Seattle Convention Center Steps Outside Its Walls to Energize Downtown

People gather at Pine and Pike for the lively Market at the Marquee, a street pop-up market adorned with colorful decorations, banners, and a bustling food truck. Painted circles mark 9th Ave, while trees line the street and buildings rise in the background.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SEATTLE CONVENTION CENTER

This post is sponsored.

The World Cup offered a glimpse of what downtown Seattle can feel like when public spaces are full of life and activity. This August, the Seattle Convention Center (SCC) is building on that momentum.

For several weeks early this summer, downtown Seattle felt different. Streets buzzed as FIFA World Cup visitors joined residents, workers, and local businesses in creating a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere. Public spaces became gathering places, restaurants stayed busy, and people lingered downtown after the final whistle.

Throughout August, the Center is transforming the block of 9th Avenue between Pike and Pine into a pedestrian gathering space designed to continue that sense of community beyond the tournament. The activation creates a welcoming place where residents, downtown workers, visitors, and Center attendees can connect while supporting local businesses, artists, and community organizations.

Event flyer for Market at the Marquee at Seattle Convention Center, Thursdays in August, 5-8pm. Explore a vibrant lineup of 25 local food vendors and food trucks along Pine and Pike. Join us this Thursday!.

One highlight is Market at the Marquee, a weekly evening market on Thursdays from 5 p.m.-8 p.m., featuring local makers, food vendors, music, and neighborhood experiences. The market gives people a reason to stay downtown after work, meet friends, discover local vendors, and experience the area around the Center in a new way. Learn more.

“During the World Cup, we witnessed the power of shared experiences to bring people together and energize downtown Seattle,” said Jennifer LeMaster, President and CEO of Seattle Convention Center. “It reminded us what’s possible when people have compelling reasons to spend time here.”

Person wearing headphones and sunglasses smiles while operating DJ equipment under a canopy outdoors, with a laptop and audio gear in front of them near Pine and Pike, just steps away from the Seattle Convention Center—where local food vendors add to the vibrant atmosphere.

The month-long event reflects SCC’s commitment to placemaking — the idea that thoughtful public spaces can strengthen neighborhoods, encourage economic activity, and create opportunities for people to gather. For SCC, that means looking beyond the walls of the convention center and considering how surrounding streets, sidewalks, businesses, and partners contribute to the visitor and community experience.

“If we can create reasons for attendees, residents and downtown workers to spend more time downtown, everyone benefits, from local businesses to the meetings and events that bring people to Seattle,” said LeMaster.

The activation may last only a month, but the idea extends beyond August. SCC knows meeting planners do not simply book a convention center — they choose a destination. Through initiatives like this, the Center is investing not only in its campus, but in the broader downtown experience that shapes how visitors experience Seattle before, during, and after an event.

Find more Market at the Marquee Tickets, Multiple dates | Eventbrite.

Colorful ribbons and red crocheted banners hang above Pine and Pike, where 9th Ave. bustles with people, trees lining the lively street. In the background, local food vendors set up tents, adding to the vibrant city scene.