The past couple weeks have been pivotal and profound for Seattle Center. Not only did one of our most acclaimed resident organizations, Seattle Opera, return to the stage with a live production of La bohème, we also welcomed a new ‘family’ member as Climate Pledge Arena opened its doors to our community. The entire campus was filled with workers and their equipment as final touches were put on campus tree lighting, digital signage installation, fence dismantling, landscaping and general clean-up.
The opening week of Climate Pledge Arena created a seismic shift of activity on the grounds after the quiet pandemic period. Tens of thousands attended the festivities, including a pre-opening concert on Oct. 19 and the official opener with Coldplay on the Oct. 22. Digital ticketing and vaccination verification went well, and audiences were awed by the event technology that launched them into an otherworld of live, futuristic entertainment. Seattle Kraken held its home opener on Oct. 23, and Seattle Center partnered with the Kraken and Arena on a free Community Day, Oct. 24, that defied the wind and rain to a point with live outdoor music, a harvest market and more.
In this new era, Arena visitors left their cars at home. Thousands took the 90-second Seattle Center Monorail ride between the campus and downtown light rail and bus lines, and a stringent Traffic Management Plan at the Pledge provided for efficient event egress and minimal traffic congestion in surrounding streets.
It seems like life at Seattle Center has changed in remarkable ways as we emerge from the pandemic and resume programming. We are hoping the zero carbon goals of Climate Pledge Arena will spur renewed effort in creating a truly climate-friendly campus, and we’re looking forward to a time when a full slate of live theatre, children’s activities, dance and music will join all the in-person activities at our newest venue!
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About Seattle Center:
Connect to the extraordinary at Seattle Center, an active civic, arts and family gathering place in the core of our region. More than 30 cultural, educational, sports and entertainment organizations that reside on the grounds, together with a broad range of public and community programs, create thousands of events on the 74-acre campus and attract over 12 million visitors each year. At Seattle Center, part of Uptown Arts & Cultural District and home to Climate Pledge Arena, the first certified zero carbon arena in the world, our purpose is to create exceptional events, experiences and environments that delight and inspire the human spirit to build stronger communities. Activities at the Center generate $1.864 billion in business activity and $631 million in labor income.
