The World Cup offered a glimpse of what downtown Seattle can feel like when public spaces are full of life and activity. This August, the Seattle Convention Center (SCC) is building on that momentum.
For several weeks early this summer, downtown Seattle felt different. Streets buzzed as FIFA World Cup visitors joined residents, workers, and local businesses in creating a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere. Public spaces became gathering places, restaurants stayed busy, and people lingered downtown after the final whistle.
Throughout August, the Center is transforming the block of 9th Avenue between Pike and Pine into a pedestrian gathering space designed to continue that sense of community beyond the tournament. The activation creates a welcoming place where residents, downtown workers, visitors, and Center attendees can connect while supporting local businesses, artists, and community organizations.
One highlight is Market at the Marquee, a weekly evening market on Thursdays from 5 p.m.-8 p.m., featuring local makers, food vendors, music, and neighborhood experiences. The market gives people a reason to stay downtown after work, meet friends, discover local vendors, and experience the area around the Center in a new way. Learn more.
“During the World Cup, we witnessed the power of shared experiences to bring people together and energize downtown Seattle,” said Jennifer LeMaster, President and CEO of Seattle Convention Center. “It reminded us what’s possible when people have compelling reasons to spend time here.”
The month-long event reflects SCC’s commitment to placemaking — the idea that thoughtful public spaces can strengthen neighborhoods, encourage economic activity, and create opportunities for people to gather. For SCC, that means looking beyond the walls of the convention center and considering how surrounding streets, sidewalks, businesses, and partners contribute to the visitor and community experience.
“If we can create reasons for attendees, residents and downtown workers to spend more time downtown, everyone benefits, from local businesses to the meetings and events that bring people to Seattle,” said LeMaster.
The activation may last only a month, but the idea extends beyond August. SCC knows meeting planners do not simply book a convention center — they choose a destination. Through initiatives like this, the Center is investing not only in its campus, but in the broader downtown experience that shapes how visitors experience Seattle before, during, and after an event.
Find more Market at the Marquee Tickets, Multiple dates | Eventbrite.
