Tailgating isn't that good
Many of the lots are owned by the city and they do not allow flames or booze
There used to be a big area around the viaduct that was open for tailgating (hawk heaven) .... but that's been heavily restricted due to the construction ... used to look like this
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You can still find some at private lots and people in the north lot (big lot closer to pioneer square opposite safeco) .... i know there is a pretty big group that has been near holgate, but that's a little bit out of the way for just a walk through
if you are staying in the city there is no need to drive to the game .... very easy to either walk to the stadium or connect to a bus that will get you there (they are free in the downtown zone which ends at the edge of pioneer square)
there are also a ton of bars in the area that get very busy - most of my people are at the King Street Bar & Kitchen
You'll have food vendors all around the stadium and can bring in a sealed bottle of water (safeco doesn't allow this)
If you haven't been before it's worth swinging through touchdown city in the expo hall attached to the stadium (on the more southern end going towards safeco - it's free) ..... wouldn't budget a lot of time there, but can be a worthy stumble through and then enter the gates into the stadium attached through the hall
http://www.seahawks.com/qwest-field/stadium-guide/touchdown-city.html
make sure you are in there in time for the raising of the 12 flag
i'm obviously biased, but definitely the best game environment I've been to in the NFL and the stadium is a complete gem .... depending on your seats if you are growing tired of watching the cardinals trip all over themselves you can get great views of the city and the sound
Hope you have fun ... it's a great city and good environment for a game ..... fans can get vocal towards visitors, but from what i've seen it's not as bad as what i've seen in other stadiums ..... with 65,000 people you'll always have a few A-Holes, but it's a fraction of how dopey things get in places like SD
I'm sure you'll run into plenty of other cardinal fans .... there are definitely links between the two cities as far as population migration
Definitely jealous of you guys ... i need to make it back up there .... great seafood and I love being on the water .... one of my musts is taking the ferry over the bainbridge island, walking around, having lunch and then coming back to seattle to wander and find a good dinner -which isn't hard