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Experts say based on other new arenas, like the Sprint Center in Kansas City, you can expect a lot of exterior glass, allowing for an inviting look inside. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Experts give glimpse of what new Seattle arena might look like

BY Tim Haeck  on February 20, 2012 @ 1:41 pm (Updated: 11:02 am - 2/21/12 )

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Politicians and sports fans alike seem optimistic about the chances that a new arena for hockey and basketball in Seattle will get built. To figure out what it might look like, we turn to the experts in stadium design and construction.

A city and county overview of the estimated $500 million project promises a "state of the art" arena. Mortenson Construction vice president Jim Yowan says, for certain, technology is a crucial component.

"You're really competing with people's living rooms and their high-definition TVs and their connectivity, so fans today want to be in a space where they can bring their iPads and interact during the game," he said.

Mortenson built the Pepsi Center and Coors Field in Denver and the Sprint Center in Kansas City. It also built the ShoWare Center in Kent and last year finished renovation of Cheney Stadium in Tacoma.

Yowan says each new stadium or arena includes a theme, signature or design unique to the city or area.

"Safeco [Field], for instance, takes advantage of views to downtown but certainly with the mountains and the water here, the forests, you would expect that to be reflected somehow in the design [of a new arena]," said Yowan.

James Poulson specializes in sports facilities as design director with AECOM, an engineering, design and construction firm with customers in more than 100 countries. AECOM is building the new home of the NBA's Nets, in Brooklyn. He says any new arena must treat the fan "to a spectacular view of the court or the ice with great sight lines as well as comfortable seats and an up-to-date, state-of-the-art sound and video presentation."

Based on other new arenas, you can expect a lot of exterior glass, allowing for an inviting look inside. The building will likely include retail shops open on non-game days too.

Potential investor Chris Hansen says he loves Seattle and he loves basketball and the NBA and Poulson loves that attitude. "I think his heart is really in this ... and wants to bring [back] something that's really near and dear to him and that's a recipe for success in my book."

From his Redmond office, Mortenson's Yowan concedes some false starts in getting a new arena here. But this time, he notes, the politicians are lining up in support.

"Having been around a number of these deals in the past, it is very rare or unheard of for someone to come forward with $290 million of their own money and so that catalyst, in my mind, should be enough to get a deal done," said Yowan.

As for the proposed SoDo location, Poulson calls it "gritty," so near to industrial Seattle. "And I know that whatever is designed is going to have to be sensitive to that environment."

Previous plans for stadiums in the area have considered soil conditions and earthquake risk as factors of concern. No trouble, says Yowan. Safeco and CenturyLink were built in SoDo and as for any concerns about rain disrupting a tight construction schedule, Yowan laughingly says that if contractors didn't work in the rain in Seattle, they wouldn't work much at all.

Yowan says he has not been contacted by Hansen but calls the proposed arena a "fantastic opportunity" that he would bid on with passion and enthusiasm.

Tim Haeck, KIRO Radio Reporter
Tim Haeck is a news reporter with KIRO Radio. While Tim is one of our go-to, no-nonsense reporters, he also has a sensationally dry sense of humor and it will surprise some to learn he is a weekend warrior.
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Comments (22)


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  • CH wrote...
    * Experts give glimpse of what new Seattle arena might look like . . . .
    February 21, 2012 5:08 am
    more concern what the taxpayer wallet might look like[-$200 million dollars].
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wrsawy12 wrote...
    let them play
    February 21, 2012 3:46 pm
    If billionare owners and millionare players want to build a play house then go for it. AS long as the tax payers don't pay. The traffic in that area is already bad, so hopefully they will make plans to add streets or do something.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Crooner2008 wrote...
    New Stadium
    February 21, 2012 5:56 am
    Wish someone could come up with a stadium which rotates slowly around the playfield. Then you could always have a great seat during the game. Sure it would be expensive, but probably be a complete sellout for a long time.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • anotherfencewalker wrote...
    and I thought the EMP was a bit over the top..
    February 21, 2012 7:27 am
    Ity looks like a gigantic truck tire on top of a square building.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    I would hope that a Billboard would be put into place
    February 21, 2012 7:44 am
    That says This Facility costs the City of Seattle $43,000 A DAY to stay open (for just the principal and interest)Next time you see a game bring plenty of MONEY
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Lessmith50 wrote...
    Your à pièce of worm
    February 21, 2012 8:33 am
    Truel à friggin Morin no brainer who clearing had his head burried so far up YouTube arse its not even funny. How long had it been since you seen THE sunshine. With That narrow kind of yours i bet its been decades
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Lessmith50
    February 21, 2012 9:15 am
    So I'm putting you down as a No vote Right?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • anotherfencewalker wrote...
    Postscript to above post:
    February 21, 2012 8:38 am
    Stay in School. Stay off Drugs.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    I don't live in Seattle (never would)...
    February 21, 2012 9:04 am
    ...so you Seattlites can knock yourself out; hey, build TWO of them for all I care. It's not MY money....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oly80 wrote...
    so, let me get this straight...
    February 21, 2012 11:13 am
    ""You're really competing with people's living rooms and their high-definition TVs and their connectivity, so fans today want to be in a space where they can bring their iPads and interact during the game," he said." -the way to deal with people's tv and such is to allow them to bring all that nonsense to a game? wow. so, now they can pay huge sums of money to sit somewhere ELSE while they don't pay attention to the game. this is getting really sad.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oly80 wrote...
    sad because...
    February 21, 2012 11:14 am
    that gimmick will actually work on a lot of people.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    * Experts give glimpse of what new Seattle arena might look like . . . .
    February 21, 2012 12:32 pm
    getting better by the day : Previous plans for stadiums in the area have considered soil conditions and earthquake risk as "FACTORS OF CONCERN". Not to worry we will have a Tunel under the middle of it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wcremedy24 wrote...
    Good god
    February 21, 2012 12:37 pm
    Did you people panicking even listen to what the proposal was?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • TTTCOTTH wrote...
    How About A Glimpse
    February 21, 2012 1:46 pm
    Of what the gang activity outside of the stadium would look like.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wcremedy24 wrote...
    Did you guys read
    February 21, 2012 5:03 pm
    The part where they said they're not using taxpayer money? Nevermind that though it's way more fun to complain that we don't spend enough money on education.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    wcremedy they have committed $250-million in private money....
    February 21, 2012 5:25 pm
    to build a $450-million stadium...

    Just because they engineer a way to "creatively" describe the rest of the funding doesn't mean the Tooth Fairy is building the remainder of the facility.

    Public pays about half the costs, promoters keep 100% of the profits.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wcremedy24 wrote...
    Chuck Gould
    February 21, 2012 7:47 pm
    I understand your skepticism, but first off here's putting forth almost 300 million, second, the additional money is taken from components within the arena itself such as tickets, concessions, etc, and if there is a defecit the owners have an agreement to pay whatever it is back to the city. I understand your skepticism because we have gotten awful deals in the past, I just feel like everyone is unfairly lumping this one with them even though it's vastly different.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wcremedy24 wrote...
    As in
    February 21, 2012 7:52 pm
    The additional money is going to be taxed only from the people using the facility.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }