A former freight barge that only months ago was hauling cargo to Alaska has found a very different assignment along Seattle's waterfront.
The floating fan zone, now moored off Pier 62, continues to host watch parties for FIFA World Cup matches after arriving in Elliott Bay under tow from the Port of Everett earlier this month. The project transformed a working Alaska Marine Lines cargo barge into a temporary entertainment venue complete with a mini soccer pitch, large video screens, food concessions, and viewing areas for thousands of fans.
On June 10, Seattle-based Western Towboat shifted the converted barge from Everett to its final berth along the downtown waterfront. The tow was handled by the 84’x27’x10’ tug Ocean Navigator, which departed the Port of Everett in the early morning hours before making the roughly 25-mile transit south to Elliott Bay.
The vessel was greeted with a water salute from the Seattle Fire Department before docking at Pier 62.
The floating venue serves as the centerpiece of the Seattle Soccer Celebration, a World Cup fan experience developed in conjunction with the RAVE Foundation, the charitable arm of Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC. Organizers said the project commemorates the foundation's effort to build 52 community soccer pitches across Washington state.
The barge spent much of its recent life moving freight for Alaska Marine Lines, carrying containers and cargo between the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. In a rapid two-week conversion effort at an Everett shipyard, crews transformed the working cargo platform into a floating event space.
The barge remains moored off Pier 62 and continues to host match viewing events throughout the tournament. Fans can watch games aboard the floating venue through ticketed events, while additional public viewing opportunities are available from the adjacent pier.
