22 Sep Traffic Alert: Microsoft Annual Meeting at Safeco Field this Friday

Microsoft will be holding its Annual Employee Meeting at Safeco Field this Friday, September 23rd.

There will be about 200 buses and 4,000 cars, 18,000-20,000 attendees.

Cars will primarily park in the Safeco Field Garage and the CenturyLink Garage, with some people selecting to park in other nearby lots and garages.

Buses will unload and load riders at the following locations:

(1) 3rd Avenue S. between Royal Brougham and Holgate (street will be closed from Royal Brougham southward but local access will be available);

(2) Occidental from Royal Brougham north to Railroad Avenue in front of CenturyLink Event Center (street will be local access only);

(3) Occidental between Edgar Martinez Drive and Massachusetts Street at the Safeco Field Garage Plaza (street will be local access only);

(4) First Avenue S. west curb from Royal Brougham north to end of sidewalk where SR99 ramps block the sidewalk.

Buses will be entering the area either via the I-90 HOV exit to 5th Avenue S. or I-90 mainline exit to 4th Avenue S.

Empty buses will be staged at the loading locations and at several lots in the area to be deployed back at the end of the event to pick up passengers.

There will be some early arrivals (3 breakfast groups and “seat savers”) in private cars starting at about 7:00am.

The bulk of the arrivals will be between 8:30am and 10:30am with the gates opening at 9:00am.

The event runs from 10:00am to approximately 3:30-4:00pm.

All attendees will be departing at the same time this year with the last buses leaving at 5:00pm.

Seattle Police Department will be providing traffic controls similar to a large baseball game or soccer game.