Welcome to Seattle Center
SEATTLE, WA – For nearly 80 years the community has gathered at Seattle Public Schools’ Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center (which opened in 1947 as the successor to Civic Field) to cheer on student athletes playing beneath Friday night lights, to celebrate graduating high school seniors ready to take on the world, to rock the stands with legions of fellow concertgoers, and to experience spectacular festivals from the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair to Bumbershoot and beyond.
While it will soon be lights out for Seattle Public Schools’ Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center, the community is being invited to the Lights Out . . . For Now: Memorial Stadium Open House & Preview Event to relive nearly eight decades of memories, say a fond farewell, and learn about the exciting plans for Memorial Stadium’s future.
The doors to Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center (401 5th Avenue North) will be opened for the public – to experience the stadium one last time, purchase a bite to eat from one of the onsite food trucks and to picnic on the stadium turf – from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, June 26. Attendees will also be treated to performances by the SPS All-City Marching Band.
The free event will include an opportunity for community members to speak with project leaders, view renderings, and learn about the vision, design, and construction of the landmark $140 million transformation of Memorial Stadium which will be seamlessly integrated into the Seattle Center campus.
The public is also being encouraged to share their Memorial Stadium memories at SeattleCenter.com/Memorial-Stadium. Stories and photos are being collected for posting on the Memorial Stadium project website, and social media channels; and for projecting on the stadium’s giant screen during the event.
The new state-of-the-art multi-purpose stadium for student athletics, education, arts, culture, entertainment, and community events – approved earlier this month by the SPS Board of Directors and Seattle City Council – will seat 6,500, with a total capacity of 8,000.
The new stadium project – which will be operated as a not-for-profit – is a unique public-private partnership between SPS, City of Seattle, and One Roof Stadium Partnership (a consortium of Seattle Kraken, Climate Pledge Arena, and One Roof Foundation). As the project’s private partner, One Roof Stadium Partnership will invest in, design, build, operate, and maintain the new stadium, with SPS continuing to own the stadium and maintain priority use.
Memorial Stadium, although owned by SPS, has always been an integral part of Seattle Center. The shared vision for a new stadium supports the Seattle Center’s Century 21 Master Plan, integrating it into the Seattle Center campus by expanding public space, removing walls, and opening views as never before.
“Memorial Stadium is home to so many memories for our city,” said Seattle Center Director Marshall Foster. “It holds a special place in our collective history. We couldn’t be more excited to continue that legacy with a new state-of-the-art stadium which will serve student athletes and once again be a place for music and cultural events at Seattle Center.”
“Extraordinary projects like this are the result of collaborative resources, knowledge, and passion,” said SPS Chief Operations Officer Fred Podesta. “An enhanced stadium will allow the District to provide a modern student-centered facility for cultural performances, athletic events, commencement ceremonies, and social and educational opportunities for future generations.”
“It’s an honor to partner with Seattle Public Schools and the City of Seattle, and to have meaningful impact in our community,” added Tod Leiweke, CEO of the Seattle Kraken. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to secure the future of the stadium for decades to come.”
Funding for the new stadium comes from the voter-approved 2022 SPS Buildings, Technology, and Academics/Athletics Capital Levy (BTA V) and other capital resources, which provides $69.3 million toward the total cost. The project is also supported by significant public investment including nearly $4 million in state funding, $40 million from the City, and approximately $30 million in philanthropic support.
The new stadium is being designed by Generator Studio – an architecture firm nationally recognized for its work on community-centered sports and entertainment venues. Seattle-based Sellen Construction will lead the two-year construction slated to begin this summer and completed by fall 2027.
www.seattlecenter.com
Contact
Randy Hurow, WHY For Good
206-778-5523 randy@whyforgood.com
