Friday, August 2, 2002 - 12:00 a.m. Pacific
 

WEST SKY DECK

ROD MAR / THE SEATTLE TIMES

If you want a break from the action, take in the panoramic views of Elliott Bay, the Olympic Mountains and the Space Needle on the upper west concourse. Much like the south sky deck, this area has a wide walkway and will be a place to mix and mingle. You're away from the action, but with more than 800 television monitors posted around the stadium, you'll be able to see the game.

CLUB SEAT SECT. 235 For the high-rollers, this is football heaven. Section 235, which straddles the 50-yard line, offers arguably the best seats in the house. The charter members are closer to the field, but the club level provides unbeatable amenities as well as protection from the elements. The $2,800 price tag for a season ticket may scare off most, but if you can fit it into the budget, you are assured of a viewing experience unlike any other in the stadium.

RED ZONE SUITES Located in the north end zone. These suites are very close to the action and are the first of their kind in the NFL. You can actually be sweat on by the players and exchange high-fives. Each of the 12 suites is equipped with amenities, including a television monitor and stocked minibar. Seahawks players have purchased three of the suites. There are a few downsides. The suites are expensive, and the game is difficult to see when the action is on the other side of the field. Only two suites have not been sold.

SOUTH SKY DECK On a sunny day, this is the place to be at Seahawks Stadium because the open area is a perfect place to gather, mingle and watch the game. Concession stands and picnic tables are nearby, and this section offers cathedral-like views of the stadium and the field, with the vertical scoreboard and city skyline as the backdrop. On clear days, you can look to the south and you might see Mount Rainier rising behind Safeco Field. On rainy days, this is probably not the place to be, but it's a great place to spend a sunny autumn afternoon.

HAWKS NEST Face painters, Blitz cross-dressers and grown men who still wear Steve Largent No. 80 jerseys: This is your section. The stadium's architects had the rabid Seahawks fans in mind when they designed the bleacher seating beneath the north vertical scoreboard and dubbed it the "Hawks Nest." Leave your Northwest pleasantries at the door, and the mild-mannered fan might want to seek an alternative location. Don't be surprised to see a high concentration of beer vendors running up and down the aisles in this section. The view isn't great, you're removed from the field and completely exposed to the elements, but for $20 per seat, this section was the first to sell out.