By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News
Tulalip Resort Casino hosted its first ever Seattle Seahawks watch party at the Amphitheatre on September 9. A free, 21+ event that opened nearly an entire hour ahead of the 5:20 kickoff. Food, beverages, giveaways and games were part of the evening festivities at the 3,000-seat outdoor venue.
Inside, three gigantic video screens transformed the Amphitheater into perhaps the largest outdoor living room in Snohomish County. From nearly every vantage point, fans could watch their defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks begin their title defense against a familiar opponent, the New England Patriots.
Scattered throughout the venue were longtime season ticket holders, casual fans, Tulalip families and plenty of diehard 12s who seemingly owned enough Seahawks apparel to outfit an entire starting lineup. Among them was Tulalip citizen Clayton Horne. Decked out in Seahawks colors and surrounded by fellow fans, he explained that watching at home simply could not replicate the energy of experiencing a game alongside hundreds of people who wanted the exact same thing.
“Where else would I rather be then right here, on the Reservation, with other members of the 12 army as we cheer on the defending champs,” said Clayton Horne as he strutted around in his custom pair of Seahawks tennis shoes and Super Bowl LX Smith-Njigba jersey.
Between plays and commercial breaks, adults wandered the grounds while food and drink vendors kept busy serving the crowd. Among those vendors was local small business owner Jared Parks, whose freshly popped kettle corn provided an aroma that drifted through sections of the Amphitheater.
For Jared, the evening was another opportunity for a local entrepreneur to be part of a large community gathering while doing what small businesses do best, adding their own flavor to the festivities. “I think these kinds of events are great for the community because it creates the opportunity for people to come together, enjoy watching a game together, and gives the greater public a chance to experience a taste of Tulalip’s local food vendors,” he said while popping a fresh batch of color rush kettle (watermelon and lime).
Perhaps the best representation of the wide range of generations in attendance came when Tulalip elder Dean Ledford made his way through the Amphitheater grounds. Using his walker and with his daughter, Angela Tait, close beside him, Dean strolled through the crowd. He smiled happily while taking in the giant screens, Seahawks colors, and unmistakable buzz of opening night.
“This is my first time ever watching the Seahawks while being outside,” admitted Dean. “It’s been a long time coming, for sure, but I’m just thrilled to be here and to experience all this with my daughter. There are few things in life that bring people together like sports, especially when you’re talking about a championship caliber team like what we have. I think we have a real chance to win back-to-back Super Bowls.”
There were plenty of nerves to go around once the football started. Seattle’s championship banner was raised at Lumen Field before kickoff, but the celebration quickly turned uneasy. Starting quarterback Sam Darnold suffered a hip injury on Seattle’s opening drive and was forced from the game. Backup Drew Lock took over, but the Seahawks offense struggled to find momentum and New England eventually built a 10–0 advantage. Seattle entered the fourth quarter having scored just three points.
Then the championship defense, dubbed the Dark Side, took over. With every turnover, the Amphitheater came alive. Seattle intercepted Patriots quarterback Drake Maye three times during the fourth quarter. After Nehemiah Pritchett picked off Maye, Lock connected with star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a 45-yard touchdown on fourth and one to tie the game at 10. Another interception, this time by Julian Love, helped position Seattle for a 26-yard Jason Myers field goal and a 13–10 lead.
Suddenly, a crowd that had spent much of the evening waiting for something to cheer about could barely stay seated. New England still had one final opportunity to spoil the party, driving deep into Seattle territory in the final minute. But Josh Jobe secured the victory with a toe tapping interception in the end zone, Seattle’s third pick of the fourth quarter! The dramatic defensive stand sealed a 13–10 victory.
The Tulalip Amphitheater erupted. Few were louder than one proud grandmother who attended the gathering while representing her four Tulalip grandchildren. Throughout the evening, she cheered unabashedly for the hometown team, joining hundreds of others in turning an ordinary Wednesday night into a full-blown football celebration.
“This game was so exciting!” declared grandmother Dawn Mosteller. “I didn’t want to stay home, watching from my couch. I wanted to be here, outside, enjoying a beautiful evening with my fellow Seahawks fans. This event was just so much fun, and I really hope they offer more watch parties during the season.”
Football season has arrived, and the defending champs are officially 1-0.