Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle opens with benefit concert featuring Foo Fighters on October 19, 2021.
On October 19, 2021, Seattle music fans will get a little taste of the new Climate Pledge Arena with a benefit concert with two bands with strong ties to Seattle, Foo Fighters and Death Cab for Cutie. The concert is not publicly advertised and invitations are mainly sent out to arena partners, contractors and members of the bands fan clubs. Three days later, on October 22nd, the arena will officially open, followed by an evening concert by the band Coldplay. The 17,400-seat arena, which cost $ 1.2 billion, replaces the outdated KeyArena, a venue built for the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962, although certain architectural elements of the historic arena have been retained.
Hit the right note
Though October 22, 2021 was advertised as the official opening date of the Climate Pledge Arena (CPA), local music fans got a preview of the new 740,000-square-foot arena three days earlier when the Foo Fighters and Death Cab for Cutie concert sold out on October 19 . There wasn’t a big public announcement. Death Cab for Cutie fans received an email alerting them to the concert, and the online ticketing agency Ticketmaster released on the morning of the 30th. The benefit concert called “A New Way Home” supported Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Real Rent Duwamish, and the One Roof Foundation.
Both bands have longstanding ties to the Northwest. Formed in 1994, Foo Fighters was founded by former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl (born 1969) who spent a few minutes on stage during the CPA concert and remembered the band’s early years. The indie rock band Death Cab for Cutie formed in Bellingham in 1997 and received eight Grammy nominations.
The double billing hit the right note with the fans. “While Arena Brass technically sees Friday’s Coldplay concert as the official opening, for Seattle it was last night’s sold-out show when hometown rock heroes Foo Fighters and Death Cab for Cutie played CPA’s first event … The Climate Pledge Arena did not officially promote the ‘exclusive’ semi-private show … instead it offered tickets to ‘our partners’ and people involved in the construction … But fans of the bands could buy tickets with special passcodes “(” Review: Foo Fighters … “).
A few days later, on October 22nd, a ribbon cutting ceremony took place in the south square of the arena. Businessman David Bonderman (b. 1942), major owner of the Seattle Kraken hockey franchise, cut the ribbon surrounded by executives from Oak View Group, a Los Angeles-based real estate development company and builder of the Climate Pledge Arena; Seattle Center; and Amazon, along with state and city officials. At the ceremony, Governor Jay Inslee (born 1951) congratulated the arena partners on their use of environmentally friendly building methods and materials. “This commitment to sustainability affects us now and well into the future,” said Inslee, “because the future of commercial construction plays a crucial role in reducing emissions that affect our communities, our climate, our seas, our forests and the Earth Itself “(Madison Park Times).
That evening, Grammy-winning British rock group Coldplay – who played the band’s first arena gig in nearly five years – entertained a sold-out audience for a 90-minute set. On October 23, the Kraken competed against the Vancouver Canucks in the first sporting event in the new arena. The Kraken lost 4-2. Other opening week events, all held on October 24th, included a local food and beverage market coordinated by the Seattle Farmers Market Association, half a day of free concerts by four local bands presented by KEXP, and a public house of the open Door.
Years in the making
Redevelopment of the old KeyArena began in 2017 when Seattle city officials issued a call for proposals. Built in 1962 for the Seattle World’s Fair, KeyArena had seen its share of history over the years, from concerts by the Beatles, Pearl Jam and Elton John to three NBA Finals and the 1990 Goodwill Games. But before Seattle was an NHL- or acquire NBA franchises, an overhaul of the outdated venue was required.
Two proposals were received; Oak View Group (OVG) was selected. One of the project requirements was to preserve elements of the arena’s landmark, in particular the characteristic pitched roof designed by Paul A. Thiry (1904-1993). OVG estimated the cost at $ 650 million, all privately funded, and the groundbreaking ceremony took place on December 5, 2018.
When the state ordered the temporary shutdown of businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Governor Inslee granted a waiver to build an arena “given the 44 million pound roof was supported by temporary scaffolding by thousands Truckloads of dirt were transported and the old KeyArena was torn down and replaced piece by piece. OVG ended up spending $ 1.2 billion, almost double their original proposal “(Daniels).
A commitment to net zero carbon emissions
In June 2020, Amazon announced it had secured the naming rights for the arena and spent an estimated $ 300 million to $ 400 million on the honor. The name Climate Pledge Arena was chosen to draw attention to Amazon’s climate pledge calling on companies to commit to net zero carbon emissions by 2040, 10 years ahead of the date set in the Paris Agreement.
Arena builders have implemented a number of innovative technologies and materials to meet this environmental certification. Its “fully electric operation is 100% powered by renewable electricity – from on-site solar panels and renewable energy off-site. The stadium will use treated rainwater that is stored in the ice system, a concept called “Rain to Rink”. to create the greenest ice cream in the NHL. The original 44 million pound roof of the previous KeyArena was reused in construction – to significantly reduce the building’s embodied carbon. The arena’s food program … is sourced locally and seasonally to support regional farmers and producers; all viable, unused food from events will be donated to local community food programs “(” Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena Makes History “).
There are takeaway food stalls, ticketless and cashierless technology, and charging stations for electric vehicles. Every year, the arena’s emissions are counted to see if the environmental goals have been met.
Early reviews
The new arena, just blocks from Amazon’s headquarters, doubled the footprint of the former KeyArena, with much of the additional footage showing in the spacious halls. Fans seem happy with the new design; Comments from arena attendees ranged from more comfortable seating to improved lines of sight. In addition to its high-tech and sustainability features, the arena included nine public works of art installed on-site, and many of the building’s interior design elements highlight the best of the Northwest, including hardwoods, a dramatic wall of ferns, and a model airplane hangs over one of the escalators.
Sources:
“Climate Pledge Arena Celebrates Grand Opening”, Madison Park Times, November 8, 2021 (https://madisonparktimes.com/Content/News/Top-Stories/Article/Climate-Pledge-Arena-celebrates-grand-opening/26/ 284/32872); Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena Makes History, press release, About Amazon, October 22, 2021 (https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/sustainability/seattles-climate-pledge-arena-makes-history); John Niland, “Populous’ Overhauled Climate Pledge Arena is Officially Open in Seattle”, Archinect News, October 26, 2021 (https://archinect.com/news/article/150286302/populous-overhauled-climate-pledge-arena-is .) -official-open-in-Seattle); Chris Daniels, “It was all worth it: Stakeholders celebrate the opening of the Climate Pledge Arena in the Seattle Center”, KING-TV, October 22, 2021 (https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/climate. ) -pledge-arena-opening-day-seattle-center / 281-da063bab-1bad-4e82-b0fc-039bc2928785); Michael Rietmulder, “Foo Fighters, Death Cab Opening Climate Pledge Arena with Seattle Benefit Concert,” The Seattle Times, Sep 30, 2021; Michael Rietmulder, “Review: Foo Fighters, Death Cab Christen Climate Pledge Arena with Unforgettable Style”, ibid., October 19, 2021; Michael Rietmulder, “Review: Coldplay Spectacular pulls the Climate Pledge Arena into the center of its universe”, ibid., October 23, 2021; Geoff Baker, “Analysis: After the first week, Kraken fans give the renovation of the Climate Pledge Arena a thumbs up”, ibid., October 29, 2021 (www.seattletimes.com); Ken Belson, “An Arena Where the Goal is Net Zero Carbon Emissions, Even From Fans,” The New York Times, October 29, 2021 (www.nytimes.com); Kevin Schofield, “Council Considering KeyArena MOU Amendments, on Thursday,” Seattle City Council Insight, November 13, 2017 (https://sccinsight.com/2017/11/13/council-considering-key-arena-mou-amendments- Thursday/); Kurt Schlosser, “Inside Climate Pledge Arena: New Venue is a Very Seattle Mix of High-Tech and Deluxe Experiences”, GeekWire, October 20, 2021 (https://www.geekwire.com/2021/inside-climate-pledge- arena-new-place-seattle-mix-high-tech-deluxe-experiences /); Kevin Reichard, “Climate Pledge Arena Opening Still Set for October 2021”, Arena Digest, October 8, 2020 (https://arenadigest.com/2020/10/08/climate-pledge-arena-opening-still-set-for -Autumn 2021 /); HistoryLink.org Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History, “Paul Albert Thiry (1904-1993)” (by Marga Rose Hancock), “Seattle Kraken Play Your First Home Game, a 4-2 Loss to Vancouver, on October 23, 2021” (by Nick Rousso), http://www.historylink.org (accessed December 9, 2021).