KeyArena

Infobox Stadium | stadium_name=KeyArena


former_name = Seattle Center Coliseum (1962-1994)| location=305 Harrison Street
Seattle, Washington 98109
opened=1962 (renovated 1994)
owner=City of Seattle
operator=City of Seattle
construction_cost=$74.5 million (1994 renovation)
tenants=Seattle SuperSonics (NBA) (1967-1978, 1985-1994, 1995-2008)
Seattle Storm (WNBA) (2000- Present)
Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) (1977-1994, 1995-2009
Seattle SeaDogs (CISL) (1995-1997)
Seattle University Redhawks (NCAA) (1963-1980, 2008-Future)
seating_capacity=Basketball: 17,098
Hockey: 15,177
Concert: 16,641
Boxing: 17,459

KeyArena at Seattle Center, also known as KeyArena, is located north of downtown Seattle, USA on the grounds of Seattle Center (the site of 1962's Century 21 Exposition, a World's Fair).

The arena's primary tenant is the Seattle Storm of the WNBA. It hosted the 1974 NBA All-Star Game and is also used for non-athletic entertainment purposes, such as ice shows, circuses, and concerts.

KeyArena was once home to the Seattle SuperSonics. On July 2, 2008 the Oklahoma City based ownership group of the SuperSonics reached a settlement deal with the City of Seattle; releasing the team from the last two years of their lease with the city and allowing the team to relocate to Oklahoma City for the 2008-09 NBA season. The SuperSonics name was dissolved. until July 2, 2008 it was the oldest arena in the NBA.

In addition to being the former home of the NBA in Seattle, it was also home to the Seattle Thunderbirds, a junior hockey team in the Western Hockey League. The Thunderbirds hosted the Memorial Cup at KeyArena in 1992.

KeyArena is the first publicly financed arena in the area fully supported by earned income from the building. Its seating capacity for basketball games was 17,098, ice hockey games and ice shows 15,177, end-stage concerts is 16,641, and center-stage concerts and boxing 17,459. Risers hold 7,440 on the upper level and up to 7,741 on the lower level, with luxury suites adding another 1,160 seats.

History

The arena began life in 1962 as the Washington State Pavilion for the Century 21 Exposition. After the close of the Exposition the Pavilion was remodeled as the Washington State Coliseum, one of the centerpieces of the new Seattle Center (the former Exposition grounds). The Beatles played the Coliseum on August 21, 1964. The Coliseum became home to the Seattle SuperSonics beginning with their inaugural season in 1966 and remained so throughout most of the team's lifetime. [cite web |url = http://www.buyselltix.com/nba/stadium/supersonicsStadium.php | title = Key Arena - Seattle Supersonics Stadium | publisher = Buyselltix.com | accessdate = 2008-07-13 ] The Washington State Coliseum would later be renamed the Seattle Center Coliseum; operated by the City of Seattle and named after the Seattle Center grounds.

The Seattle Center Coliseum was the site of the only NBA game that was ever forfeited on account of rain. On January 5, 1986 the Sonics were hosting the Phoenix Suns during a rainstorm. Rain from the Coliseum roof leaked onto the court. Timeouts were called so ballboys armed with towels could do their best to stay ahead of the puddles, but even so, two players slipped and fell on the wet surface. Finally, during the second half, referee Mike Mathis called the game. [ cite web |url = http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=7860 | title = Leaky Coliseum roof halts Seattle SuperSonics-Phoenix Suns game, the first National Basketball Association contest called on account of rain, on January 5, 1986. | publisher = Historylink.org | accessdate = 2008-07-13 ]

The Coliseum was rebuilt between 1994 and 1995, bringing the arena up to NBA standards of the day. At that time naming rights were sold to KeyCorp, the parent of KeyBank, and the Coliseum was renamed KeyArena. The renovation cost the city of Seattle $74.5 million and the SuperSonics approximately $21 million. The naming rights cost KeyCorp $15.1 million and are in effect through 2011. Now that KeyArena has lost its major tenant, there has been speculation that KeyCorp may try to amend or back out of the naming rights deal. [ cite web |url = http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/virgin/371623_virgin22.html | first = Bill | last = Virgin | title = KeyArena lost a tenant; will it lose a name? | publisher = Seattle Post-Intelligencer | date = 2008-07-22 | accessdate = 2008-07-22 ]

The remodeled arena maintained the architectural integrity of the original roofline by using the existing steel trusses in combination with four new main diagonal trusses. The wood, steel and concrete from the demolition was either reused in construction of the new arena or sold to recyclers. The original acoustical panels, the panels attached to the roof that keep the space from echoing, were refurbished and reused. The court was lowered 35 feet (10.5 meters) below street level to allow for 3,000 more seats.

The first regular season game that the Seattle SuperSonics played in the rebuilt arena was on November 4, 1995, against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Controversy

In late 2004 proposals for expanding KeyArena to nearly twice its current size to accommodate new restaurants, shops, and a practice court (the cost was estimated at $220 million) were debated. These proposals never came to fruition and were cited by current and former Sonics' owners as a reason KeyArena is no longer viable. [cite web | first = Eric D.| last = Williams | url = http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/sonics/story/403823.html | title = KeyArena Still The Big Issue | publisher = Tacoma News-Tribune | date = 2008-07-03 | accessdate = 2008-07-13 ]

Gallery

References

Notes

succession box
title = Home of the
Seattle Storm
years = 2000 - present
before = first arena
after = currentsuccession box
title = Home of the
Seattle SuperSonics
years = 1967 – 1978
1985 - 1994
1995 - 2008
before =
first arena
The Kingdome
Tacoma Dome
after =
The Kingdome
Tacoma Dome
Ford Centersuccession box
title = Home of the
Seattle Thunderbirds
years = 1977 - 1994 (with Mercer Arena)
1995 - 2008
before = Kamloops Memorial Arena
after = Kent Events Centersuccession box
title = Home of the
Seattle SeaDogs
years = 1995 – 1997
before = first arena
after = last arenasuccession box
title = Host of the
NBA All-Star Game
years = 1974
before = Chicago Stadium
after = Veterans Memorial Coliseum