Ballard’s soccer surge is about to get some extra elbow room. Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC have unveiled a two-phase plan to expand seating at Interbay Stadium, starting with a new run of bleachers scheduled for April so the clubs can pack in more fans for the 2026 season. The work will be privately funded and, the teams say, designed to keep Interbay looking and feeling like the same neighborhood stadium regulars know. Organizers emphasize that the upgrades are meant to grow attendance without changing ticket prices or the overall matchday vibe.
Phase timeline and seats
Phase 1 construction is slated to run from April 6 through April 17, adding 267 aluminum bleacher seats to the stadium’s southeast section, according to Salmon Bay FC. The club says the new bleachers will match the look of Interbay’s existing aluminum seating and that the project is being fully privately funded by the two teams. The April schedule is meant to ensure everything is bolted into place before the mid-May home openers for the 2026 season.
How much bigger will the stadium get?
Seattle Pacific University’s facilities profile lists Interbay Stadium at about 900 seats, according to Seattle Pacific University, while the clubs have generally described the venue as having roughly 1,000 seats plus standing room. Team officials have said a Phase 2 expansion, currently penciled in for 2027, would add another 267 seats and could include a canopy over the new sections, a change they say would push total seated capacity up by more than 50 percent once both phases are finished. KOMO reported the clubs’ comments on the Phase 2 timing and details.
Cost, contractors and community benefits
Phase 1 carries an estimated price tag of about $205,000 and will be covered privately by the clubs, team officials said. Nor-Pac Seating is handling the bleacher installation, with project management provided by Herrera Environmental Consultants. Club leaders are framing the expansion as a community investment that will also benefit youth programs, high school teams and college squads that use Interbay. The stadium sits within the Interbay Athletic Complex and is owned and operated by Seattle Parks and Recreation, according to city records.
Matchday logistics and what fans should know
The 2026 USL2 and USL W schedules give Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC a combined 13 home matches between May and July, and both season tickets and single-match seats are already on sale, according to Salmon Bay FC. On the ground, the clubs say they plan to bring in more food vendors and concessions on match days, and will offer cushioned seat backs for purchase or rental for fans who want a softer landing. With Interbay’s parking already tight, the teams are urging supporters to lean on transit, bike parking and carpooling to ease congestion on nearby streets and for neighboring businesses.
Why the expansion matters
Team officials say Phase 1 is being fully funded by the clubs, while Phase 2 will hinge on sustained fan demand and ongoing community support. Any additional work, they add, will be developed in coordination with city partners and local stakeholders. If attendance keeps climbing, merchants in Ballard, Interbay and Magnolia could see more matchday foot traffic, while youth and community users of the stadium will share in the upgraded seating and amenities. The clubs say they plan to post construction updates and any permitting details publicly as the project moves forward.
