Seahawks fans flood San Francisco ahead of Super Bowl

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — This story was originally published on mynorthwest.com.

Seahawks fans aren’t just counting down to the Super Bowl from home. They’ve taken over downtown San Francisco.

From packed flights out of Seattle to the streets around the NFL Fan Experience in the Yerba Buena neighborhood, waves of blue and green jerseys have flooded the city days ahead of kickoff. Super fans, families, drumlines, and first-time visitors have turned Super Bowl week into a roaming celebration, even as ticket prices keep most of them out of the stadium.

A flight full of 12s

My Super Bowl experience began at gate D3 inside the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) terminal. A quick survey and I realized the flight would be packed with 12s on their way to the big game – including longtime super fan, Greg Buchanan, and his wife Camila. Buchanan is better known to 12s as Sea-Pope, for his colorful costumes that include a pointed miter – the kind worn by the real Pope Leo. We talked about the Super Bowl and memories of Seahawks past.

“I remember tailgating out of my grandfather’s trunk of his 1964 Impala, and we used to have just sandwiches and coffee and stuff like that,” Buchanan told me. “But, now it’s taken it to a new level.”

Buchanan and his wife Camila said they own part of the Beast Bus, which is a double-decker, rolling tailgating bus painted in Seahawks colors. On its way to San Francisco, it broke down in Medford, Oregon, but Buchanan told me a mechanic on board made repairs and got it rolling again. She also helped organize a planned 12-flag flyover of the Golden Gate Bridge Saturday.

“It’s exciting because you’re going to be there with your fellow Seahawks fans and you all have something in common, you know,” Camila said. “We’re rooting for the Seahawks.”

Blue Thunder brings the beat to the Bay

Also on my flight – Blue Thunder, the Seahawks drumline band that parades around Lumen Field before home games, turning rhythm into a full-on performance, blending powerful, chest-thumping beats with movement, personality, and constant interaction with the crowd. They are in high demand during Super Bowl weekend – straight off the plane, 15 minutes to change and grab their kits, then down to Palo Alto to play at the NFL’s flag football competition, before bussing back up to San Francisco to play for fans at two separate events.