Plan to take rideshare after the Seahawks game? Expect to pay more
Tens of thousands of people are expected to hit the roads on Sunday before and after the Seahawks take on the Rams in the NFC Championship at Lumen Field.
The Olympian reached out to rideshare providers Uber and Lyft, and an Uber spokesperson confirmed that folks attending the game in-person can expect surge pricing for rides home from the stadium.
The spokesperson said that Uber expects more people in the broader region to be using Uber on gameday. The spokesperson provided information on surge pricing to help ensure folks get rides from the stadium, but did not explicitly say that prices may be higher around the stadium at designated pickup spots.
The spokesperson said higher prices encourage more drivers to pick up near the stadium, which in turn helps prevent a “no rides available” situation when there’s high demand. They said the app shows the price upfront, including if it’s dynamic pricing. Prices are reduced to normal levels once demand is met.
The spokesperson said this allows people to make an informed decision, whether that’s requesting a ride, waiting for the rush to settle down, or looking into public transportation.
There are several options available for folks in the South Sound region to get home from the bars and watch parties.
Olympia/Lacey options
Intercity Transit services the Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater area and has a number of ride options available. Plus, all bus services and dial-a-lift services are fare-free, thanks to a project that started in 2020. The bus system also connects to several other area transit agencies, including Grays Harbor Transit, King County Metro, Mason Transit, Pierce Transit and Sound Transit.
IT’s Lacey Connector route runs from the downtown Olympia station to Lakewood. The latest bus on Sunday going to Lakewood from Olympia will leave at 7:51 p.m. and arrive at the Sound Transit Park & Ride in Lakewood at 8:58 p.m.
Another bus route will take you from the Lacey transit center, through Tumwater and to the west side of Olympia. Its last route on Sunday from Olympia to Lacey will run from 9:40 p.m. to 10:43 p.m. You can find more route information on IT’s website.
Tacoma-area options
In Pierce County, the bus system costs $2 for one ride, or $1 if paying with an ORCA card. The card is available online and works as for local buses, as a regional pass, and for trains and ferries. An all-day local pass is $5, or $2 with an ORCA card. An all day regional pass is $6, or $2 with an ORCA card.
Pierce Transit’s Route 1 runs from Fircrest, down Sixth Avenue and south of Spanaway. The latest route runs from Tacoma Community College to the Spanaway Transit Center from 8:30 p.m. to 9:39 p.m. on Sunday.
The McKinley Avenue route will take you from downtown Tacoma to East 72nd Street south of the McKinley neighborhood. Its last route will run on Sunday from 6:16 p.m. to 6:40 p.m. You can find more route information on Pierce Transit’s website.
The transit service posted on its social media on Jan. 16 recommending people park for free at the Tacoma Dome Station and take one of 15 express buses to get to the game in Seattle, or take the Sounder Train.
Sound Transit
Fares vary depending on the type of service and trip folks are taking with Sound Transit, whether that be bus, train or light rail. Fares generally range from $2 to $4, and you must purchase tickets beforehand for light rail and Sounder train services. You can pay as you enter on ST Express buses. Folks can use their ORCA card for these services as well.
The 1 Line light rail has service from Lynnwood to Federal Way, and the 2 Line has service from downtown Redmond to South Bellevue, according to ST’s website. Tacoma’s T Line has service from the dome to St. Joseph Medical Center. The S Line will take you from downtown Seattle to Lakewood. ST’s express bus system services the entire region, from Everett to DuPont. You can find route information and plan your trip on the Sound Transit website.
South Sound taxi prices
There are also taxi services available in Thurston and Pierce counties. RediCab serves Thurston County residents. Pricing is $3 at pickup, then $4 per mile, plus 75 cents per minute of wait time, which applies for waiting at red lights and stops at the rider’s request. The minimum fare is $10, and $15 for pickups scheduled ahead of time. You can call 360-400-8294 to book a ride in advance.
A number of yellow cab taxi services are available in both Thurston and Pierce counties as well. Yellow Cab Olympia charges $2 at pickup, then $2.50 per mile, plus 50 cents per minute of wait time. There’s an extra $1 charge for an additional person. This service can be reached at 360-753-3333. Tacoma Yellow Cab’s prices are the same, and you can book online or by calling 253-472-3303.
This story was originally published January 23, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
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