The Seattle Seahawks hosted the Mike McCready of Pearl Jam performed the national anthem pregame, on behalf of the Washington Innocence Project.
The Seattle Seahawks hosted the New England Patriots in the regular-season opener at Lumen Field Wednesday evening, and fans also enjoyed several musical performances.
Ahead of the game, the Seahawks and USAA hosted the Salute 250 Kickoff Concert featuring country music star Luke Bryan in the Lumen Field North Lot. The concert was open to season ticket holders, service members, veterans, and USAA members.
"Luke Bryan coming to Seattle? It's amazing," said season ticket holder Keeton Maggard. "We deserve it being world champions."
USAA bused 300 service members from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island to Seattle for the free concert and the Hawks' first game.
"I've really never got to experience anything like this," said Stormi Hodges, an active service member. "It's very, very rare to get the opportunity to go to an NFL game, let alone a concert, for free with the Navy, so I thought it was very honorable."
Chris Curtin, chief marketing officer with USAA, said honoring veterans, armed forces, and their families was the goal behind the pregame event. Luke Bryan made the time to leave his tour and come perform at this event, Curtin added.
Bryan performed for a little over an hour before crowds of fans filed into Lumen Field, where the musical performances continued.
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam performed the national anthem pregame, on behalf of the Washington Innocence Project, a Seahawks Spirit of 12 partner. He then returned at halftime, alongside Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless, for a reunion performance by Seattle's own Soundgarden.
Founding member and lead guitarist Kim Thayil sat down with KOMO's Molly Shen ahead of the show. Thayil talked about reuniting to perform in Seattle, as well as his new memoir, "A Screaming Life."
Overall, Seahawks fans said the music and other pregame festivities were a perfect combination to start off another football season in Seattle.
"I think we're so hyped up anyway, this just brings it to a perfect level," said Janice Irving, a longtime season ticket holder.
