Key Arena   

305 Harrison St
Seattle, WA 98109
206-684-7200
www.seattlecenter.com/events/location/detail.asp?ve_venuenum=440

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If Seattle Center can be thought of as the biggest bauble in Seattle's treasure chest of urban culture, then KeyArena would be the biggest jewel in the setting. Seating up to 17,000 guests and commanding prime location and accessible parking, the arena is home to the SuperSonics (NBA), Storm (WNBA) and Thunderbirds (WHL). Not just for jock stuff, the arena hosts performances from music's biggest stars and visits from popular family shows like Disney on Ice and Sesame Street Live. The acoustics are much commented upon, opinions ranging from superior to sad -- but the overall audience experience is gratifying. Sightlines are another thing -- viewpoints are excellent with very few obstructed-view seats. KeyArena was built for the 1962 World's Fair and originally dubbed the Seattle Center Coliseum. She was beginning to show her age when a $74 million refurbishment brought her back up to date: Renamed KeyArena after Key Bank bought the naming rights for a cool $15 million, she's now considered the premier large audience venue in the Pacific Northwest. What's nearby: Fans wanting an international pre-show/game dining experience can pop into the Mediterranean Kitchen on Roy Street for baba ghanouj and moussaka, while the Frankfurter delivers on the sausage on a bun concept -- the low-fat Thai chicken dog is a weiner wonder. Want to return to those Happy Days? Get the grind on at Turntable, a family-skewed '50s diner that serves up a wicked Northwest stacked shrimp Louie. Need a place to rest your noggin after a Sonics game? Crash at the nearby modest Seattle Inn or go a little more upscale at the Hampton Inn & Suites. Extras: Every seat is padded and has its own cupholder -- modest sounding amenities, but much missed when not around; 1100 club seats offer even swankier amenities and luxury suites are available for fans seeking ultimate convenience and comfort. A generous one commode for every 46 arena guests (figured at full Arena capacity) keep the john lines short -- no need to shy away from those supersized beverages. Sonics fans can drop big bank at the largest team store in the NBA - the Sonics Store is accessed by a dramatic 50-foot "jetway." Arena food: Get yourself a classic hot dog or pretzel, or venture towards the fresh seafood that's on hand. Salmon at a basketball game? You bet. 22 concession stands serve up everything from traditional stadium fare to homemade chowder. Access notes: 155 wheelchair locations in general-admission seating (58 locations in the suites) and over 170 seats with retractable armrests offer easy access to folks with mobility limitations. Ramps are located on both the east and west side of the building and assistive listening devices are available for the vision impaired. Anyone looking to get to the arena from downtown can catch the Seattle Center Monorail that leaves Westlake (Pine Street between 4th and 5th) every 15 minutes on the hour.