Interbay Stadium, the home of Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC, is getting a seating expansion in advance of the 2026 USL2 season. The added bleachers will eventually increase capacity by 50% in two separate stands on the south end of the stadium.
The expansion has been in the works for quite a while and is being entirely funded by the club.
Interbay Stadium is owned and operated by Seattle Parks and Recreation, and is the home field for Seattle Pacific University and several youth, high school, and adult leagues. In its current configuration, it has 1,000 seats plus additional standing-room capacity. Phase 1 of the expansion will add 267 seats to the southeast side of the stadium and is slated to be completed in mid-April. Ballard FC begins the 2026 USL2 campaign at Interbay on Friday, May 15.
Phase 2 of the project will potentially add another 267-seat bleacher section on the southwest sideline and will provide the only covered seating in the stadium. When complete, the new additions will bookend the team benches on the south sideline.
“This project is about growing responsibly while staying true to who we are and the needs of our community,” Ballard FC General Manager Sam Zisette told Sounder at Heart. “Most stadium investments use public money, but this is private money being spent on a public facility.”
That distinction matters. While Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC will benefit from the added capacity, the improvements effectively become permanent upgrades to a public space, a rare model and one that is a nod to Ballard’s commitment to community.
The project itself required coordination with Seattle Pacific University, the City of Seattle, and Seattle Parks and Recreation. It has, according to Zisette, been in the works for more than a year.
Whether to proceed with Phase 2 of the expansion will depend on demand and financial support, but the clubs are confident that this expansion will be a worthwhile investment.
“We’re committed to making the matchday experience at Interbay Stadium the best it can be, while keeping matches affordable and accessible,” said Zisette.
More seats means more people. It also means more pressure on a part of the city that is not exactly built for easy match day access by car. The clubs say they plan to roll out expanded transit guidance to help fans navigate getting in and out of Interbay.
We also asked Zisette if this expansion would affect the Bushkeepers, the supporters who have created a perch on the south slope of the stadium grounds.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “The Bushkeepers will be there.”
For more, visit goballardfc.com.
