Game Ready Murals: Made for Soccer’s biggest stage
When the world’s biggest soccer event comes to our city, the crowds and energy do not stay confined to the stadium. We know all too well: it fills every interstate and avenue, spills into neighboring cities, onto sidewalks, and ignites everyday places where people already gather. In Seattle—and across King County and the Puget Sound region—one notable gathering place is participating in a bold and beautiful way.
Dick’s Drive-In is celebrating with community art as our Puget Sound region has its moment on the global soccer stage in 2026. With two Game Ready Murals, two Drive-In locations—Kent and Federal Way—became canvases, blending soccer’s global spirit with the unmistakable character of PNW neighborhoods and Dick’s Drive-In food.
Turning Walls Into Canvases
From November 2025 through January 2026, digital artists were invited to submit mural designs inspired by soccer, food, community, and the PNW spirit in a Game Ready Murals community art contest. After accepting 61 submissions from artists (scroll down to view many of them!) with a love for Dick’s Drive-In and/or a connection to the PNW, four murals were voted on internally to become finalists. Those finalists won prizes and were then offered to the larger online community for public voting. More than 2000 voters decided on their two favorite mural designs, helping select the two artworks that have now been installed at the Kent and Federal Way Dick’s Drive-In locations.
By placing most of the creative decision-making in the hands of both artists and the public, the Game Ready Murals mirror the way soccer itself works: the game belongs to everyone. It thrives because people show up, artists voluntarily participate and compete, fans of art argue about their favorites, and everyone cares deeply. Two murals emerged victorious and went through a few weeks of minor revisions and prep for installation.
The winning art pieces were installed in February 2026, adding a unique vibrancy to the familiar neon-bathed restaurants. The murals will remain on display through (at least) July 2026, serving as gathering points for destination photos, digital content, games, and everyday moments of connection over our favorite burgers, fries, and shakes.
Connecting A Global Event to Daily Life
Dick’s Drive-In has always been connected to the communities it serves. For decades, its restaurants have been places where families and teams eat after games, teenagers stop by after school, and neighborhoods overlap. The Game Ready Murals build on that history by putting public art in places people already trust and visit. The murals are joyful, engaging, and inclusive. They celebrate the energy of the game: no admission required! If you can see it, you’re invited. These murals are not advertisements; they are expressions of what it feels like for the Puget Sound region to welcome the world.
A Visual Compliment to Seattle’s Soccer Spectacle
Public art has the power to preserve a moment. For Dick’s Drive-In, the Game Ready Murals reflect a long-held belief that businesses can play an active role in civic life. By making opportunities for artists, inviting public participation, and celebrating the game in a way that belongs to everyone, the project turns a global event into something local, personal, and accessible.
Soccer is the world’s biggest game, and we know these colorful walls are no match against those holding your attention on the pitch for 90 minutes. Yet the art compliments everything—the anticipation, excitement, and chaos—taking place in Seattle in July 2026. We’re simply extending all the best parts of it into the South Sound. These murals make sure the PNW’s story is told where it matters most: right at home.
Grand Prize Winners
ARPO
ARPO is a Seattle-based multidisciplinary artist who highlights small moments of joy between busy days and late-night food runs. Inspired by burgers, fries, and shakes, she turns everyday cravings into playful, community-driven visuals.
The mural features Seattle-inspired easter eggs preparing for game day, celebrating the city’s quirky energy and its love of sports, comfort food, and good times.
Joe Palec
Joe Palec is an illustrator recognized for his detailed “extreme doodling,” combining dense line work, animated characters, and layered storytelling. His illustrations invite viewers to slow down and explore.
His Where’s Waldo?–inspired scene featuring menu items playing soccer in a stylized Seattle backdrop. Burgers, fries, and shakes become lively characters, with small visual surprises throughout. The piece uses Dick’s bold blue-and-orange palette to stay rooted in the brand while showcasing his signature complexity.
Finalists
Ryan Weimer is a multidisciplinary artist blending digital art, painting, and design to create bold, expressive work inspired by food, travel, culture, and soccer. His vibrant colors and energetic lines reflect his Pacific Northwest roots. He has collaborated with brands like Jack Daniel’s and Amazon’s Project Kuiper and is developing a creative project celebrating Food, Art, and Travel.
Zachary Legat is a Seattle-born interdisciplinary artist and founder of Sunthief Design, blending illustration and graphic design to reflect place, memory, and community. Influenced by Pacific Northwest landscapes, his work highlights identity through bold color and structured composition. For Dick’s Drive-In, his mural A Game Ready City celebrates Seattle’s skyline, soccer spirit, and the brand’s role as a local icon.
Contest Submissions
With permission, here are some of the many extraordinary design submissions from the artist community. All designs or concepts belong to the named artist. Click on each design to view their Instagram or website.
