Climate Pledge Arena

Climate Pledge Arena is a big indoor arena in Seattle, Washington. It is located in the Seattle Center, a large entertainment area north of downtown Seattle. The arena opened in 1962 and was originally built for the Century 21 Exposition. After many years of use, it was closed in 2018 for a major renovation that cost $1.15 billion. The outside and roof of the arena were kept because they are important historical landmarks.

Today, Climate Pledge Arena is home to several sports teams, including the Seattle Kraken hockey team and the Seattle Storm basketball team. It can hold thousands of people for games and other events. The arena was once home to the Seattle SuperSonics basketball team before they moved to Oklahoma City. In 2020, Amazon bought the naming rights and changed the name to Climate Pledge Arena to highlight the importance of fighting climate change. The arena plays a big role in Seattle’s sports and entertainment scene.

History

Seattle Center Coliseum

The arena opened in 1962 as the Washington State Pavilion for the Century 21 Exposition. After the event ended, the city of Seattle bought it for $2.9 million and converted it into the Washington State Coliseum. It became a key part of the new Seattle Center. When it reopened, the Seattle University men's basketball team was its first major tenant. In 1964, it was renamed the Seattle Center Coliseum. That same year, the Seattle Totems moved in. The Coliseum became famous for hosting the Seattle SuperSonics starting in 1967.

The Coliseum hosted important basketball events, including two NBA Finals in the late 1970s. It also hosted the NBA All-Star Game once. In the 1980s, the arena faced challenges, including a game where rain leaked onto the court.

Rebirth as KeyArena

The arena was rebuilt between 1994 and 1995. The renovation cost $74.5 million for the city and $21 million for the SuperSonics. The remodeled arena kept the original roofline and added new features like private suites and improved seating.

Redevelopment into Climate Pledge Arena, arrival of the Kraken

In October 2016, Seattle announced plans to redevelop KeyArena. Two groups submitted proposals, and the Oak View Group was selected. The city approved the redevelopment in December 2017. The arena closed in October 2018 for two years of renovation.

Climate Pledge Arena opened to the public on October 19, 2021. The first sports event was a Seattle Kraken game on October 23, 2021. The arena became home to the Seattle Storm in 2022 and later hosted games for the Professional Women's Hockey League.

Sporting events

Mixed martial arts

Climate Pledge Arena has hosted many UFC fighting events. The first was on March 26, 2011, called UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Davis. The UFC came back several times over the years, including shows on December 8, 2012, UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Diaz, and July 27, 2013, UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Moraga. After a long break, the UFC returned on February 22, 2025, with UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song, and again on March 28, 2026 for UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Pyfer.

Concerts

The Beatles played at the arena twice, first on August 21, 1964, and then again on August 25, 1966.

Metallica recorded some of their live shows here in 1989 for a special video release.

U2 performed here in 2005, with Kings of Leon joining them for the opening act.

Destiny's Child gave a concert here in 2005 during their final tour before the group split up.

In 2012, Madonna filled the venue with two big shows during her tour.

Foo Fighters and Death Cab for Cutie were the first acts to perform at the newly renovated Climate Pledge Arena in 2021.

Korean boy group Stray Kids performed here in July 2022 as part of their big international tour.

Dua Lipa ended her U.S. tour with two concerts here in October 2025, with special guests Brandi Carlile and Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie.

Seating capacity

The Climate Pledge Arena can be set up in different ways for different events. Originally, it could hold 13,200 people for basketball, 12,250 for ice hockey, 16,000 for meetings, and 14,770 for boxing. Over the years, changes were made to improve the space.

After updates, the arena now seats 18,300 for basketball, 17,151 for ice hockey, and 17,200 for concerts. The most people ever seen at a basketball game was 18,343, when the Seattle Storm played against the Indiana Fever on May 22, 2024.

Features and amenities

Climate Pledge Arena is a huge space that is 740,000 square feet big and can hold 17,100 people when it is set up for ice hockey. Many of the seats are below ground level, while the main entrance is at ground level. You can find many places to buy food, and they use a special system called Amazon One so you don’t have to stand in line to pay.

Instead of one big screen hanging in the middle, the arena has two six-sided screens above the ice. These were made so everyone can see them without blocking the view of the game. The arena also tries to be very green. It wants to have no waste left after events, use rainwater to make the ice, and serve food mostly from nearby farms. Fans can also get a free pass to use public buses before and after games. In the first year, one out of four fans used the bus to get to the arena.

Transportation

Climate Pledge Arena is located in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood and has several ways to get there. You can take the King County Metro bus from places like Queen Anne Hill and Downtown Seattle. The RapidRide D Line and other bus routes often go to the west side of the arena and Downtown Seattle. Bus Route 8 goes to Capitol Hill and the Central District.

The Seattle Center Monorail also stops at the arena. It takes you to Westlake Center and the Westlake light rail station in downtown. During big events, the monorail runs more often.

There are three public parking garages near the arena with space for 2,944 cars. With extra parking lots and street parking, there are about 7,400 spots total. The arena is close to the Mercer Street exit on Interstate 5 and State Route 99.

A new Link light rail service to the Seattle Center and Climate Pledge Arena is planned to start in 2035. It will be part of the Ballard–Downtown extension.