Sonics Arena, Proposed sports arena in SoDo district, Seattle, US
Sonics Arena was a proposed multipurpose facility designed by the architecture firm Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum with 20,000 seats in an industrial zone south of downtown Seattle. The design aimed to locate the building near CenturyLink Field and Safeco Field to serve multiple sports and entertainment uses.
The project was introduced in 2011 when developer Chris Hansen presented plans to build the arena in the SoDo neighborhood. The initiative aimed to bring back an NBA basketball team to Seattle after the SuperSonics relocated in 2008.
A mural on First Avenue South Wall shows Kris Brannon, known as the Sonics Guy, alongside other Seattle sports figures like Walter Jones and Edgar Martinez who shaped the city's athletic identity.
The proposed location was in an industrial district with other sports facilities nearby, requiring varied transportation options for access. Visitors should know this project was never completed and exists today only in historical records and discussions about Seattle's sports future.
A feasibility study in 2015 revealed that renovating the existing KeyArena would cost less than building a new facility. This finding ultimately led to the abandonment of the project in favor of upgrading the established venue.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
