The Washington State Public Stadium Authority is the public partner and owner of the $430 million Qwest Field and Event Center (formerly Seahawks Stadium and Exhibition Center), home of the Seattle Seahawks. The authority owns the stadium, while Seahawks owner Paul Allen's First & Goal operates the facility. The stadium opened in 2002 on the site of the former Kingdome, in the Pioneer Square neighborhood near downtown Seattle. The two facilities (the event/exhibition center opened in 1999) are close to Puget Sound and just north of Safeco Field, home of the Seattle Mariners.