KeyArena Redevelopment RFP

Contact: Joe Mirabella, Office of Economic Development, joe.mirabella@seattle.gov 206-733-9810

SEATTLE (January 11, 2017) – Mayor Ed Murray and the City of Seattle released a Request for Proposal (RFP) today for the redevelopment of KeyArena.

“We have a unique opportunity to reimagine KeyArena and continue the growth and redevelopment of Seattle Center,” said Mayor Ed Murray. “There is significant interest in working with the City of Seattle to create a civic arena that fulfills the current and future needs of our growing city that serves the greatest number of community members. I, along with others at the City, are looking forward to reviewing proposals with the community. We are 100 percent committed to finding the best deal for Seattleites.”

“Fifty-six years ago the legendary Senator Warren Magnuson called for a ‘Jewel Box of Wonders’ at the Century 21 Science Pavilion on the Seattle Center grounds. I eagerly await responses to this RFP, with the hope that one will fulfill ‘Maggie’s’ vision of a Seattle Center that serves as a public wonder as well as a public asset,” Councilmember Debora Juarez said.

“The RFP asks interested responders to develop a proposal that creates a premier entertainment venue for our City and region,” said Brian K. Surratt, Director of the Seattle Office of Economic Development who is leading the City’s interdepartmental team. “The RFP was developed with input from 10 City departments in consultation with constituencies from throughout Seattle.”

“The City of Seattle is taking a comprehensive look at Seattle Center and how it can best serve Seattle residents. This is the time to think about KeyArena’s future,” Robert Nellams Director of Seattle Center said. “KeyArena hosted more than 500,000 visitors last year alone. A revitalized arena could add an additional 80-100 events per year.”

“The RFP has seven core objectives for the redevelopment of KeyArena. Bidders must adhere to these objectives in their response. These seven objectives are as follows:

• Provide a world-class civic arena (the “Arena”) to attract and present music, entertainment, and sports events, potentially including NBA and NHL events, to Seattle and the region.
• Provide for design, permitting, development, demolition, and construction of the Arena (the “Project”) with minimal City financial participation.
• Provide for the continuous, successful, sustainable operation of the Arena as a world-class civic venue with minimal City financial participation.
• Provide for mitigation of transportation impacts due to Project construction and Arena operations.
• Provide Project construction and Arena operations in a manner that is equitable for workers and consistent with the City’s Race and Social Justice Initiative.
• Provide for design and operational integration with Seattle Center, contributing positively to the vibrancy of Seattle Center.
• Provide for Project design and Arena operations in a manner that integrates with and enhances connections to Uptown and adjoining neighborhoods.

The City will consider redevelopment proposals that extend outside of the existing KeyArena footprint, however, the facilities north of KeyArena including buildings occupied by KEXP, Vera Project and SIFF Film Center are not included within the boundaries of the redevelopment site.

Under the development agreement, the selected proposer will be responsible for 100 percent of the funding to be provided to complete the redevelopment and construction of the project.

Mayor Ed Murray will convene a community advisory panel to review finalists and make recommendations to the Mayor. The advisory panel will be announced in the coming weeks. The City will do additional community outreach to solicit feedback and answer questions.

Proposals are due by April 12, 2017 at 5:00 P.M. PST. The complete RFP is available online at http://www.seattle.gov/arena.