NHL Seattle breaks ground on Northgate Ice Centre training facility

At the official groundbreaking for the Northgate Ice Centre on Thursday, key members of the project took their turn at the podium before ceremoniously digging in the dirt to kick off construction.

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Speakers included District 5 Councilmember Debora Juarez, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, Michael McCarty of Simon Malls, Virginia Mason Chairman and CEO Gary Kaplan, and NHL Seattle President Tod Leiweke.

Leiweke thanked the fans for their belief and passion, citing their support as the reason this project is happening and why a team is coming to Seattle.

“In this magnificent city with these magnificent fans, how could we not go for it on this project? And go for it we are,” Leiweke said.

The new site of the NHL Seattle training facility and complex will be built near the future Northgate Link light rail station and what remains of Northgate Mall.

Demolition on the mall has already started, with more stores closing their doors over the past year to make room for the construction.

Previously released plans for the complex includes retail space, office space, residential units, hotel rooms, open spaces, and parking stalls, in addition to the 140,000 square foot hockey facility built and funded by NHL Seattle.

The Northgate Ice Centre will house three regulation NHL ice rinks, plus locker rooms and strength and conditioning rooms for the athletes. The main rink will seat 1,000 spectators, while the other two will seat 400 each.

This complex is also for the community, and will host adult and youth hockey, training camps, tournaments, figure skating, and public ice skating.

At the groundbreaking, Juarez spoke about the power of collaboration, highlighting the work of both private and public entities on this project.

“I’m proud to represent District 5 where I can not only show my constituents, but the city of Seattle, this is how you get things done,” Juarez said. ” … This is what you’re looking at with brick and mortar when people come together and recognize what is good for all, is good for the whole.”

Virginia Mason, a sponsor and partner of NHL Seattle, will have space at the new complex to serve the community, as well as NHL players, staff, and families.

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The Northgate Ice Centre and Northgate light rail station are expected to be completed in 2021. NHL Seattle will be the league’s 32nd franchise, with play to begin in the 2021-22 NHL season. The team name has not yet been announced.

“We want to get word out that this, Seattle,” Lieweke said, “is the place to play.”