Climate Pledge Arena home of the Seattle Kraken.
Ten days ago, on a rainy Saturday night in Queen Anne, the Seattle Kraken became the Emerald City’s first pro hockey team in 46 years. Not since the 1975 Totems had a major pro team played at Seattle Center, and it’s been 13 years since the junior Seattle Thunderbirds left Key Arena’s footprint.
The Seattle Kraken may have a losing record and tied for 11th in the Western Conference, but Climate Pledge Arena is winning the Pacific Northwest fanbase. The look, ease of access, variable amenities, and overall openness makes this a great facility. And it all started October 19th when local superstars The Foo Fighters and Death Cab for Cutie reassigned the arena’s opening night.
The very appropriate first show at #TheGreenhouse also raised money for Northwest Immigrant Rights Project and Real Rent Duwamish, along with the Seattle Kraken’s One Roof Foundation.
Just three days later, Chris Martin brought his endless shipping containers of confetti to the arena for Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour. Their new album’s name fits nicely with the twin Amazon Spheres just a half-mile away. The event’s live stream will become a Prime Video feature for early November.
The arena is truly a work of art. Twice as big as the Key Arena footprint, Climate Pledge Arena was built for a private cost of $1.15B but was completed in just two years and ten months. Nicknamed “The Greenhouse” by locals, the net-zero carbon arena holds 17,151 spectators for hockey and a thousand more for basketball.
From the posh Metropolitan Club and Space Needle Lounge to Ballard Pizza and grab-and-go markets, there is something for everyone inside. Two large windows bookend the arena bowl, with plenty more along the main concourse to give an open feel rarely seen at sporting venues.
Fifty feet below this upper concourse is the arena floor, where six loading bays move shows in and out through a tunnel two semi-trucks wide! Kraken fans can get their gear on every level and are encouraged to interact with the radio and tv broadcasts on the main concourse. And with state-of-the-art sound underneath the same iconic roof- the reverb from the old Key Arena is gone!
A day after Coldplay rocked out, the Seattle Kraken entered “The Deep.”
? by Jonathan West
Since this game was announced 94 days earlier at the expansion draft, Seattle Kraken fans clamored for it on social media. Tickets for the event were as high as $800 each up until puck drop.
Team CEO Tod Lieweke shouted “Seattle! We did it!”</em> from the player benches during a pregame ceremony, including the number 32 being retired for the local fans of the NHL’s 32nd team. The Kraken players were introduced to an appreciative building of fans. Ann Wilson from Sammamish High School and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Heart performed the national anthem. And she killed it.
The crowd had some good energy considering it was full of hockey first-timers. Classic and new ESPN personalities were in the building, including Steve Levy, Kevin Weeks, and Linda Cohn. Kraken alternate captain Yanni Gourde won the opening faceoff, and from there, it was “Game On.”
Seattle’s high-profile, free agent goalie, signing Philipp Grubauer, heard from the capacity crowd. After each save he made, they enthusiastically yelled GRUUUU! From his bug-eyed Penguins photo to his hyper work ethic even during warm-ups, Brandon Tanev is another early crowd favorite. Defenseman Vince Dunn also put himself in the team’s history books.
With only three seconds left in the first period, Dunn scored the first Kraken goal at Climate Pledge Arena. After a third-period meltdown and losing to rival Vancouver, he was visibly dejected during the first-ever home ice post-game interview.
“I think we were all just very anxious to get here (to the new arena). I think overall, during most of these games, we’ve gotten off to the right start and I thought we did that again tonight. It’s not often where teams can come out flying, but somehow not pull it together for all three periods and not getting the result that we want. So it’s really frustrating for us. We’ll look back on it. We’ll correct it.”
The Seattle Metropolitans started Seattle’s hockey history 106 years ago. After winning the Stanley Cup in 1917 and playing in another Final during the 1919 Spanish Flu, their banner was lowered from northeast Greenhouse rafters.
Western Washington grad Paul owns the Metros trademark and has been a longtime local voice for an NHL team in Seattle. He was happy to see this day, along with cup keeper Phil Pritchard and the Hockey Hall of Fame in attendance.
“This was a game I was looking forward to more than the season opener.”
And the energy from the pregame ceremony ignited the arena against the recent hapless Habs. Turbo Tanev netted two goals, and Gru made 23 saves for the Seattle Kraken’s first victory in their new barn.
This sport is a family affair for local hockey player Melissa Himes. She attended the historic game with her brother in Section 106.
“Having only been to one NHL game before in Vancouver, it was a surreal experience watching the NHL in my home town…and it’s my hometown team! Unforgettable. Something I will talk about for the rest of my life. It’s hard to pick a favorite part of the arena yet; there is so much to explore. I don’t think any visit will be the same as the visit before. Love all the images, art, and decorations all over the arena, with an amazing view of the Space Needle walking in.”
? by Jonathan West
Opening night was pretty special, with many local sports stars representing such as Sue Bird from the Seattle Storm. Five days later, we were all reminded that the Emerald City is still a basketball town. Lenny Wilkens started with the Seattle Supersonics in 1968, pulling a “Slapshot-like Reggie Dunlop move,” becoming a player-head coach the following year.
Wilkens has been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame three times and brought the NBA Championship to Seattle in 1979. After Thomas Street was renamed after him earlier in the day, the Climate Pledge Arena crowd erupted. A great way to spend his 87th birthday.
This b-ball buzz around The Greenhouse propelled Philipp Grubauer and the Kraken defense to their second straight one-goal game. Blueliner and Western Hockey League alum Hadyn Fleury had a breakout game with two goals, including a sweet wrap-around to take the lead in the second period.
“Their d-man came out and just went down and tried to block it. So I just faked it and walked around him. Thought I had a whole short side and missed it, but got my rebound and just wrapped it in. Pretty cool…As a d-man it kind of comes and goes, and I had a good night tonight. Got a lucky bounce.”
? by Jonathan West
Next:
Hockey royalty was in The Greenhouse with Original Six team, the New York Rangers there to start a four-game road trip. Seattle is known for many things, and you can add Halloween spirit to the list! The arena was on-point with fan costumes. Around the building, fans could see anything from schools of fish and Ariel “in the depths” to nostalgia with Gumby and “John Snow White.”
Empty seats were more noticeable in the last two games of the homestand, especially in the limited view 200 level behind the press box “bridge.” But the northern windows were open again for outside onlookers for what has been nicknamed “Tightwad Terrace.” Kraken winger Jordan Eberle roofed a sweet backhand in the second, but NYR continued their hot streak. Norris winner Adam Fox had the game-winning goal, and Igor Shesterkin had 31 saves in a 3-1 Blueshirts victory.
Adult player and Kraken fan Travis Teffs is a California transplant but now lives in Puyallup. He and his fiancé have been to every home game since I met them above Section 14.
“After four games, the Kraken atmosphere is really fantastic. Fans are loud. They’re starting to get more knowledgeable. People need to quit leaning forward (in their seats), but it’s par for the course. I love the arena- and this WaFd Bank Club with the private bar is my favorite part!”
? by Jonathan West
While the team and home game fandom is a work in progress, the arena is one of my all-time favorites. Enjoy my photos of Climate Pledge Arena at Seattle Center over the last two weeks and this Instagram story for more from the first homestand. See you on Thursday! ⚓
What do you think about Climate Pledge Arena, home of the Seattle Kraken? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.