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 Aerial view from south in 2022 | |
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  Seattle Location in the United States Show map of the United States | |
| Full name | Climate Pledge Arena atSeattle Center |
|---|---|
| Former names |
|
| Address | 3341st Avenue N. |
| Location | Seattle,Washington, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 47°37′19″N122°21′14″W / 47.622°N 122.354°W /47.622; -122.354 |
| Public transit |  Seattle Center Monorail King County Metro |
| Owner | City of Seattle |
| Operator | Oak View Group |
| Capacity | Basketball: 18,300 Concerts: 17,200 Ice hockey: 17,151[1] |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | May 12, 1960 (1960-05-12)[2] |
| Opened | April 21, 1962; 63 years ago (1962-04-21) |
| Renovated | 1964, 1994–95, 2018–21 |
| Reopened | October 26, 1995 (as KeyArena) October 19, 2021 (as Climate Pledge Arena) |
| Construction cost | $7 million (1962)[3] ($74.4 million in 2024 dollars[4]) $74.5 million (1995) ($158 million in 2024 dollars[4]) $1.15 billion (2021) |
| Architect | Paul A. Thiry (1962) NBBJ (1995) Populous (2021) |
| Project manager | CAA ICON (2021) |
| Structural engineer | Peter H. Hostmark and Associates (1962)[5] Skilling Ward Magnusson Barkshire (1995)[6] Thornton Tomasetti (2021)[7] |
| General contractor | Howard S. Wright Construction (1962)[8] PCL Construction (1995)[6] Mortenson Construction (2021) |
| Tenants | |
| Seattle Redhawks (NCAA) (1964–1980, 2008–2018, 2021–present) Seattle Totems (WHL/CHL) (1964–1975) Seattle SuperSonics (NBA) (1967–1978, 1985–1994, 1995–2008) Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) (1989–2008) Seattle SeaDogs (CISL) (1996–1997) Washington Huskies (NCAA) (1999–2000) Seattle Storm (WNBA) (2000–2018, 2022–present) Rat City Roller Derby (WFTDA) (2009–2018) Seattle Kraken (NHL) (2021–present) Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL) (2022) Seattle Torrent (PWHL) (2025–present) | |
| Website | |
| climatepledgearena | |
Century 21–Washington State Coliseum | |
| Location |
|
| Area | approx. 6.8 acres (2.8 ha)[9] |
| Architectural style | Modern |
| NRHP reference No. | 100002406 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | May 10, 2018 |
| Designated WHR | March 8, 2018 |
| Designated SEATL | August 2, 2017 |
Climate Pledge Arena is a multi-purpose indoorarena inSeattle, Washington, United States. It is located north ofdowntown Seattle in the 74-acre (30 ha) entertainment complex known as theSeattle Center, the site of the1962 World's Fair,[10] for which it was originally developed. After opening in 1962, it was subsequently bought and converted by the city of Seattle for entertainment purposes. From 2018 to 2021, the arena underwent a $1.15 billion redevelopment;[11][12][13] the renovation preserved the original exterior and roof, which was declared aSeattle Landmark in 2017 and was listed on theWashington Heritage Register as well as theNational Register of Historic Places in 2018.[14][15][9] The renovated venue has a capacity of 17,151 for ice hockey and 18,300 for basketball.[1]
The arena is currently the home to theSeattle Kraken of theNational Hockey League (NHL), theSeattle Storm of theWomen's National Basketball Association (WNBA),Seattle Torrent of theProfessional Women's Hockey League (PWHL), theSeattle University Redhawks men's basketball team, and theRat City Roller Derby league of theWomen's Flat Track Derby Association.[16][17] It has also played host to thePac-12 Conference'swomen's basketball tournament. Climate Pledge Arena is sometimes considered the oldest arena in the NHL due to the age of the original structure.[18]
The arena was previously most notable as the long-time former home of theSeattle SuperSonics of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). The SuperSonics first played at the facility, then known as theSeattle Center Coliseum, from their founding in1967 to1978. After a seven-season stint in the higher capacityKingdome, they returned to the arena in1985. The facility underwent an extensive renovation after the1993–94 season, which necessitated the relocation of SuperSonics home games to theTacoma Dome for the1994–95 season,[19] and it was renamedKeyArena afterKeyCorp bought the naming rights in 1995. The SuperSonics left KeyArena in2008 amid acontroversial relocation toOklahoma City. The arena was also known for hosting minor professional hockey teams, first as home to theSeattle Totems of the originalWestern Hockey League and theCentral Hockey League from 1964 to 1975, followed by theSeattle Thunderbirds of the currentWestern Hockey League from 1989 to 2008.
The arena was the first publicly financed one in the area that was fully supported by earned income from the building.[20] Arena finances were bolstered for several years by a payment following the settlement with the SuperSonics in 2008, but the lower level of activity and revenue during the time between the departure of the Sonics and the arrival of the Kraken left little reserve beyond basic building maintenance.[21] The naming rights deal with KeyCorp concluded at the end of 2010, but the building maintained the KeyArena name until its 2018 closure for the redevelopment.Amazon bought the naming rights to the arena in June 2020, dedicating the arena name to bringing attention toclimate change,[22] specifically the pledge promoted by the advocacy group Global Optimism for businesses to reach net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2040.
The arena opened in 1962 as theWashington State Pavilion for theCentury 21 Exposition, the work of architectPaul Thiry. After the close of the Exposition, the Pavilion was purchased by the city of Seattle for $2.9 million and underwent an 18-month conversion into theWashington State Coliseum, one of the centerpieces of the newSeattle Center on the former Exposition grounds. When the newly renovated Coliseum opened, the Seattle University men's basketball team became the arena's first major tenant. In 1964, the facility was renamed theSeattle Center Coliseum. That same year, theSeattle Totems moved into the Coliseum.[23] The Coliseum became home to its most famous resident, theSeattle SuperSonics, beginning with their inaugural season in 1967 and remaining as host throughout most of the team's lifetime.[24]
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The Coliseum in this incarnation hosted twoNBA Finals, in1978 and1979, both between theWashington Bullets and SuperSonics. The Bullets won in 1978, prevailing ingame 7 in Seattle. The Sonics retaliated the following year, winning in Game 5 on the Bullets' home court, thus capturing the franchise's only championship while based in Seattle. Upon the opening of the newKingdome in 1976, which first hosted theSeahawks of theNational Football League (NFL) and theSounders of theNorth American Soccer League (NASL), followed by the expansionMariners ofMajor League Baseball (MLB) in 1977, the Sonics would begin playing a small number of home games at the stadium. For the championship1978–79 NBA season, the basketball club moved into the Kingdome full-time. They would call it home through the 1984–85 season, after which the team returned to the Coliseum. During those seven years, the Sonics would occasionally play home playoff games at the Coliseum orHec Edmundson Pavilion so as to not interfere with the Mariners' regular season home schedule. They would continue to play occasional games at the Kingdome through the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The arena hosted theNBA All-Star Game once, in1974; the1987 game had includedNBA All-Star Saturday festivities on February 7, where former Sonics star"Downtown Freddie" Brown was the MVP of thelegends game,Boston Celtics starLarry Bird won thethree-point contest, andChicago Bulls starMichael Jordan won theslam-dunk competition.[25] The NBA All-Star Game itself for 1987 in Seattle was held at theKingdome.
The arena hosted the basketball competitions of theGoodwill Games in1990.[26]
In 1983,Barry Ackerley, head of the Washington, D.C.-based television, radio, and billboard companyAckerley Communications Inc., purchased the Sonics from long-time ownerSam Schulman. In the mid-to-late 1980s, the team's on-court success would decline. This was coupled with a sub-par home court experience at the Coliseum, which included the NBA's lonerain delayed game on January 5, 1986, when rain water leaked from the roof onto the court as the Sonics played thePhoenix Suns.[27][28] Timeouts were called soball boys armed with towels could do their best to wipe up the puddles, but even so, two players slipped and fell on the wet surface. Early in the second quarter, refereeMike Mathis suspended the game with the Suns up by 11 points.[29] The game was resumed from that point the following night, and Phoenix won by 17.[30]
Ackerley began exploring new options for an arena. Heavy relocation rumors began to circulate, amongst them a potential move to San Diego[31] or possible sales to groups in other markets like Milwaukee or Toronto. In 2018, Ackerley's son Chris would say that the family was always committed to keeping the team in Seattle, and that "[...] in each case, we stood on our principles that this is a Seattle community asset."[32]
In 1990, the Ackerleys talked about building an arena east of Lake Washington nearBellevue Square.[33] They would eventually purchase land in theSoDo district near the Kingdome, some of which includes the site that would later become the Mariners' home,T-Mobile Park. Ackerley approached the city about a public contribution to the new arena, but the city was reluctant over fears the city-owned Coliseum would become obsolete. They offered to help finance a renovation of the Coliseum, but the team owner declined. To sweeten the offer, Ackerley sold city leaders on the idea that the new arena in SoDo could also attract a National Hockey League club. The city, along with Denver, had been conditionally granted an expansion NHL franchise in 1974 to begin play in the 1976–77 season. The NHLbriefly flirted with relocating thePittsburgh Penguins to Seattle (and theCalifornia Golden Seals to Denver) to address a troubled market and fill the expansion commitment, but ultimately kept the team there. Eventually, the Seattle franchise award was rescinded altogether when the potential ownership group was unable to secure the funds for the expansion fee.
In July 1990, the city council approved a deal for a privately owned $100 million facility to be built on the Ackerley land in SoDo, despite objections over traffic and parking by the Seahawks and Mariners in the neighboring Kingdome.[34] The city's contribution would be to waive about $31 million in tax revenues (about $1 million per year) to potentially be collected on admissions fees at the new arena. It would also pay $2 million for street improvements around the proposed site, including a pedestrian walkway over South Royal Brougham Way. Ackerley also agreed to sign a 30-year lease for the Sonics and to build an 1,800-stall parking garage. Ackerley appeased the Seahawks' concerns, noting the arena would be empty during any NFL games. The Mariners unsuccessfully continued to object, even enlisting then-MLB commissionerFay Vincent and then-American League presidentBobby Brown to speak before the council ahead of their final vote.[35]
During negotiations, Ackerley had asked for a provision to reduce the seating at the Coliseum by 9,000 seats so the older arena could not compete with the new building, but the city would not agree. Another selling point of the new arena were luxury suites, a means to attract corporate money and sponsorship that was then an emerging new revenue stream for sports team owners. Ackerley's financing and agreement with the city hinged on the ability to sell the 70 proposed luxury suites.[36]
Ackerley also committed to submitting an expansion application to the NHL by a September 15, 1990, deadline as part of the arena deal. His son Bill would head the expansion effort, while a competing group led by Microsoft executive Chris Larson and former Seattle Totems player then coachBill MacFarland was preparing their own application. With the Ackerley application already submitted, the two groups would merge with Larson and MacFarland being primary points of contact with the NHL. Then owner of the Thunderbirds, Bill Yuill, also joined the group. Larson and MacFarland, along with Barry Ackerley and Bill Lear, Ackerley's financial advisor, were set to make a presentation to the NHL's Board of Governors on December 5, 1990. At the meeting, Ackerley and Lear asked to meet with the board first, promptly withdrew their application, and left. Larson and MacFarland were stunned to learn of the development but were unable to pursue any recourse as their names were never on the submitted application.[37][38]
Thought to play a factor in Ackerley's decision were the significant demands by the NHL for an expansion team: a $50 million expansion fee that was more than any NHL club was valued at the time; a $5 million down payment that would be forfeited if 10,000 season tickets were not sold in the first year – the Sonics had never sold more than 9,000 season tickets; season tickets needed to produce at least $9 million annually, which would've made the tickets the second most expensive for a team in the area at the time; a 20-year lease with a "substantial" share of arena revenues from concessions, parking, and ad signage; priority status for postseason arena dates; and a secured $5 million line of credit in case the league had to take over ownership of the team at any point. Ackerley would not sacrifice Sonics revenues for a hockey team in which he would be a minority investor.[39]
In June 1991, nearly a year after the city agreed to the arena deal, Ackerley announced that the project would not move forward. Increasing project costs, legal disputes, and inability to secure construction financing were cited as reasons to drop the project. Only around 30 of the 70 luxury suites were sold and the Ackerleys were unable to find a corporate buyer for naming rights. Ackerley Communications profits were down, which also contributed to the financing difficulties. A state Supreme Court case brought by Seattle Center employees challenged the constitutionality of the arena deal, while potential lawsuits from the Mariners and trade show organizers and possible legal challenges to environmental review of the project loomed.[36]
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Newly elected Seattle mayorNorm Rice was concerned over a loss of concerts and events to cities with larger, more modern facilities, and the strong possibility the city could lose the Sonics. The mayor believed that sports unite a community and that Seattle Center would continue to serve as a valuable hub for tourism. At his insistence, a Center commission developed a plan to renovate the Coliseum by excavating the floor to lower it and build a new bowl with more seating. The Ackerleys turned down the renovation concept in favor of building their own arena in SoDo. Though the city preferred the renovation, they would reluctantly agree to the new arena plan. After the SoDo proposal fell through, the Ackerleys attempted to find other investors to no avail. Barry Ackerley would return to the city to ask if they would still consider renovating the Coliseum.
With renewed interest on all sides, including the city council, the city spent $250,000 studying if it was even environmentally and engineeringly feasible to dig into the ground beneath the building. The plan proved possible and it was found that the compression ring holding the roof could be preserved, saving $15 million in cost and keeping the facility seismically sound against earthquakes. The original cable-suspended roof would be replaced by a conventional fixed roof with steel trusses that would preserve the well-known shape.
The project had an estimated cost of $73.4 million, considerably less than other new arenas of the time in Portland and Vancouver, to be paid with the city's bond capacity. A new kitchen and support building, a parking garage on 1st Avenue N, a new team store, and a tunnel connecting the store to the arena brought the total cost to nearly $127.3 million. New amenities would include 22 concession stands, eight portable stands with vending in the seating, three private sports clubs, and a public sports bar and restaurant.Club-level seating with 1,100 seats would also offer exclusive club, concession, and lounge areas, and a private concourse with 58 luxury suites would also be added.
A mandate of the project was that no taxpayer funds could be used to pay for it. This brought concern from the Ackerleys, but after nearly a year of negotiations a revenue sharing plan was developed. The city and the team would split revenues from suites, concessions, and other items all within the arena to service the debt for the city and provide income to the team. The arena would be the first to finance itself by use of the arena. In May 1993, the city council voted 7–2 in favor of the deal with the Sonics signing a 15-year lease agreement and a guaranteed income of $7 million per year during the lease. The agreement was initially turned down in council committee in the hopes of negotiating a 20-year lease with an increased guaranteed income of $9 million per year starting in year 15. The Ackerleys declined these changes.
The Coliseum was rebuilt between 1994 and 1995, bringing the arena up to the NBA standards of the day. The local Seattle office ofNBBJ, the second largest architectural firm in the country, was chosen as the architects.[40][6] In an unusual move, the Coliseum would be closed for a year during the renovation. Construction began on June 16, 1994.[10] During the1994–95 season, the SuperSonics played their home games at the multi-purposeTacoma Dome inTacoma, about thirty miles (50 km) south.[19]
On April 11, 1995, the city sold the naming rights toCleveland-based KeyCorp, the parent ofKeyBank, which renamed the Coliseum as KeyArena.[41] The renovation cost the city of Seattle $74.5 million and the SuperSonics approximately $21 million. The naming rights cost KeyCorp $15.1 million.
The remodeled arena maintained the architectural integrity of the original roofline by using the existing steel trusses in combination with four new main diagonal trusses. The wood, steel and concrete from the demolition was either reused in construction of the new arena or sold to recyclers. The original acoustical panels, the panels attached to the roof that keep the space from echoing, were refurbished and reused. The court was lowered 35 feet (11 m) below street level to allow for 3,000 more seats. The doors opened to the newly renovated arena on October 26, 1995. The sightlines, however, benefitted the SuperSonics at the expense of the junior Thunderbirds. The floor was just barely large enough to fit a regulation ice rink. Many seats in the lower level were so badly obstructed that almost half the lower level was curtained off for T-Birds games. The new scoreboard was significantly off-center in the ice hockey configuration, hanging over one blue line instead of the center-ice faceoff circle.
The first regular season game for the SuperSonics at the rechristened KeyArena was played on November 4,1995, against theLos Angeles Lakers.[42] The renovated arena hosted the1996 NBA Finals in its first season, when the SuperSonics lost to theChicago Bulls in six games.
In 2001, ownership of theSeattle SuperSonics (who had called KeyArena home on-and-off since their establishment in 1967) transferred from Barry Ackerley toStarbucks CEOHoward Schultz. Schultz claimed that in the five years he owned the SuperSonics, the team suffered heavy financial losses, which led him to seek funding from theWashington State Legislature for a newer, more modern arena. After failing to reach an agreement with the city of Seattle over a publicly funded $220 million expansion of KeyArena, the Basketball Club of Seattle, led by Schultz, put the SuperSonics and its sister team, the WNBA'sSeattle Storm up for sale. After failing to find a local ownership group to sell the team to, Schultz talked to ownership groups fromKansas City,St. Louis,Las Vegas,San Jose andAnaheim before agreeing to sell the team on July 18, 2006[43][44] to an ownership group fromOklahoma City, who was pursuing an NBA franchise afterhosting theNew Orleans Hornets franchise successfully for two seasons as the city ofNew Orleans rebuilt fromHurricane Katrina. The sale toClay Bennett's ownership group,Professional Basketball Club LLC (PBC) for $350 million[43][44] was approved by NBA owners on October 24, 2006.[45][46][47] Terms of the sale required the new ownership group to "use good faith best efforts" for a term of 12 months in securing a new arena lease or venue in theSeattle metropolitan area.
In 2006, 74% of voters in Seattle voted to pass Initiative 91,[48][49] a measure that prohibited use of tax dollars on arena projects in the city unless it could be shown the city would turn a profit on their investment.[50] The limitation of tax dollars that could be spent on the arena, combined with earlier losses under recent ownership groups, "likely doomed the Sonics' future in the city".[49]
On February 12, 2007, Bennett proposed using tax money to pay for a new $500 million arena inRenton, asuburb of Seattle.[51] After failing to reach a deal by the end of the legislative session, Bennett gave up his attempt in April 2007.[52] On November 2, 2007, the team announced it would move to Oklahoma City as soon as it could get out of its KeyArena lease.[53] Seattle's mayor,Greg Nickels, maintained a stance that the Sonics were expected to stay in Seattle until their lease expired in 2010 and said the city did not intend to make it easy for Bennett to move the team early. Over concerns the city would accept a buyout of the lease, a grassroots group filed a citywide initiative that sought to prevent the city from accepting such an offer from Bennett's group.[54] Seattle City Council later unanimously passed an ordinance modeled after the initiative.[55] On August 13, 2007,Aubrey McClendon, a minor partner of Bennett's ownership group, said in an interview withThe Journal Record (an Oklahoma City newspaper) that the team was not purchased to keep it in Seattle but to relocate it to Oklahoma City. Bennett later denied such intentions, saying McClendon "was not speaking on behalf of the ownership group". Due to his comments, McClendon was fined $250,000 by the NBA.[56]
On October 31, 2007, Bennett informedNBA commissionerDavid Stern that the ownership group intended to move the Sonics to Oklahoma City as soon as it was legally possible. The timing of the announcement, one day after the Sonics' home opener, drew critical comments from Tom Carr, Seattle's attorney, who said "Mr. Bennett's announcement today is a transparent attempt to alienate the Seattle fan base and follow through on his plan to move the team to Oklahoma City ... Making this move now continues the current ownership's insulting behavior toward the Sonics' dedicated fans and the citizens of the city."[57] Bennett also reiterated that the team was not for sale and dismissed attempts by local groups to repurchase the team.[53]
On September 23, 2007, the City of Seattle filed a lawsuit in an attempt to keep the Sonics from leaving before the end of their lease in 2010.[58] In the midst of the lawsuit, Microsoft CEOSteve Ballmer offered to pay half of a $300 million renovation of KeyArena; the rest to be provided by the city and county.[59] However, when the state legislature did not give approval for the county to provide funds by an April 10 deadline, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels said that the effort had failed and the city's hopes rested in its lawsuit.[60]
The last SuperSonics game played at KeyArena was on April 13,2008, a 99–95 win over theDallas Mavericks.[61]
The NBA Board of Governors approved the relocation of the Sonics on April 18, 2008.[62]
On June 16, 2008, the grassroots organization "Save Our Sonics" organized a well-publicized rally, which reportedly drew over 3,000 participants, at theU.S. District Courthouse in Seattle to protest the proposed relocation of the team.[63] The rally was held on the first day of the city of Seattle's lawsuit against the PBC to enforce the remaining two years on the KeyArena lease.
On July 2, 2008, two hours before a ruling in the city's lawsuit was to be given, it was announced that the team and the city had reached a settlement where PBC would pay the city $45 million immediately in exchange for breaking the lease, and an additional $30 million if Seattle was not given a replacement team in five years. According to the conditions of the settlement, the Sonics' name and colors could not be used by the team in Oklahoma City, but could be taken by a future team in Seattle, although no promises for a replacement team were given. The newly renamedOklahoma City Thunder would retain the franchise history of the SuperSonics, which could be "shared" with any future NBA team in Seattle.[64][65] The team moved to Oklahoma City immediately and announced it would begin play in the2008–09 season.[66][67]
Once KeyArena lost the SuperSonics and the Thunderbirds, who moved in 2008 as well, to nearbyKent, there was speculation that KeyBank may try to amend the naming rights deal.[68] In March 2009, the city and KeyCorp signed a new deal for a two-year term ending December 31, 2010, at an annual fee of $300,000.[41]
In 2009, theSeattle University Redhawks men's basketball team began playing their home games at KeyArena for the first time since 1980. In February 2009, theSeattle City Council approved a new 10-year lease that would keep theWNBA's Storm at KeyArena.[69]
In 2009, the arena hosted theWWE No Way Outpay-per-view event.WWE returned on March 9, 2010, to tape the March 9 episode ofNXT and March 12 episode ofSmackDown. They would return a year later to host theWWE Over the Limit pay-per-view on May 22, 2011. In April 2011, theProfessional Bull Riders brought theBuilt Ford Tough Series to KeyArena for the first time.[70]
Between June 28 and 30, 2011, the arena hosted the Seattle audition stages in the first season of theFox singer search programThe X Factor.
On January 21, 2011, Seattle Center announced that KeyCorp would not renew its agreement for naming rights of KeyArena, after 15 years of sponsorship. However, the venue retained the KeyArena name until its redevelopment, despite the fact that the naming right had expired.[71]
In January 2012,ESPN.com reporterScott Burnside said KeyArena "would be entirely acceptable", as a temporary venue for an NHL franchise, depending on a future arena plan.[72] ThePhoenix Coyotes were often speculated to be a likely candidate for relocation and in June 2013, reports circulated that if the NHL could not negotiate a new lease for the Coyotes with the city ofGlendale, Arizona, by July 2, the league would sell the team to a private investment group which would then be given permission to relocate the team to Seattle prior to the 2013–2014 season and use KeyArena as a temporary home.[73] On July 2, the city of Glendale, Arizona approved a new lease for the Coyotes atJobing.com Arena, and soon after, the NHL approved the sale of the Coyotes to an investment group that would keep the Coyotes in the Phoenix area, eliminating the possibility that the Coyotes could move to Seattle.
Conversely, in February 2012,SB Nation columnist Travis Hughes said that while it made "too much sense" for the NHL not to put a team in Seattle in the future, KeyArena was completely unsuitable even as a temporary facility due to the same problems with sight lines that ultimately forced the Thunderbirds to move out. Hughes wrote that even one year of NHL hockey in an arena where half the lower bowl sat unused would be "just unacceptable." He argued that the situation would be even worse than what the Coyotes faced atAmerica West Arena, their original home in Phoenix. When the Coyotes played there from 1996 to 2003, they had to deal with seats where part of the ice could not be seen at all, forcing them to curtain off several thousand seats in the upper level.[74]
League officials later hinted that a new arena would have to be in place before a new or relocated NHL team came to Seattle. During the 2012 All-Star Weekend, Bettman said that while Seattle was a good fit for the NHL, "there's no building."[74] Deputy CommissionerBill Daly said that KeyArena would be "a difficult arena for hockey" due to the large number of obstructed-view seats.[75]
In February 2012,KING 5 reporter Chris Daniels said anNBA team could also use KeyArena as a temporary home.[76]
In July 2012, at a public town hall meeting debating Chris Hansen'sproposed NBA/NHL arena in downtownSeattle, anti-arena proponents wanted to "re-explore" using KeyArena instead of the proposed site downtown.[77]
From 2014 to 2017, Americanvideo game developerValve hostedThe International, the world championship forDota 2eSports, at the venue, which featured prize pools of over $20 million in 2016 and 2017.[78][79][80] TI returned to the venue in 2023.
The arena hosted early rounds of theNCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in1999,2015, and2025.
On September 16, 2016, the arena hosted the Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions.[81]
Roger Federer organized a tennis exhibition match at KeyArena withMatch for Africa 4, held on April 29, 2017. Two matches were played, the first a doubles match pitting Roger Federer andBill Gates againstJohn Isner andMike McCready ofPearl Jam, and a singles match featuring Federer and Isner. More than $2 million was raised for the Roger Federer Foundation from the match's proceeds.[82]
On October 5, 2018, theGolden State Warriors played against theSacramento Kings in a preseason game at KeyArena, the same arena whereKevin Durant played previously with the Sonics. The game was mostly played to celebrate its moments with the NBA and ended up being its final event as the KeyArena before the arena closed down for redevelopment.[83][84]
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In October 2016, Seattle MayorEd Murray announced that the city would seek proposals to redevelop KeyArena into an NBA and NHL ready venue, issuing a fullrequest for proposal in January. This came after the rejection of the new arena proposed inSoDo by Seattle City Council over thestreet vacation of Occidental Avenue.[85]
Two groups, Seattle Partners (led byAEG and Hudson Pacific Properties) and theOak View Group (led by former AEG CEOTim Leiweke), submitted proposals to the city in April 2017 to redevelop the arena, also securing corporate partnerships and seeking the support of the NHL.[86] Both groups were required to submit an additional proposal to preserve the arena's roof, which the city planned to submit formunicipal landmark status. AEG unveiled a $520 million proposal that would extend the roofline over presently underutilized space on the arena's south end. Oak View Group submitted a $564 million proposal that would lower the arena's bowl 15 feet (4.6 m) within the existing roof structure.[87] On June 7, 2017, the city selected OVG as the preferred bidder for the redevelopment.[88] The landmark status of the arena's exterior, including the roof, was approved by a city-appointed landmarks preservation board on August 2, 2017;[89] the exterior was subsequently listed on theWashington Heritage Register on March 8, 2018, and on theNational Register of Historic Places on May 10.[15][90]
On December 4, 2017, the city council approved amemorandum of understanding with OVG to rebuild the arena by 2020. The approval came days after the previous memorandum with the SODO Arena had expired.[91] Four days after the approval of the MOU, theNHL gave the Oak View Group approval to submit an application for an expansion franchise in Seattle. The arena would be closed for two years, and the last remaining professional sports team tenant, theWNBA's Seattle Storm, would plan to move elsewhere in the Seattle metropolitan area during those two years. The team played its usual summer schedule at KeyArena in 2018, beginning in mid-May and continuing through the playoffs in early September; they ultimately won the2018 WNBA Finals.[92][93] During the renovation, the Storm played most of their home games at theAlaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on the campus of theUniversity of Washington,[94] with other games atAngel of the Winds Arena inEverett.[95]
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On September 25, 2018, the proposed $700 million renovation of KeyArena was approved unanimously8–0 by the Seattle City Council and signed into legislation by mayorJenny Durkan.[96] TheNHL Board of Governors voted to approve anexpansion team for Seattle on December 4, 2018.[97] Redevelopment commenced the next day on December 5.[98] In mid-December 2018, OVG announced that overall project costs had increased to between $825 and $850 million. Although some design changes and additions had contributed to the increase in cost, OVG replaced the general contractor,SkanskaHunt, withMortenson Construction.[99]
With the closing of the arena in October 2018 to begin redevelopment, the City of Seattle, Seattle Center, and Oak View Group retired the KeyArena name and officially adoptedSeattle Center Arena as the name for the project.[100] It was alternately referred to as theNew Arena at Seattle Center.[101][102] In February 2018, it was reported that six interested parties had approached OVG regarding naming rights for the new arena.[103]Alaska Airlines was announced as the naming sponsor of the south atrium in January 2020.[104] On June 25, 2020,Amazon purchased the naming rights; the arena would be branded as Climate Pledge Arena to promote Amazon's partnership with the environmental advocacy group Global Optimism and its "Climate Pledge", under which companies sign up to make their operationscarbon neutral by 2040.[105][106] The renovated arena received carbon-neutral certification, uses rainwater for its hockey ice, and aims to source 75% of food locally, divert 95% of waste from landfills, donate unused food, and switched from plastic to compostable containers.[106][105]
The rooftop signage for KeyArena was removed by a helicopter on July 8, 2020.[107] The replacement signage was installed on December 5, 2020.[108] During redevelopment, the arena's existing roof was "detached from 20 original concrete Y-columns and four gigantic buttresses that previously supported it", being held up by "72 temporary steel columns, cross-beams and a steel reinforcement structure called a kickstand.” During the excavation of the arena bowl, 600,000 cubic yards of dirt were removed, and the structure was then built upwards to connect with the roof.[109]
Climate Pledge Arena was opened to the public on October 19, 2021, by aFoo Fighters andDeath Cab for Cutie concert for local charities.[110] The first scheduled event, a sold-outColdplay concert, took place three days later on the 22nd.[111] The first sports event at the renovated arena, a Seattle Kraken regular season game, took place on October 23 against theVancouver Canucks. Kraken defensemanVince Dunn scored the first NHL goal in the arena and the game ended in a 4–2 Kraken loss to the Canucks.[112] The first Kraken win at the arena was on October 26, a 5–1 victory against theMontreal Canadiens. On May 6, 2022, the Seattle Storm played their first game at the redeveloped arena against theMinnesota Lynx, winning 97–74. For the first two months of the2022–23 AHL season, Climate Pledge Arena hosted theCoachella Valley Firebirds, theAmerican Hockey League affiliate of the Kraken, until their arena,Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs opened on December 14, 2022; the Firebirds' first game at the new arena came four days later.[113][114]
On January 5, 2025, the firstProfessional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) game in Seattle was played at the arena between theMontreal Victoire and theBoston Fleet. Boston won 3–2 with 12,608 spectators in attendance.[115] The PWHL awarded an expansion team namedSeattle Torrent, for the 2025–26 season.[116]
The arena has held severalUFC events throughout its history, beginning withUFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Davis on March 26, 2011.[117] The promotion returned to the arena on December 8, 2012, forUFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Diaz.[118] The UFC returned on July 27, 2013, forUFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Moraga.[119] The UFC returned to the arena after twelve years on February 22, 2025, forUFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song.[120]
The Beatles performed at the arena twice, first on August 21, 1964.[121] Also 2 concerts on August 25, 1966.
Elvis Presley performed at the arena on November 12, 1970, and April 26, 1976.
Metallica filmed the first of three live videos for their 1993 live concert box setLive Shit: Binge & Purge at the arena. The band recorded their performances from August 29 and August 30, 1989, during theirDamaged Justice tour, widely considered one of the band's greatest live performances by fans.[122] Celine Dion perform at KeyArena October 10, 1998 as part of her "Let's Talk About Love World Tour"
On April 24, and April 25, 2005U2 performed at KeyArena as part of theirVertigo Tour.Kings of Leon was the opening act.[123]
Destiny's Child performed at the arena on September 9, 2005, during theirDestiny Fulfilled... and Lovin' It farewell tour. The show was the group's second-to-last performance before they officially split up.[124]
Beyoncé performed there for the first time as a solo artist on April 1, 2009, marking the first U.S. show of her spectacularI Am... Tour.
In 2012,Madonna performed two sold-out concerts at the venue as a part ofThe MDNA Tour. The shows drew 23,651 attendees and grossed $3.7 million.[125]
Bruce Springsteen has performed at the arena five times. He and theE Street Band performed a nearly four-hour long concert duringThe River Tour 2016 on March 24, 2016. It included a guest appearance byEddie Vedder.[126][127] Springsteen returned to the newly renovated arena for a single performance on February 27, 2023, as part of his2023 Tour.[128]
In December 2013,Macklemore andRyan Lewis became the first Seattle-based act ever to play three consecutive shows at KeyArena when the duo concluded their 2013 World Tour in support of their albumThe Heist.[129]
Foo Fighters andDeath Cab for Cutie performed at the first event in Climate Pledge Arena after its renovation on October 19, 2021.[110]
Korean boy groupStray Kids performed on July 14 & 15, 2022 as part of their North American arena tour forManiac World Tour.[130]
On October 8, 2025,Playboi Carti brought theAntagonist Tour to the arena, alongsideKen Carson,Destroy Lonely,Homixide Gang, andApolloRed1
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In its initial configuration, the arena had aseating capacity of 13,200 forbasketball games, 12,250 forice hockey games, 16,000 for meetings, and 14,770 forboxing matches.[131] Minor expansion occurred as the SuperSonics grew in popularity, but the design of the arena limited its expansion potential; calls for its renovation occurred as early as 1976.[132]
In 1977, Seattle voters passed a bond measure to make improvements to Seattle Center. Permanent ticketing areas were added to the arena eliminating the portable ticket booths that were in use since The Seattle World's Fair. In 1983, the original seats were replaced while improvements were made to the concourses to compete for concerts after the Tacoma Dome opened.[133]
With the 1995 renovation, the arena's capacity was expanded to 17,072 for basketball,[10] 15,177 for ice hockey and ice shows, 16,641 for end-stage concerts, and 17,459 for center-stage concerts and boxing. Risers held 7,440 on the upper level and up to 7,741 on the lower level, withluxury suites adding another 1,160 seats. However, the ice hockey capacity was reduced to 10,442 when obstructed seats were removed.[134]
The redeveloped arena[101][102] features a new interior and entrance atrium while retaining the existing roof and three exterior walls. It seats 18,300 for basketball, 17,151 for ice hockey (as well as arena football, box lacrosse, indoor soccer, and ice shows), and 17,200 for concerts.[1] The arena's record attendance for basketball—18,343 spectators—was set on May 22, 2024, by theSeattle Storm against theIndiana Fever.[135]
The seating capacity for basketball[136] and ice hockey are as follows:
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The post-renovation Climate Pledge Arena is 740,000 square feet (69,000 m2) and has 17,100 seats in its ice hockey configuration, with higher capacities for other events. Most of the lower-level seats are subterranean, while the concourse and main south entrance at the Alaska Airlines Atrium are near ground level. The arena has several food vendors that useAmazon One for contactless payments.[143]
The arena has a pair of six-sided ceilingscoreboards in lieu of the traditional single, center-hung scoreboard used in other indoor arenas. They were designed to not interfere with sightlines and are also positioned higher than other NHL scoreboards.[144]
Concurrent with the announcement that the arena would be named Climate Pledge Arena, it was stated that the venue would aim to receive anet-zero certification by pledging to have all events be "zero-waste" (through use of compostable containers and reduction ofsingle-use plastic), usecaptured rainwater for its ice surface, and source at least 75% of food served at the arena from local producers.[105][145] All fans holding a ticket to a public event at the arena can claim a free public transit pass for use starting two hours before the doors open and until two hours after the end of the event. In the first year that the passes were available to Kraken and Storm ticketholders, 25% of fans used public transit.[146]
Climate Pledge Arena is located in theLower Queen Anne neighborhood, which is served byKing County Metro bus service from surrounding areas, includingQueen Anne Hill andDowntown Seattle. TheRapidRide D Line and other routes provide frequent service between the arena's west side and Downtown Seattle. Route 8 connects the neighborhood toCapitol Hill and theCentral District.[147][148]
TheSeattle Center Monorail also serves the arena, connecting it toWestlake Center and theWestlake light rail station in downtown, and runs higher frequency service during events.
Climate Pledge Arena is served by three public parking garages, with a total capacity of 2,944 vehicles, located in and around the Seattle Center. Additional neighborhood parking lots and on-street parking spaces bring the total number of spaces up to 7,400 stalls.[149] The arena is located near theMercer Street exit onInterstate 5, as well asState Route 99.[150]
Link light rail service to the Seattle Center and Climate Pledge Arena is planned to begin in 2035, as part of theBallard–Downtown extension.[151]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)AN ORDINANCE relating to the Seattle Center Department; authorizing execution of an agreement with KeyCorp that terminates a prior agreement between the parties and replaces it with a new agreement for the title sponsorship of KeyArena at Seattle Center.
The history, actually, is in Oklahoma City. As part of the settlement between the team and the city, a 'shared history' arrangement was created. All of the old Sonics' records are now the Thunder's. The championship banners, retired jerseys and the 1979 NBA championship trophy now reside in Oklahoma City.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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