‘It looks like it’s 64 years old’: KIRO hosts back Seattle Center renovations ahead of possible SuperSonics return

As Seattle gears up for the potential return of the SuperSonics, city leaders are looking to revamp Seattle Center. Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Seattle City Councilmember Rob Saka introduced a joint resolution last week calling for Seattle Center infrastructure investments ahead of a potential bond measure in 2027.

KIRO host Spike O’Neill and KIRO fill-in host Mike Lewis agreed that the area could use some upkeep.

“It looks like it’s 64 years old,” Spike said on “The John Curley Show” on KIRO Newsradio.

“Yeah, and there are a couple of pools that are not even used anymore, not swimming pools, but reflection pools that are not used anymore mainly because the plumbing is decrepit, and so this is an effort to fancy it up a bit prior to yet another team coming in,” Mike responded.

“I mean, this is the kind of infrastructure stuff that is, I think, in some ways I would definitely put it, and I imagine the city does too, as a lower priority than fixing roads, fixing things in the neighborhoods, critical bad areas, whatnot, but I’m actually pretty happy with it, because as a person who … I walk through Seattle Center eight times a week, nine times a week, because our business is very close, so I’m walking through it all the time, and it looks actually at a glance great, but it gets a little worse upon close inspection, and so if it is going to be used that regularly and that consistently — I mean, there’s gonna be a lot of people in Seattle Center concerts, and with the rebuilding Memorial Stadium — they might as well jump in and do all this stuff. I think it makes a ton of sense. One of those city spends that I’m a big fan of,” he continued.

Spike noted that the city isn’t going to completely remake the area, but will keep the elements that make it iconic.

“They’re not gonna wipe it clean, because I mean, look around the city, nothing’s like it used to be, you don’t recognize anything,” he said.

Saka, Wilson resolution calls Seattle Center a ‘central civic, cultural, and economic asset’

The resolution, introduced by Saka, who chairs the Transportation, Waterfront, and Seattle Center Committee, and Wilson, affirms Seattle Center as a “central civic, cultural, and economic asset” for the city and calls for any capital investment proposal to include funding from private and non-city sources, according to a news release.

“This legislation establishes the framework for a robust public-private partnership that leverages Seattle’s vibrant private and philanthropic communities to amplify the impact of any city investment,” Saka said in the release. “It’s also an opportunity to create good-paying union jobs and drive economic opportunity. Renovating Seattle Center is an investment in the future of our city and a rising tide that lifts all boats in our communities.”

The resolution’s priorities include formally stating the city council’s intent to consider a bond measure for the 2027 ballot, requesting the mayor include appropriations in the upcoming budget to advance projects like the Armory renovation and the scoping of an expanded Veterans Memorial, and urging a partnership with Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities to transition the center toward carbon-neutral.

While the Seattle Center drew 11.3 million visitors in 2025 and generated $3.3 billion, city officials noted there has not been a major infrastructure investment since 1991. The resolution aims to restore the campus in preparation for the SuperSonics.

“They’re keeping true to the thing while just fixing up what needs to be fixed,” Mike said.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to John Curley weekday afternoons from 3 – 7 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Follow @https://twitter.com/jcurleyshow