . . . that was epic!!!

- Darnel Wong

Nathan Hale High School football team started the season at 5-0 for the first time in school history after upsetting Garfield in 2015. Go Raiders!

- Nathan Cooprider

I took my first unassisted steps at Memorial Stadium. As my parents tell it, I was waiting for a theme song - they brought me to Bumbershoot in 1994 and as Bruce Hornsby sang Jacob’s Ladder, I started going step by step along to the lyrics.

- Joy Kohlsaat

I’ll always have fond memories of Memorial Stadium of Seattle’s Memorial Stadium as it was the last place my son Keith Valentine, Jr. played football before he passed during COVID. I hope his memory lives there forever playing football, the sport he loved since he was a baby. Every student playing football has dreams of going pro, and that stadium gives them hope, and that feeling of a crowd. God be with you all.

- Laura Valentine

For several years in the mid-1970s, I played tuba in the Port Angeles Summer Marching Band. We marched in the Seafair Torchlight Parade. At the end of the parade, bands marched into Memorial Stadium. At that time, KOMO, KING and KIRO all televised the parade. It was an exciting experience for kids from a small town.

- Rick Newell

Playing high school flag football from sophomore year to senior year at Memorial Stadium! No matter the score of the game, the stadium always made me feel special. The history in this stadium is incredible.

-Tristan Cooper

I wasn't quite old enough to have been at Memorial Stadium during the World's Fair, but it’s hard to believe they ran boats (as part of a water ski show) in the same stadium where I spent so many Friday and Saturday nights playing football for Chief Sealth High School.

- Rich Parker

If I am not mistaken, Memorial Stadium had the first artificial turf in the country. I played football there in my high school years and the crew usually watered down the surface since the material was very rough and abrasive and would peel away your skin quite easily. It was often like a "slip and slide" due to the watering of the surface. In the early 70's high school football received a fair degree of attention in the city and there were a couple of occasions where we played in front of sellout crowds. I will never forget the gritty locker rooms, however it set the mood for "getting the right mindset to step on to the field and give it your best.”

I regret at that time not placing greater value on what the stadium stood (and currently stands) for. It was only years later when I would walk by the wall and start to comprehend the tremendous sacrifice of the young men and boys that give their lives for our country (if there are names of women on the wall, my apologies). I try to remember one name as long as I can as I walk away, wondering what that person’s life would have looked like had they survived. I am hopeful the wall will remain in some form with the new project - we can never forget the sacrifice of these patriots.

- John Loacker

When I was 11 years old our Dad took the four eldest of his 10 children to the 1962 World’s Fair. We travelled in a Greyhound bus from Pasco and stayed downtown at the Olympic Hotel. One of the events we attended was a water ski extravaganza and I think it was at Memorial Stadium.

- Karen Sisk

In the years before the Seahawks, Thanksgiving Day saw Memorial Stadium filled to capacity to watch the Seattle Metro High School football championship game. In 1969, on a beautiful sunny, but cold, Thanksgiving day I was on the field when my Queen Anne team made it to the big game and lost to Ingraham High School. Some 56 years later, on a bright, but chilly day in June, I watched my grandson play in the Seattle Middle School championship soccer match in a quite empty Memorial Stadium. He scored his team's only goal in a close loss. Someday, he too, will have fond memories of Memorial Stadium.

- Darryl Robbins

My daughter marched in the stadium with Roosevelt High School Marching Band.

- Koichi Kobayashi

I helped my wife coach the recently established Eagle Staff Middle School Girls Soccer Team starting in 2017 and we returned to the league semifinals at Memorial Stadium for the 2nd consecutive year in 2018. The first year was miserable. One of our girls suffered a neck injury and had to lay on the cold, hard turf in a driving rainstorm waiting for an ambulance and to make things worse, we got soundly beaten. In year two, we had a hardworking team of wonderful, skilled girls that we thought had a chance to win it all.
The middle school playoffs are really, tough days. You play the semifinal in the morning and if you win, you come back in the evening to play in the final. The 160 minutes of soccer for a bunch of 12- and 13-year-olds is a lot in a day both physically and mentally. Over the course of the two games, we had multiple girls knocked out of the games with various injuries and mental breakdowns, including a blow to our daughter that spun her around and knocked her out of the game. If 160 minutes and all the stress wasn't enough, the final went to overtime and then penalty kicks to decide the winner. You never know how adolescents are going to respond to this kind of stress and exhaustion – and it was so gratifying to see the girls rise to the challenge and win the championship. I'll always remember getting to celebrate with all of the girls, but especially my wife and daughter.

- Keven Wynkoop

Since arriving in 1990, making our home, raising children to adults, Memorial Stadium has been a ‘Go to’ facility for a myriad of community events. Sports, music and beyond. It has long needed update for safety, pleasure and extending use to all sorts of audiences … youth, adults, educational and entertainment. Looking forward to the new forum for all that is possible - including enrichment of Seattle public and area schools!!!

- Thomas Smeeth

In addition to all the bands I saw in Memorial Stadium during 20+ Bumbershoot events (Blondie, Sex Pistols, The Replacements, The Ramones, and more), there were other memorable concerts there during the 1990s, including a couple of crazy Grateful Dead weekends. I found a few of my ticket stubs from those shows (Soundgarden for 20 bucks!). For some reason the Dead shows are listed as being at "Seattle Stadium," and even though those shows were a bit fuzzy for, uh, whatever reason, I definitely remember Jerry and the band playing at Memorial Stadium.

- Doug Nellis

The storming of the field after the 1995 Sounders Championship was epic!

- Peter Hattrup

Two of my many fond memories of Memorial Stadium.
1) The Canadian Tattoo performances during the 1962 World’s Fair. I remember lots of loud bangs from the military performance, often too loud for a three-year-old’s ears (ha ha).
2) Attending the annual Metro league “Turkey Day” football games during Thanksgiving. Always rooted for Garfield as I liked their purple uniforms.

- S.F. Peterson

Lots of memories of Memorial Stadium: the opening of the Seattle World's Fair in 1962 was spectacular and had a ring of water and heard President John Kennedy give the opening speech via video in the stadium; our annual family gathering on Thanksgiving Day for the "Turkey Day" high school football game; and in 1969, my Queen Anne Grizzlies baseball team used the stadium for practices, on this new turf called "Astroturf," in preparation for our Championship game at Sicks Stadium, which we won, by the way, 2-0 over Ingraham High School.

- Craig Smith

My first visit (to Memorial Stadium) was in 1975 as a teenager to see a Sounders game.
As an adult, (I enjoyed) so many Bumbershoot concerts and other concerts there as well.

- Scott Fairbanks

The day when the Seattle Sounders hosted Pele and the New York Cosmos on a Sunday afternoon was truly historic.

- Greg Nelson

Launching girls flag football has been one of the most inspiring experiences of my life. To be part of bringing this sport to our high school—and helping promote it toward becoming a sanctioned sport—not just as a participant or team captain, but as a pioneer, has been both empowering and humbling.

Playing at the historic Memorial Stadium was an unforgettable honor. Stepping onto that field, I could feel the weight of its history and the stories of those who came before me. The sacrifices made by high school students decades ago – many of whom left the comfort of classrooms and athletic fields to serve our country – are not lost on me. Their courage and resilience made it possible for future generations to enjoy the freedoms we have today. I am deeply grateful to be part of the legacy they left behind and to play in a stadium that stands as a memorial to ensure they are never forgotten.

To have the opportunity to participate in a sport I love, in such a meaningful and historic place, is something I will always cherish. And to help bring a game with such significance to girls in our community is more than just a milestone—it’s a powerful reminder that change is possible, and that we are part of something far greater than ourselves.

The fact that so many of those honored at Memorial Stadium were our age when they made the ultimate sacrifice continues to inspire me. I hope that by stepping onto that field, we not only honor them, but also encourage others to keep pushing boundaries and creating space for those who come next.

- Thea Harnish

From high school football games to watching George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic, Sublime, and Cake at Bumbershoot, I am so happy the stadium will be enjoyed for many years to come.

- Damon Kenner

I have memories of being a “water girl” for my high school football team (Blanchet High School) and riding the bus with the team to memorial stadium for the championship.

- Debbie Mischel

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