Seattle Culture
Another Sail Just in Time for Husky Football
Sailgating has never been more popular
By Sarah Stackhouse August 12, 2024
During a preview of last year’s University of Oregon-University of Washington football battle, ESPN analyst and talk show host Pat McAfee marveled at the view of Lake Washington outside of Husky Stadium.
“This isn’t a green screen,” he insisted. “This is real.”
With such a beautiful backdrop, it’s no surprise that “sailgating” has become a thing during the fall. The newest entrant? Argosy Cruises, which is offering Husky fans on the Eastside a way to skip traffic and parking headaches. Argosy’s new Husky Sailgating Cruise takes fans on a scenic one-hour route from Carillon Point in Kirkland to Husky Stadium. Onboard, you can enjoy local food and drinks on heated decks while cruising across Lake Washington.
Two season pass options are available now: The Husky Harbor Season Pass is $340, and the full season pass, which includes the Apple Cup against Washington State, is $373.75. These passes will get you a spot on popular cruises like the Michigan game on Oct. 5. Individual game passes go on sale in mid-August. Take note: the Apple Cup game (12:30 p.m. Sept. 14) is at Lumen Field, so that trip will leave from Pier 55 on Seattle’s waterfront, not the Eastside.
Other local charter boats already offering sailgating experiences include:
- Seattle Charters: A Husky family-run operation for many years, Seattle Charters sails mid-sized power yachts from Lake Union right up to Husky Stadium.
- Chinook’s Dawg Boat: A tradition since 1990, this boat sails from Fishermen’s Terminal in Ballard to Husky Stadium.
The Huskies play seven home games this year, and open the season hosting Weber State on Aug. 31.