Climate Pledge Arena: Guide for Visiting Fans

The single best move is the two-hop transit play. Link Light Rail connects Sea-Tac Airport all the way to downtown Seattle, running every 8–10 minutes most of the day — park at any Link station and ride to Westlake. From Westlake Center, the Seattle Center Monorail runs directly to Seattle Center, with trains every 3–4 minutes and a 90-second ride. Sea-Tac (SEA) to arena door runs about 45–50 minutes total including the Monorail connection. Even better: all fans holding a ticket to a public event at the arena can claim a free public transit pass for use starting two hours before doors open and until two hours after the end of the event. Download the Kraken app and activate it before you leave the hotel — don't scramble at the station.

Bus routes 1, 2, 4, 13, 24, 33, and the D Line all have stops near the arena , though for visitors without local knowledge of the stop names, the Monorail from Westlake is simpler and frankly more fun. If you're driving, the arena is at 334 1st Ave N — exit I-5 at Mercer Street and expect gridlock on game nights. Budget 20–30 extra minutes. Rideshare drops are off 1st Ave N; exact pickup zones shift, so check the app on arrival.

Three official garages serve the arena. The Arena Underground Garage sits directly below Climate Pledge Arena, offers 1,600 spaces, and has EV charging stations. The 1st Avenue N Garage is across the street with 800 spaces. The 5th Avenue Garage is two blocks away with 1,000 spaces.

During events, the 5th Ave. N Garage (516 Harrison St.) charges around $40 if you pay on-site. The PacSci Garage near Denny Way runs $15–$25 for events and is about a 4-minute walk. Pre-purchasing through the Kraken app will usually save you a few dollars over gate pricing. On-site garages and nearby lots fill quickly during big events, and street parking is limited, metered, and often subject to event-rate pricing. The underground garage is closest but also the last to clear — if you're parked there, you're in the lot for at least 30–40 minutes post-game. The PacSci Garage or meters up on Denny Way give you a cleaner exit.

Lower Queen Anne — the arena's actual neighborhood, also known as Uptown — is the obvious base. There are many places to stay within walking distance of the arena, including the Hyatt House, Hampton Inn and Suites, Four Points Sheraton, and The Maxwell Hotel. The Maxwell is a quirky boutique option with personality; the Hampton is your reliable "just need a bed and a shower" pick. Staying in Lower Queen Anne means you can walk to the arena in under 10 minutes, walk back after the game, and skip the surge pricing chaos entirely. Belltown — a 10–15 minute walk south — gives you more bar and restaurant options and slightly lower hotel rates, at the cost of a longer post-game schlep. Downtown proper is fine but adds transit friction. Book within the Queen Anne/Uptown bubble if walkability matters to you.

Tom's Watch Bar is the most obvious pregame choice — it's literally steps from the arena entrance, with massive screens, dynamic sound, and an electric game-day atmosphere. Every sport you could want is on. It fills up fast on game nights, so get there early or prepare to stand.

The Masonry is the smarter play if you want actual food. If you like good pizza, good beer, and consuming both at the same time, The Masonry delivers — charred margherita pie and meatballs at their counter service spot, with an impressive tap list. Counter service means faster turnover on game nights, which matters.

Tyger Tyger is right across the street on Republican Street and doubles as a Sichuan-leaning hangout with a patio. You don't need hockey tickets to enjoy dinner here, and it's tough to beat this spot in the Venn diagram of arena proximity and good food.

Moontree is the away fan's sleeper pick. It's a casual sushi spot just a block from Climate Pledge, with great fatty tuna belly, uni, and izakaya-style snacks — the atmosphere is chill until a Kraken game starts nearby. If you're in town with a group who wants something nicer than a sports bar, this is it.

The arena encourages guests not to bring a bag if possible. If necessary, permitted bags include one bag (clear or other) no larger than 14″×14″×6″, or one small clutch/purse/wallet no larger than 4″×6″×1.5″. All bags larger than a clutch — including medical, diaper, and clear bags — must go through X-ray screening at designated bag lines at primary entries. No backpacks. There is no bag check service on-site, so plan off-site storage if needed.

For Kraken games, doors open 90 minutes before puck drop. The same applies to Storm games. The main south entrance — the Alaska Airlines Atrium — is the most-used gate and gets backed up. Most of the lower-level seats are subterranean, while the concourse and main south entrance at the Alaska Airlines Atrium are near ground level. Try the north or west entries if you're approaching from the Seattle Center campus — shorter lines on most nights. Exit and re-entry is not permitted , so don't step out for fresh air expecting to walk back in.

Climate Pledge Arena is committed to full compliance with the ADA and providing equal access to an enjoyable event experience for everyone. The arena features 360-degree ADA accessibility surrounding the building with no visible "back of house." Since the bowl is largely below grade, elevators are the primary way to move between the main concourse and seating levels — multiple elevator banks are distributed around the building.

Guest Services offers assisted listening devices, closed captioning (request at least 10 days in advance), wheelchair assistance to and from seats, storage of wheelchairs and strollers, and sensory bags. Guests may request an American Sign Language interpreter by contacting guestinfo@climatepledgearena.com. ADA parking is available in the Arena Underground Garage and 1st Ave. N Garage on a first-come, first-served basis.

There is no dedicated away section at Climate Pledge Arena — this is not a soccer-style segregated venue. Away fans scatter throughout the bowl and generally do fine, especially in the upper concourse (Sections 200s) where the crowd is more casual. The building's underground design means sightlines are genuinely good from nearly every seat — fans enter at the upper concourse and the majority of seats are subterranean , so even the "cheap" seats don't feel as removed as they do in a traditional above-grade arena.

Instead of a center-hung scoreboard, two three-sided triangular scoreboards float over each end of the playing surface — this is unusual and takes a quarter or period to get used to, but coverage is actually solid from most angles. For ice hockey, avoid the very end corners of the upper bowl if you want full-rink sightlines. The lower bowl behind the benches (Sections 100–114) is where the rowdiest home crowd sits. If you're in enemy territory, the upper sideline sections (210s–220s) are your sweet spot: good view, more relaxed energy, easier to celebrate a goal without a full section turn on you.

Climate Pledge Arena is a cashless facility. Apple Pay, Google Pay, and all major credit cards are accepted. Expect to pay $14–17 for a domestic or craft beer and $12–16 for a basic food item. Food options focus on sustainably sourced ingredients with local restaurant concepts like Ballard Pizza Co., Mercer St. Mac, and Yugo — the local sourcing mandate is real and the quality is noticeably better than a typical arena. The Amazon-powered Just Walk Out stores are genuinely faster than traditional concession lines; worth learning how they work before you're hungry at the end of the first period.

Seattle is not a hostile hockey town — it's an enthusiastic one. The Kraken fan base is young, still figuring out its traditions, and generally more excited to show off their new building than to make your life miserable. You'll get chirped if your team scores, but nobody is throwing drinks. The arena itself is the real story: because it's so far below grade, the noise collects in the bowl in a way that surprises first-timers. The former arena had a reputation for challenging reverb and echoes; the new design acoustically shrinks the space above, allowing the large arena to perform like an acoustically superior smaller one. In practice, this means a full building is genuinely loud — not Montreal loud, but legitimately electric. One thing to know: while the puck is in play during Seattle Kraken games, guests are asked to remain at the top of the aisle until play stops. Don't fight this — the staff enforces it, and the sightlines from the aisle tops are fine.

Transit: The Monorail is your best friend. The Monorail runs for at least an hour after Climate Pledge Arena events. Walk the 5–7 minutes to the Monorail station at Seattle Center immediately after the final horn, ride 90 seconds to Westlake, and connect to Link Light Rail. Don't dally — the Monorail line builds fast within 10 minutes post-game. If you miss the early window, wait 15 minutes inside the arena or at a nearby bar; the crush clears relatively quickly.

Driving: Mercer Street is a parking lot for 30–45 minutes after events — it is one of Seattle's most reliably terrible post-event roads. If you're in the underground Arena Garage, you're not moving for at least 30 minutes regardless. The 5th Ave. or PacSci garages give you a slightly better exit angle heading east toward I-5 via Harrison or Denny. Realistically, budget 45 minutes from final whistle to a moving highway.

Rideshare: Surge pricing kicks in immediately. Walk four to five blocks south toward the Belltown border (Roy Street or Mercer Street cross-streets away from the arena) before requesting your ride — you'll pay less and wait less than if you pin your pickup at the front door. Give it 10 minutes post-game before requesting; the first wave of surge passes within 15–20 minutes.

The one opinionated tip: Take the Monorail. Pay the $3.50 each way, activate your free transit pass if it's included with your ticket, and ride it like a local. You'll be back at your hotel before the drivers are out of the garage.

How do I get to Climate Pledge Arena from Sea-Tac Airport?

Take Link Light Rail from Sea-Tac to Westlake Station, then transfer to the Seattle Center Monorail. Total travel time is around 45–50 minutes. Your event ticket includes a free transit pass — activate it in the Kraken app.

What is the bag policy at Climate Pledge Arena?

One bag no larger than 14″×14″×6″ (clear or other), or one small clutch no larger than 4″×6″×1.5″. All bags larger than a clutch go through X-ray screening. No backpacks of any size. No on-site bag check.

Is Climate Pledge Arena cashless?

Yes — it is a cashless facility. Apple Pay, Google Pay, and major credit cards are accepted. Guests with cash can use the reverse ATM on the Main Concourse (near Section 04) to convert cash to a prepaid Visa card.

How much does parking cost near Climate Pledge Arena?

The 5th Ave. N Garage charges around $40 on-site during events. The PacSci Garage near Denny Way runs $15–$25 for events. Pre-purchasing through the Kraken app typically saves a few dollars.

When do gates open for Kraken and Storm games?

For Kraken games, doors open 90 minutes before puck drop. The same applies to Storm games. Arrive early to clear security without rushing.

Where are the best seats for away fans? There is no designated away section. The upper sideline sections (210s–220s) offer good sightlines, more relaxed energy, and a better ratio of curious neutrals. Avoid lower bowl behind the home benches if you want to celebrate in peace.

What transit lines serve Climate Pledge Arena?

King County Metro buses (routes 1, 2, 4, 13, 24, 33, and the D Line), the Seattle Center Monorail, and Link Light Rail all serve the Seattle Center area. The Monorail from Westlake is the fastest and most direct.

Can I bring food or a water bottle into Climate Pledge Arena?

Reusable (non-glass) water bottles are permitted, but must be no larger than 32 oz. and must be empty upon entry. Outside food is not permitted, but water bottle refill stations are available inside the arena.