“Game ready” Mural design contest

Our Grand Prize Winners!

Congratulations to Arpo and Joe Palec! After the public voted on our four finalist submissions, we’re proud to present the two winning “Game Ready” mural designs. We’re grateful to all the artists who participated and can’t wait to share these murals with the community later this winter.

Finalists: Artist Snapshots

A big thank you to everyone who submitted! We will share (with permission) a snapshot of all the artists and their submissions in the next few weeks. But first, here are our four finalists and your chance to vote for your favorite two designs.

Arpo

Arpo is a Seattle-based multidisciplinary artist whose work centers on moments of joy found between busy days and late-night food runs. Inspired by the comfort of burgers, fries, and shakes, Arpo turns everyday cravings into playful visual stories rooted in place and community.

The design features Seattle’s beloved easter eggs getting ready for the game: orcas playing soccer; a raccoon sipping a classic shake while cheering from the corner flag; an octopus sneaking an ice-cream cone from the pick-up window; a seagull living its best life, eating fries while watching the match from above; sasquatch warming up on the sidelines; and a bear carefully balancing its favorite combo.

Together, the mural celebrates the city’s quirky spirit and its love for sports, food, and good times.

Instagram: @poyeypoloyey

Joe Palec

Joe Palec is an illustrator known for his intricate “extreme doodling,” a style built on dense line work, energetic characters, and scenes packed with hidden stories. His work blends cartoon influence with narrative detail so each illustration feels like a small world meant to be explored rather than skimmed.

For the Dick’s Drive-In mural contest, he created a Where’s Waldo–style concept filled with animated Dick’s menu items playing soccer across a stylized Seattle setting. Burgers, fries, and shakes become characters in a lively, humorous scene designed to reward close viewing with small discoveries and visual jokes.

Palec uses Dick’s vibrant blue-and-orange color palette to root the design in the brand while keeping his signature playful complexity.

Instagram: @JoePalec

Ryan Weimer

Ryan Weimer is a multidisciplinary artist using digital art, painting, and apparel design to convey vibrant, expressive storytelling. His work is fueled by his passions—food and cooking, travel, culture, and international soccer. Bold line work, lush colors, and energetic brush strokes bring his curiosity to life, turning any space into a canvas.

He has recently partnered with companies such as Jack Daniel’s, The Museum of Flight, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and competed as an artist for Art Battle Live. Ryan is currently building a creative lifestyle project called Gettin’ FAT, celebrating Food, Art, and Travel.

Ryan grew up in the great PNW and has a degree in graphic arts from Highline College. He spends his time with his loving wife and kids, coaching his son’s soccer team, and working at a local high school. He enjoys international travels with family and friends exploring everything this world has to offer.

Instagram: @imthatraw

Zach Legat

Zachary Legat is an interdisciplinary artist and designer from Seattle whose work blends illustration, graphic design, and structured composition. Influenced by the Pacific Northwest’s colors, landmarks, and natural forms, he explores how place and memory shape identity. Now based in Rhode Island, he continues to create pieces that highlight community energy and the environments that inspire him. As the founder of Sunthief Design, he partners with nonprofits and mission-driven organizations to build accessible, story-driven design.

For his Dick’s Drive-In mural, A Game Ready City, Legat reconnects with his Seattle roots through a design that reflects the city’s culture and soccer identity. Using bold color and clean composition, he layers familiar skyline elements with the momentum and anticipation of the sport. The mural honors both the region’s landscape and Dick’s long-standing role as a local institution, presenting Seattle as a community ready to welcome the world.

Instagram: @sunthiefdesign

calling all soccer fans

Updated Thursday, Dec 4

Submission window is now closed. Thank you to all who submitted! The four finalists will be contacted by email and/or phone between Dec 4 – 5.

Updated Friday, Nov 21

Contest terms have been amended since the contest’s launch on Nov 18. Please read thoroughly.

For any questions, please email [email protected]

Do you have an artistic flair and love soccer? Dick’s Drive-In is inviting local, artistic soccer fans to bring their creativity to the pitch! For two weeks, submissions are open for Dick’s Drive-In’s GAME READY Mural Design Contest. This is your chance to capture Puget Sound’s soccer pride in bold, colorful style.

  1. Submissions can be provided in one of three formats until close on Dec 3:
    - Portfolio delivery with a written description of the final design, envisioned by the artist; OR
    - A sketch or mock-up of what the artist envisions the final design would be; OR
    - A final mural design with every detail you wish to include.

  2. All submissions will be equally evaluated regardless of submission format. Four (4) submissions will be internally selected. Those finalists will be awarded $500, and will need to ensure their artwork is ready for public voting. Dick’s Drive-In will work with the Finalists as needed in order to reach that level of readiness.

  3. These four finalists will then be promoted by Dick’s Drive-In, and the public will be able to vote from Dec 8–12.

  4. Through the public vote, the two (2) submissions with the most votes will win! Their designs will be printed on vinyl (managed by Dick’s Drive-In), and showcased on the side of a Drive-In—one at Kent and one at Federal Way—and the two winners will receive a Grand Prize of $1000 each.

the vision & The SPirit

Capture what makes the Greater Seattle area GAME READY for Soccer’s Biggest Stage! Each submission should reflect the energy, pride, and unity of the Puget Sound region and Dick’s Drive-In’s signature style: bold, fun, and community-driven. Use bright colors, local landmarks, and creative storytelling to create a mural that celebrates the South Sound and Dick’s Drive-In while offering the perfect photo opportunity for fans and customers.

It is the passion of the fans, the creativity of our neighborhoods, and the anticipation that sweeps the region as the world comes together to play. Dick’s Drive-In invites anyone and everyone to help tell that story with original murals at two select locations.

THE WINNERS & THE PRIZE

After submissions close on December 3, 2025, at 11:59 PM (PDT), Dick’s Drive-In will select four (4) mural designs as finalists. The finalists will receive $500 each.

The public will then vote online to choose their favorites from Dec 8–15. The two (2) submissions with the most votes will win the Grand Prize. Winners will be announced Dec 16.

The two (2) Grand Prize winners will receive $1,000 each, and Dick’s Drive-In will manage the production of vinyl murals (working with the artists as needed). The vinyl murals will be showcased at the Drive-Ins in Jan 2026—one at Kent, the other at Federal Way.

    1. GET THE MURAL TEMPLATE: For reference, click this link to download the template to view the layout and required dimensions of both the Federal Way and Kent walls. You design it, we’ll take care of the installation. Dick’s Drive-In will turn the two winning designs into vinyl mural prints.

    2. PREPARE YOUR SUBMISSION by either 1) submitting your portfolio and description, or 2) a sketch or mock-up, or 3) a final mural design with all included details. Using the provided templated dimensions is preferred, but not required. Preferred formats based on your submission:

      – Portfolios: Google Slides link; upload a PowerPoint or .PDF. (Note: Any portfolio submissions selected as Finalists must then turn the concept into a Sketch/Mockup, at least, to ensure your art is ready for public voting.)
      – Sketch/Mockups:       Google Slides link; upload a PowerPoint, .PDF, .AI, .EPS, .PNG, or .TIFF
      – Final Design:       Upload a .PDF, .AI, .EPS, .PNG, or .TIFF

      • There should be no need to compress your file into a .ZIP format. A submission with a .ZIP file will be ignored.

    3. PREPARE THE FOLLOWING to include with your submission:

      • Your full name and contact information

      • Your Facebook, Instagram, or X/Twitter handle(s) / URL(s)

      • Your design file attachment or a download link

      • A short artist statement (150–200 words) describing your design concept

    4. SUBMIT YOUR DESIGN: 12/4: SUBMISSION WINDOW IS NOW CLOSED Open this Google Form and submit the required information. This Google Form includes the link where you can upload your mural design file.

  • To qualify, artwork must meet all of the following:

    • Artwork must be original and created by the submitting artist;

    • AI-generated or traced artwork will not be accepted;

    • Must NOT use or reference FIFA, World Cup, Sounders FC, or any third-party logos, trademarks, or copyrighted content;

    • Finalist and Grand Prize winners are responsible for any applicable taxes and may be required to complete a Form W-9.

    • Artists may use approved LET’S PLAY SEA 26 branding elements (see linked playbook). Use of World Cup, FIFA, or any associated branding, logos, or imagery is strictly prohibited;

    • Designs may incorporate Dick’s Drive-In brand elements only as permitted in the provided guidelines (see linked folder with guidelines and logos);

    • All designs must be family-friendly and suitable for public display; and

    • Dick’s Drive-In Restaurants retains the right to reproduce, modify, and display the winning artwork for community engagement and marketing as a vinyl mural, and digital graphic to promote the mural. Artists will always receive full credit and promotion for their work.

    • Dick’s Drive-In Restaurants will NOT retain any rights of digital art submissions that are not selected as the Grand Prize winners.

    • All submissions must be received by December 3, 2025, at 11:59 PM (PDT).

    • No purchase or fee is required to enter.

  • A panel of Dick’s Drive-In team members will review all eligible submissions and select finalists based on:

    • Creativity and originality;

    • Artistic quality;

    • Theme relevance: “Seattle is Game Ready”; and

    • Fit with Dick’s Drive-In’s bold, fun, community-driven style.

    Finalist designs will be posted online for public voting from December 8, 2025 through December 12, 2025.

    Public voting will be considered as part of the final selection. Dick’s Drive-In reserves the right to make the final determination in selecting the two winning entries. Any attempt to manipulate or artificially inflate votes may result in disqualification.

  • Four (4) Finalists

    • $500 Cash Prize for each finalist

    Two (2) Grand Prize Winners

    • $1,000 Cash Prize for each winning artist;

    • $100 in Dick’s Gift Certificates;

    • Featured on Dick’s Drive-In social media and marketing channels; and

    • Mural installation at a Dick’s Drive-In location.

    • Submission Period: November 18, 2025 through December 3rd, 2025

    • Finalists Contacted: December 4, 2025

    • Public Voting: December 8, 2025 through December 15, 2025

    • Winners Announced: December 16, 2025

    • Murals Installed: January 2026

  • By submitting a design, artists grant Dick’s Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. a non-exclusive license to reproduce and display the artwork for contest administration and promotional recap purposes.

    Winning artists grant Dick’s Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. a perpetual, irrevocable, world-wide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, publish, modify, adapt, display, distribute, and create derivative works from the artwork in any media for marketing, promotional, or community-engagement purposes. Artists will always be credited when their work is displayed.

    To the fullest extent permitted by law, winning artists agree to waive any rights under the Visual Artists Rights Act (VARA), including rights related to modification, removal, or destruction of the printed mural installation.

    Artists represent and warrant that their submissions are original, do not infringe any third-party rights, and agree that Dick’s Drive-In may disqualify any submission that fails to comply with contest rules.

    • Dick’s Drive-In may modify, suspend, or cancel the contest if technical issues or unforeseen circumstances arise.

    • Dick’s decisions regarding eligibility, judging, and winners are final.

    • By entering the contest, artists consent to the use of their name, social media handle, and likeness in promotion of the contest and its results.

    • Personal information will be handled in accordance with Dick’s Drive-In’s Privacy Policy.

    • Contest governed by Washington State law, with venue in King County, Washington.

Contest Details