Link rail smashes crowds as Seattle hosts World Cup
Transit’s proving ground: Seattle’s light rail moved record numbers during the World Cup opener, with Friday’s U.S.-Australia match and Mariners doubleheader set to push it even higher.
Seattle’s Link light rail carried its third-biggest crowd in history during the World Cup opener at Lumen Field, logging a transit triumph that underscored the city’s ability to handle global sporting events. The surge came as 62,498 fans poured into the stadium for the opening match, straining the system’s capacity but ultimately validating years of infrastructure upgrades. Transit officials reported peak loads on the 1 Line, with trains running at 90-second intervals to keep up with demand.
