GOING TO A SEATTLE STORM GAME WITH KIDS - 5 Tips for Before, During, & After

Whether you’ve already got your tickets or your still trying to decide if you should take your kids to a Seattle Storm WNBA game, I hope these 5 tips will help you out!

I’m a mom of three and I’m a big WNBA fan. While I was first introduced to women’s professional basketball in the late 90’s (lookin’ at you, Seattle Reign!), I took a long break and am now a full fan again, with three kids who want to come to the games with me!

Storm games are perfect settings for a family day or night out. Climate Pledge Arena hosts an enthusiastic crowd, the Storm is always competitive, and the games are full of skilled and entertaining players (lookin’ at you, Jewell Lloyd). A Seattle Storm game is clean, affordable family fun.

The last Seattle Storm game I was at was packed. Climate Pledge Arena held a record 18,343 fans – the highest Storm attendance ever!

While this isn’t a complete guide (I’m working on one), I hope these tips will help make going to a Seattle Storm game with kids fun, memorable, and low-stress.

Interested in the WNBA? Be sure to check out
Why You Should Take Your Kids to a WNBA Game
Going to a WNBA Game with Kids
WNBA Basics for Families
Going to an Indiana Fever Game with Kids
Going to a Chicago Sky Game with Kids
Tips for Attending a Seattle Storm Game with Kids
Kids’ Guide to Getting Caitlin Clark’s Autograph at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

Table of Contents

Go Early and Eat at Dick’s Drive-In

Inside Dicks' Drive In in Seattle. People wait in line to order at the counter on the right. Above the counter is a large sign for Dick's in red and in cursive. People sit in chairs by the window on the left. Above the windows are paintings of Seattle stadiums and Mt. Rainier.

A hamburger and fries sit on the hamburger's paper and foil wrapper.

Yes, there are plenty of places to eat in Seattle, but a kid-friendly classic is Dick’s Drive-In. Dick’s has been dishing up burgers, fries, and milkshakes since 1954!

It takes less than 5 minutes to walk to Dick’s from Climate Pledge Arena, so little legs won’t have any problems ‘making the trek.’

There aren’t many choices on the menu, so you can order, eat, and be on your way to the game.

Tip: If you’re with older kids and looking for something a little more sophisticated, head to Taylor Shellfish (across the street from Climate Pledge). It’s an oyster bar, but there are other options on the menu like tomato soup, geoduck chowder, risotto, salads, and cooked fish dishes.

Use Public Transport

A grey day in Seattle, Washington. Low buildings in a factory area. The background is the city skyline. — *When you take the train, you can focus on the views and not the road*

Parking in Seattle (especially near Climate Pledge Arena) can be a real pain. And, the traffic after the game will have you wishing you owned a helicopter.

Get creative and make your way to Climate Pledge Arena by:

Monorail
Light rail
Ferry
Bus

Or, arrive by combining some of the options above.

Coming from 100 miles away, we drove to Angle Lake station, took the light rail to Pioneer Square, and then took the bus to Climate Pledge Arena.

Enter Before Tip Off and Watch the Warmups

Caitlin Clark and her Indiana Fever teammates warm up by half-court at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA before their WNBA game against the Storm. The stands are still mostly empty. — *Look how close you can get during warmups!*

One of the best things about taking your kids to a WNBA game is that you can still get close to the players even if your seats are far from the court.

Arrive early if possible, when the doors open, which is typically one hour before tipoff.

Walk down to the court (yes, courtside) to watch the warmups. You’re allowed to stay there up until 30 minutes before tipoff.

It’s amazing to see the players up close as they practice shots and interact with each other. Kids will also get a chance to see how tall some of the players really are!

This is one of my favorite parts of seeing a WNBA game with kids.

Be Ready for Noise

A packed Climate Pledge Arena for a WNBA game between the Storm and the Fever. On the court are dancers and the Seattle mascot. — *Storm fans are loud!*

Storm fans are enthusiastic, and this place gets loud! Most kids will love the energy and excitement, but if you’re worried about decibels, bring ear protection (Baby Banz or other noise-cancelling headphones).

Explore Seattle Center Before or After the Game

There are so many kid-friendly things to see and do in Seattle! You’ll find something for each kid’s interest and for all ages. Here are a few ideas (really close to Climate Pledge Arena) to get you started:

Go up the Space Needle
Play at the epic ‘Artists at Play’ Playground
Have a picnic at the Olympic Sculpture Park
Explore the Pacific Science Center
On a hot day, cool off at the International Fountain
Check out the Museum of Pop Culture
Visit the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI)
Marvel at the art in the Chihuly Garden (better for bigger kids)

A Few More Things

Wearing Seattle Storm gear – It’s certainly not a must, but if your kids want to get decked out in emerald green, you can find jerseys, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and more at the Storm team shop (in the arena and online), Fanatics, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Simply Seattle, Walmart, and more.

Explore Climate Pledge Arena – If your kids need to move around a bit, go for a walk around the arena. Did you know that Climate Pledge

Ages to bring kids to a Seattle Storm game – Of course, it all depends on the kid. I would bring my 6- and 10-year-olds but leave my 3 year old at home (even though he probably would enjoy the atmosphere).

You can bring your stroller – If you do decide to come with little ones, you can arrive with your stroller (so handy for public transport and getting to the arena) and check it at Guest Services while you’re at the game.

Review the Arena Guide before coming to the game – The Arena Guide lays out important rules (bag policy, water bottle policy, which camera you can bring, etc) and things to know (like Climate Pledge is cashless).