Set sail for the Greatest Setting in College Football

You’ve probably heard of tailgating, but what about… sailgating?

There are only three college football stadiums in the entire country where fans can arrive to the game by boat: at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and of course, Husky Stadium in Seattle.

Each fall when the Dawgs kick off their season, thousands of fans sporting purple and gold take their pregame festivities to Lake Washington, firing up the grill and enjoying a few cold ones on the water before heading into the Greatest Setting in College Football. It’s uniquely exciting, not to mention you won’t have to stress about traffic or parking.

If you don’t have your own boat, or are a visiting fan that wants to do as the locals do, there are plenty of options to make the voyage to campus.

Since the 1990 season, Chinook’s at Salmon Bay has been the homeport of the Dawg Boat, a tradition that goes above and beyond a simple cruise. 

For $75, guests enjoy free parking at Fishermen’s Terminal and receive two drink tickets to use at the restaurant prior to departure. Once the 45-minute excursion begins, passengers can enjoy scenic views of the Seattle skyline and Gas Works Park, engage in friendly banter with rival fans, and play trivia games hosted by a professional MC (it’s usually Dick Fain of KJR Sports). Additional drinks are available for purchase at two full-service bars on board. On the return trip, there are raffle prizes, including free dinners at Anthony’s Restaurants, UW swag, and more.

The Dawg Boat is also the only public sailgate that’s able to dock and stay docked at Husky Harbor. “Should it be a very rainy or snowy, you know, whatever the elements are, the boat is there, and guests are welcome to come hang out on the boat during the game,” said Taylor Stone, who handles marketing for the Dawg Boat. “We usually do have the game on downstairs for guests to watch.”

With plenty of regulars, there is a palpable sense of community surrounding the experience and everyone from the staff at Chinook’s to the Dawg Boat crew brings tons of energy. From the woman who brings her own custom stamp for the football squares game, to the fan who created a bobblehead for a fellow longtime rider, there are plenty of stories of camaraderie, and always a friendly face.

For fans coming from the Eastside, sailgating with Argosy Cruises is ideal, since pickup is offered at Carillon Point in Kirkland. Passengers can also enjoy a 10% discount on a stay at The Woodmark Hotel & Spa on game day.

Smaller groups that want a more private voyage (or maybe even to fly the opposing team’s colors) should enlist Seattle Charters. Bring up to five of your best buddies to ride from Lake Union, departing four hours before the game to snag the best sailgating spot. The fleet also has vessels for 31 and 48 people, as well as an 85-foot luxury yacht named “Chillin’” which comes with catering and satellite TV.

Old-school cool is the name of the game when you book a ride aboard the “Christine W,” one of only a few paddle-driven vessels on the entire West Coast. Aboard, there is an upper viewing deck, tables and chairs for sit-down dining, a sound system with external connection to play your tunes (might we suggest “Bow Down to Washington”?), a bar with an ice cooler, and two restrooms. Trips depart from Fishermen’s Terminal.

Without a coveted spot to moor at the docks, you might be wondering how to get back to dry land in time for kickoff. Well, the University of Washington offers a complimentary shuttle (return rides to your boat are $10 per person) from wherever you’re anchored in Union Bay — just flag them down and have a little patience until they pick you up. This service operates from two hours prior to the game and runs for an hour afterward.