Seattle, WA — January 14, 2026 — The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) is proud to announce the deployment of seismic sensors inside Lumen Field to measure fan-generated ground motion during the 2026 NFL Playoffs.
On Monday, January 12th, the PNSN Field Operations Team installed six stations throughout Lumen Field to capture seismic energy produced by the collective movement of the 12s, the Seattle Seahawks' famously passionate fanbase.
This Saturday it's time for the 12s to bring the energy!
"With these six seismometers, we have Lumen Field 'wired up' and we can record exactly how the excitement of the crowd leads to shaking of the ground, much like an earthquake does," said PNSN Director Harold Tobin at the University of Washington. "We expect the massive crowd of 12s to generate measurable seismic energy. It's a fun way to show the world exactly how much, in a scientific way, and to learn something about the seismic waves in the process."
PNSN will stream results through real-time seismograms available on pnsn.org during the game and share through PNSN's social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Bluesky. These records will show how fan excitement translates into measurable seismic signals!
The project builds on previous in-stadium deployments during Seahawks playoff games in 2014, 2015, & 2017, and the legendary Beast Quake run by Marshawn Lynch in 2011, which have all helped further PNSN's efforts to increase earthquake awareness in the Pacific Northwest.
Based at the University of Washington, within the College of the Environment, the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network operates over 700 seismic stations across Washington and Oregon. PNSN's mission is to monitor earthquakes, support research on our earthquake hazards, and provide timely, accurate information to emergency managers, scientists, and the public.
For updates, data visualizations, and behind-the-scenes looks at the Lumen Field deployment, follow PNSN online and on social media.
