Climate Pledge Arena

 Climate Pledge Arena is a versatile indoor arena situated in Seattle, Washington, USA. It forms part of the 74-acre (30 ha) entertainment complex known as Seattle Center, originally developed for the 1962 World's Fair. Initially opened in 1962, the arena was later purchased and transformed by the city of Seattle for entertainment purposes. A massive redevelopment project took place from 2018 to 2021, amounting to $1.15 billion, during which the original exterior and roof were preserved. In 2017, the roof was designated a Seattle Landmark, and in 2018, it was listed on the Washington Heritage Register and the National Register of Historic Places. Following the renovation, the arena now boasts a seating capacity of 17,151 for ice hockey and 18,300 for basketball events.

Currently, Climate Pledge Arena serves as the home venue for various sports teams, including the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL), the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the Seattle University Redhawks men's basketball team, and the Rat City Roller Derby league of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association. Additionally, it has hosted the Pac-12 Conference's women's basketball tournament.

Notably, the arena was previously the long-time home of the Seattle Supersonics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Supersonics played at the facility, then called the Seattle Center Coliseum, from 1967 to 1978, and after a stint in the Kingdome, they returned in 1985. A significant renovation occurred after the 1993–94 season, during which the Supersonics temporarily moved to the Tacoma Dome. In 1995, the arena was renamed Key Arena after KeyCorp acquired the naming rights. The Supersonics departed in 2008, relocating controversially to Oklahoma City. The arena also hosted minor professional hockey teams, including the Seattle Totems of the original Western Hockey League and the Central Hockey League from 1964 to 1975, and the Seattle Thunderbirds of the current Western Hockey League from 1989 to 2008.

Initially, the arena was fully funded by earned income from the building, making it the first publicly financed facility of its kind in the area. Financial support from the Supersonics settlement in 2008 bolstered the arena's finances for some time. However, the period between the team's departure and the arrival of the NHL resulted in reduced activity and revenue, leaving little reserve beyond basic maintenance. The naming rights deal with KeyCorp concluded in 2010, but the arena retained the Key Arena name until its closure in 2018 for redevelopment. In June 2020, Amazon acquired the naming rights and dedicated the arena name to raise awareness about climate change .Climate Pledge Arena stands as a permanent and recurring symbol of the pressing importance of taking action on climate change. It aligns with the Climate Pledge initiative, launched in 2019 by Amazon and Global Optimism, which calls on companies worldwide to achieve carbon neutrality by the year 2040.

History of Seattle Center Coliseum

In 1962, the arena made its debut as the Washington State Pavilion during the Century 21 Exposition, designed by architect Paul Thirty. Following the conclusion of the Exposition, the city of Seattle acquired the Pavilion for $2.9 million and commenced an 18-month transformation, turning it into the Washington State Coliseum, a key attraction within the new Seattle Center on the former Exposition grounds. The Seattle University men's basketball team became the arena's primary tenant when the revamped Coliseum opened its doors. In 1964, the venue was renamed the Seattle Center Coliseum, and that same year, it became the home of the Seattle Totems. In 1967, the arena welcomed its most iconic tenant, the Seattle Supersonics, who stayed as the primary resident throughout much of the team's existence.

During this period, the Coliseum hosted two NBA Finals, held in 1978 and 1979, both featuring the Washington Bullets and SuperSonics. The Bullets secured victory in 1978, winning in a decisive Game 7 played in Seattle. The following year, the Sonics got their revenge, claiming the championship with a Game 5 win on the Bullets' home court, marking the franchise's sole championship title.

After the Kingdome opened in 1976, the Sonics started playing some home games there, as it became the venue for the NFL's Seahawks, NASL's Sounders, and MLB's expansion Mariners. For the 1978-79 championship season, the basketball team moved to the Kingdome full-time, returning to the Coliseum after the 1984-85 season. During their time at the Kingdome, the Sonics would occasionally play playoff games at the Coliseum or Hec Edmundson Pavilion to avoid schedule conflicts with the Mariners.

In 1987, the arena hosted the NBA All-Star Game, with accompanying festivities like the slam-dunk competition and three-point contest. Additionally, it served as the venue for the basketball competitions of the Goodwill Games in 1990.

In the mid-to-late 1980s, the Sonics' on-court performance declined, and the Coliseum's facilities were considered subpar. An infamous incident occurred on January 5, 1986, when rainwater leaked onto the court during a game against the Phoenix Suns, causing slippery conditions and leading to a delayed and eventually abandoned game.

Barry Ackerley, head of Ackerley Communications Inc., purchased the Sonics in 1983 and explored options for a new arena due to the team's declining success and the Coliseum's shortcomings. Rumors of relocation to other cities like San Diego or potential sales to groups in markets like Milwaukee or Toronto circulated. However, Ackerley's son Chris affirmed the family's commitment to keeping the team in Seattle, stating that they considered it a community asset.

Seating arrangement

Initially, the arena's seating capacity was 13,200 for basketball games, 12,250 for ice hockey games, 16,000 for meetings, and 14,770 for boxing matches. Minor expansions were made as the popularity of the Supersonics grew, but the design limitations hindered further expansion possibilities, prompting calls for renovations as early as 1976.

In 1977, Seattle voters approved a bond measure to enhance Seattle Center, leading to the addition of permanent ticketing areas in the arena, replacing the previous portable ticket booths used since The Seattle World's Fair. In 1983, the original seats were replaced, and concourse improvements were made to attract concerts following the opening of the Tacoma Dome.

During the 1995 renovation, the arena's capacity was expanded to 17,072 for basketball, 15,177 for ice hockey and ice shows, 16,641 for end-stage concerts, and 17,459 for center-stage concerts and boxing events. Riser seating on the upper and lower levels accommodated 7,440 and up to 7,741 seats, respectively, with an additional 1,160 seats in luxury suites. However, the ice hockey capacity reduced to 10,442 due to the removal of obstructed seats.

The redeveloped arena now features a new interior and entrance atrium while preserving the existing roof and three exterior walls. It now offers seating for 18,300 during basketball events, 17,151 for ice hockey (and other indoor sports like arena football, box lacrosse, indoor soccer, and ice shows), and 17,200 for concerts.

Location 

Climate Pledge Arena is situated in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood, which benefits from King County Metro bus service connecting it with surrounding areas like Queen Anne Hill and Downtown Seattle. Frequent service is provided by the RapidRide D Line and other routes between the arena's west side and Downtown Seattle, while Route 8 offers connections to Capitol Hill and the Central District.

The Seattle Center Monorail is also available, connecting the arena to Westlake Center and the Westlake light rail station in downtown. During events, the monorail runs at a higher frequency.

For those arriving by car, Climate Pledge Arena offers three public parking garages with a combined capacity of 2,944 vehicles, strategically placed in and around the Seattle Center. Additionally, there are neighborhood parking lots and on-street parking spaces, providing a total of 7,400 parking stalls. Conveniently, the arena is near the Mercer Street exit on Interstate 5 and State Route 99.

In the future, there are plans for Link light rail service to the Seattle Center and Climate Pledge Arena, expected to begin in 2035, as part of the Ballard–Downtown extension.