The Surprising Place Where Some Seahawks Fans Gather

When a Seahawks touchdown during overtime clinched victory on Sunday, Teddy Werner of Wisconsin couldn’t have been more surprised.

The Seahawks fan of 30 years had been at the stadium with his 4-year-old daughter, watching the game. His daughter tugging on his sleeve, he left with five minutes to go.

"I thought it was over," he said. So he went downtown to kill time with his kid. Then his phone started to light up. The Seahawks were winning. He beelined for the library, where floors were trembling as fans cheered inside.

Yes, you read that correctly. The library, where the motto is shhhhh, allows you to cut loose during Seahawks games. Rich and poor, everybody loves watching the football game there.

Among the 12s at the library on Sunday were Steve and Sandie Beren. They have watched every playoff game at the central library for the last two years.

“It’s like being at the game, without the cold weather," Steve Beren said. "We see it beautiful and clear. We’re screaming and yelling like we’re at the game. We love it."

Valerie Wonder, who organizes events at the Seattle Public Library, said nothing draws crowds to the library like a football game.

“I have never seen the range of ages and ethnicities and socio-economic levels that I see when we do the sporting events,” Wonder said.

Things started out pretty glum with this crowd, as the Seahawks stumbled through three quarters. Shelley Russak summed up the mood: “I’m a little disappointed but all in all, we had a wonderful year.”

Grant Lakey blamed our collective overconfidence. “Yeah, we got real cocky," he said. "Not only the players, but the media. Everyone. The whole city was cocky!”

But several refused to give up. With only a few minutes left in the game and Seattle 12 points behind, Jaime Chaveste predicted a comeback.

“We’re gonna come out with a victory in the end." While other people looked down at the floor, Chaveste attempted to lead people in chants.

Sure enough, Seattle scored two touchdowns in the last couple minutes of the game. Chaveste's friend, visiting from Mexico City, looked pleased.

Hamda Yusuf and a few friends were shelving books upstairs for the library when she felt the floor tremble beneath her. The seats were full, so they watched the big screen from the aisles. “I don’t think we can stay out there with all the noise in here," she said. "So we’ve got to be here.”

Then, the Packers tied the game with a field goal and pushed the Seahawks into overtime. That’s when Queen Pearl brought out her secret weapon: A pack of Skittles, which fans say is good luck.

“I ate some so that means it’s over for the Packers," she said. "They can start packing their suitcases.”

The Seahawks will play in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots on Sunday, Feb. 1. To watch the game at the library, show up early as seats are limited.