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On first blush I think it’s OK. It’s a little overdesigned, but not too much so. Hard to get a feel for it from just drawings.
When I was in Denver a week ago I saw the Pepsi Center up close & personal, that place is fantastic looking, if this arena has the capacity and amenities of that facility it’ll be impressive indeed. It’s really amazing how far the art of stadia construction has come even in the last 10-15 years.
Seatimes story with more images.
http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2012/11/arena-design-proposals-released/
As far as I can see from these photos, it’s looks pretty cool I guess. Kinda reminds me of an upper level of a cruise liner though.
This was my first thought as well
To avoid our arena being dubbed “The Love Boat” or “Tiranic”, maybe the can throw some cannons in the arena and get a battleship theme going:-)
Sorry, I’m just being a goof. I do like what I’m seeing
*Titanic
I think option 1 looks the most like an arena. Then again, I live in Brooklyn and I love the Barclays Center because it doesn’t resemble any other arena in the NBA. But I think the trick is to take what’s worked and tweak it to make it unique, not completely re-design the wheel.
The one with the wavy roof looks like an aquarium to me and I agree with Riboflavin that the “preferred” option looks like a cruise ship coming out of the ground.
It is not too bad, modern and unique but not foolish with purposely rusted sides (Barclays). Ironically it kind of reminds me of the early 60′s styling of some of the buildings in Seattle Center. Shout out to the past?
The bigger question is when will we have a team to put in it?
I happen to like those purposely rusted sides
Well that’s just super.
Thanks!
I wasn’t a fan of how Barclays exterior looks, but it’s grown on me. I’m a fan especially the overhang with the inside readerboard.
Really slick.
Is the preferred option supposed to look like a ferry boat? That is what I get from it.
Agree that they seem overdesigned. Pretty lukewarm to all three of them…but I don’t really care what it looks like.
I also don’t really get the point of building the giant glass entry way that will be facing either left over building or a parking garage.
I’m not super concerned over what it ends up looking like, but did think the first rendering looked a bit like a tank poised to blow up Safeco.
PS - hopefully it won’t this time, but all my posts so far have been sent into moderation - is there something I need to do to correct this?
If your not excited about these drawings then clearly your not a true Sonics Fan!
A little underwhelmed honestly.
Other than the first one, the other two it looks like they purposely designed it not to look like an arena.
I was hoping that they would have either 1) incorporated some design uniformity with Clink and Safco an incorporated some sort of arch or 2) Make it a classic building to blend in with downtown similar to what Indiana did with Conseco Fieldhouse now known as Bankers Life.
They accomplished neither in any of the three renderings.
Here’s some more early arena tidbits with some 3d renderings and area layout:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/113525886/SODO-Arena-early-designs
Here’s some early arena 3D renderings and area layout tidbits:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/113525886/SODO-Arena-early-designs
Exciting!
Sorry about the double post. I got excited, couldn’t control my mouse lol.
The more I look at it, the more it grows on me.
I can see where their going with it. I’m excited!
It can look totally different once they decide on what materials to use on the outside I guess.
I am happy that there are renderings available that we can imagine a team in.
Rather not tie in the arena too much with Clink and Safeco Field because the petty M’s ownership will probably throw a tantrum towards the end of their lease to get a massive remodel of Safeco Field.
Rather uninspiring if you ask me.
I think they’re pretty cool. That north side terrace looking thingie makes me think of a pyramid for some reason.
If I’m looking at this right it looks as if during weekend day games that there will be some natural light coming in from the roof, but the way the “stack” on top is situated it’d never actually reach the court. Reach I think is extremely innovative and could be an extremely nice touch.
After the first impression I’m liking the design a bit less … it’s trying too hard to not look like a soulless arena, which is fine, but don’t make it look like a fricking ferry boat either.
I like option 2 the one that is more classic lookin imo. But honestly any would be fine with me. Theyre cool in their own way. Just as long as it gets built im happy. Hahaha
Whoops i meant option 1 not 2. Hahaha
My first impression is the old Flag Pavilion sitting on a ferry boat with a hint of William H. Gates Hall at the University of Washington.
To be fair, that structure, no surface textures and colors, no lighting. While walking up to the front it might just look like a theater, and that’s what it is.
I was just sayin the exact same thing to a buddy of mine who isnt that high on the arena designs. It will look better with lights and details.
i think any dissapointment being expressed is due to the abundace of white/plain surfaces in these mock ups. people need to realize that when this is done everything that is currently white will be covered in some kind of color/texture/lighting fixture. if you look at some of the later photos it seems like they might take some of their textural cues from pioneer square and use brick for the lower half. not sure how i feel about that but it does make sense when put into the context of the neighborhood. brick aside, imagine how cool this thing will look lit up with all that glass! its going to be incredible. i also liked how they mentioned using rainwater, if they could somehow set up some sort of system where rainwater that lands on the room can cascade over some of the glass facade that would be incredible. this arena is going to be amazing, i cant wait to see what the inside is going to look like.
I’m pretty sure you would all like it if the drawings had a bigass Sonics logo.
I’m pretty sure you’re right.
That and a big spotlight with the Sonics logo in it and have shine right on the Starbucks building.
Oh, I’m getting HYPED!!!
I can’t wait to have the Sonics again!!!
So much emotion. We will get to ride out the last years of the Key/Coliseum and say goodbye to that. Then storm into them gem in SoDo.
BRING’EM HOME!!!
another thing i noticed about the preferred option is that it doesn’t designate a space for a team store as the other options do. i assume it would be in the occidental promenade section they’re planning.
“If I’m looking at this right it looks as if during weekend day games that there will be some natural light coming in from the roof… I think is extremely innovative and could be an extremely nice touch.”
i kind of agree! it really would be different. if they could tint the glass in the roof green and gold it would make that effect awesome. not the whole roof but just areas. that way in the dark seattle winter you’d see the rain coming down over head and in daylight you’d get a stained glass effect with green and gold sunshine.
just kind of a pie in the sky idea but everyone would know the game is in seattle!
Ok guys, so I wasn’t super blown away when I first saw these designs (esp. preferred option) via Chris Daniel’s twittpics, but after going to the official presentation: http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/AppDocs/GroupMeetings/DRProposal3014195AgendaID4179.pdf
and seeing the inspirations materials on pgs. 69-70, it really starts to make sense. It’s pretty rad, actually- it won’t be white with the a bronze chimney, only that way now with the preliminary designs. It’s gonna be iconic.
So, so, so excited. Whatever option is picked, it will look stunning.
You can download the full presentation from the Sonics Arena web site. The pictures of the different options start on page 45.
http://www.sonicsarena.com/news/early-arena-designs
I do hope that they try and make a little continuity with the other two stadiums. It’d be nice for it to actually look like a stadium district
The more I look at it, the more I really like option three. Especially if they have a partial glass roof, recycled rain water fountains and I think it would be incredibly classy to use recycled brick for the facades outside.
I could careless if they play in a high school gym or KeyArena, just as long as they play in Seattle!! Not gonna nit pick the drawings cuz it aint my money going to build it!
if you go by page 69-70 it seems like the overhangs leading up to the main entry will be some combination of wood/glass/steel. while the first avenue facade will possibly be some sort of marble-ish stone or brick. the materials and finishes used are really going to make this a stunning buliding. as hard as it is you need to disregard the white, this building will NOT be white.
Looks like a mix of a Mayan pyramid and a cruise liner.
I do not mind the 3 option but I do not get the block on top what does it do it does not look very nice and the area would look beatter with out it
King5 had a sagment on the drawings and had to have goldman’s opinion and goldman is gonna ask a judge in feburary to toss it and have them start over from square one at a different location. Why do i have a feeling that port union and goldman doesn’t really care about the EIS/SEPA and they are really truly the ones that’s making a fool out of the EIS process?
http://www.king5.com/sports/City-releases-sketches-of-preferred-option-of-Seattle-arena-181616451.html
I dig the tank look. It looks like it’s going to blow. something. up. Thaas’ freakin’ awesome. After all we’ve been through, don’t YOU feel like blowing something up?
I agree with you SpeedCat I also dig the tank look
If I’m not mistaken, what this new arena/supertank are blowing up is Safeco Field! How apropos…
Or it should face west and blow up Starbucks HQ
I like them all. Option 1 is the cleanest, but least imaginative and looks like pretty much any contemporary arena. KevinN’s points about the possibilities of natural light are very good — it looks like Option 2 might also let natural light in? The angled roof sections echo the ones on top of Boeing buildings to let in natural light — and even though Boeing keeps edging away from Seattle like a slo-mo version of the Sonics leaving, the Boeing echoes are fitting for a team named the SuperSonics. Overall I like Option 3 the best. Think ferry boats, not cruise ships.
Personally I like Option 3 the best overall. I like Option 1′s looks from above but Option 3 from the ground. Since I spend more time on the ground I would pick Option 3. I don’t particularly like Option 2. Whatever they come up with will be fine because I’m sure it will be very nice and a state-of-the-art facility everyone can be proud of.
I just checked out NBA.com. They have a front page story on these new Sonic arena designs: Here
Damn this new blog doesn’t allow me to use my old handle, but I guess it is time to roll in with my real name now. Effing love the design, and LOL at Seattletimes still trying to shed a negative light on this
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2019803613_arena01m.html
Headline “First showing of new arena isn’t a slam-dunk” — whatever Lynn Thompson.
You have thoroughly proved that you are incompetent and have lost, get over it.
GP are you wid me?
Yes sir!!
Apparently wordpress doesn’t allow space between words nor apostrophe
I’m very tempted to just go to war with Lynn Thompson.
In the day we needed to be polite Now I just don’t care anymore. I will never get a positive article in the Seattle Times again. May as well just side with the Stranger and call Lynn out.
PS: Peter Steinbrueck will be mayor over my cold dead body. He’s running. Sonics fans need to bury him.
please do, someone needs to take her to school.
Well, it certainly looks like a cruise liner but as long as we use the ship(home advantage) to sail to the promise land of the NBA, I’m alright with it.
I am more interested on the interior design when it comes out. If I remember there were going to be some interesting things to make the everyday fan experience better than other arenas. Any of the designs seems fine to me. I like the idea of making it fit into the neighborhood rather than having some completely crazy design just for design’s sake.
woke up in gray, cold central pennsylvania this morning feeling like a grade-a grump. then i saw these images. mood enhanced 100% !!!!
I like all of them and am sure that once it is built, it will look great. I would bet that the “ferry boat” design is gesture towards the port in showing how good the Arena would fit into the district. I can’t see how that that “steamboat look”, dubbed, “Preferred” ends up as the final design. But, if it does, Chris will make sure it looks great!
Geez even in that link Ron in Yakima posted from nba.com says something about the design looking like a ferry. I’ll admit my first thought was cruise ship…someone needs to tell Chris and the guys at 360 if they decide on a bubble on tope of the building, make it another shape. Maybe a more rounded dome shape would look better? What’s the purpose of even having the oval/rectangular dome on top of the building anyway? Will it be glass so more natural light can come through? Do we need the extra space in order to hang up a scoreboard?
Please change the shape of it if this is indeed what we end up going with. I actually liked option 2 the best if I’m going to be honest. Either way I do like how they both have undercover areas over the steps to get in. I’m an early arriver cause I love to watch them practice before the game and often get to the arena before the doors open. Having the entry covered will keep me from getting rain soaked!
Then again, beggers can’t be choosers I guess! I’ll be happy with anything as long as we get a new team.
I agree with the folks who think the renderings will look completely different with materials instead of blank white. I think that the designs are fine, Chris Hansen obviously likes those designs, that is more than enough for me. Of course I would be happy with just about any building that comes along with the Sonics, I’m totally biased in that regard.
Do the pictures give any hints as to what Hansen has said about how he wanted to do something unique with the seating to get fans a better experience in the arena. I can’t remember the exact wording but he mentioned a few times a completely new idea for configuring the arena so fans in upper levels wouldn’t be so far away from the floor.
Chris has really amazing ideas regarding seating and a lot of different approaches. He is a sports fan first and is a really big fan of the mariners Center Field experience. Expect some very unique “standing room only” admission options with a low price point. I don’t have any information on this but it would not stun me at all if the upper “bubble” on top is some type of sky bar type area.
I think the theory of the top dome part being some kind of a sky bar makes a lot of sense, because otherwise the roof will be too high I think. Maybe the sky bar will have glass floor so you can look down on the court! That also makes me wonder if there is a fence around the top dome so that people can go outside and walk around it. Inspired by the Space Needle maybe?
re: seating, i think he said something along the lines of its something no one else has ever tried before. sounds interesting.
Lynn Thompson brings in all the negative nellies and no positive reviews. Meh. Oh, and she conveniently fails to mention that the Council reviews were public reviews, after starting that same sentence that the process began with months of private review with the Mayor, leaving it wide open for an uninformed person to assume that the council reviews were private as well. And she fails to mention that KC Exec was also involved in the private portion of the reviews. Lays it all on McGinn, strange.
Then she brings in comments from an architect who is clearly biased against any new arena, and thinks that Key Arena is god’s gift to Seattle & lower QA. LOL! That person’s comments were totally not germaine to the proposed design of the new arena.
You’d think an unbiased approach would be to bring in at least 1 positive review…
All this said, Lynn does not write the actual headlines. Pretty sure that the editorial board has a hand in most Seattle Times headlines.
RE: Steinbrueck - game on. Let’s bury that clown.
I am seeing it now. The times is going to team up with Lynn and others to put Steinbrueck up front. I’m into picking political battles carefully and that is one we can win. He lied to the public on an issue that the opposition constituency (us) is very passionate about. He did it working with an agency that is subject to public disclosure and taking public money.
He will bring the Seattle Times, the port and maritime interests. We will bring the Stranger, nightlife and basketball and we will make it crystal clear that it is not worth donating money to him because he has no shot whatsoever of surviving the primary. Narrowing the field will be my little contribution to Burgess and McGinn.
I think we can swing the Weekly too. Probably King5 News and some other channels. Let’s get the jumpstart early on this narrative.
Twitter war time?
Steinbrueck probably not as easy a target as the POS. we’ll see what makes sense as the campaign develops.
I can put my wife to work on this. She needs to use that Seattle U poly sci degree.
sweet!
Stop reading the Seattle Times. Better yet, encourage businesses to stop advertising with them. Let that dinosaur die already.
New arena design
The public will have a chance to comment on the design of a proposed new sports arena in the Sodo neighborhood. The Downtown Design Review Board will question the architects and take public testimony.
6 p.m. Dec. 11, Bertha Knight Landes Room, Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Ave.
I’m a much bigger fan of option 3 when I consider what it will look like with a brick and industrial facade. It would definitely have a NW vibe to it.
Where are they going to put the practice court? I heard underground? I didn’t see this mention.
isn’t that part of the “training facility”? upper left (NE corner) in every option
but it looks like the training facility in option 3 is not wide enough for a full court?
I know we just got some basic exterior renderings of the Arena. But I can’t wait to see some renderings of the interior. I know that’s a ways down the line but I’m hoping that maybe within the entrances they will have some stuff up from the rally.
Burgess compares Vulcan deal in South Lake Union to the arena deal.
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2019803581_vulcandeal01m.html
I think it’s funny the Steinbrueck is a consultant for the neighborhoods against the vulcan deal in south lake union, just as he was for POS against the arena. I bet Burgess sees a clear path through all this mess, realizes that McGinn doesn’t have a chance in the Mayoral election, and thus sides with McGinn (after a long, careful analysis and some editing of the proposal, just as he did with the arena proposal), and leaves Steinbrueck and other detractors holding the “anti” bag…
Burgess has vision and the political skill to get good projects done. Steinbrueck is a downer. There’s your narrative.
Steinbrueck’s penchant for being a paid consultant on every big project could easily be called out as a conflict of interest in the mayoral race. Just wait for it.
I think.I.am going to call some.friends at Vulcan and amazon.
“Another Seattle architect and critic, Lawrence Cheek, said he’s skeptical any new arena design will be as graceful and interesting as KeyArena, built for the 1962 World’s Fair and the home of the Seattle SuperSonics for 41 years.”
Guh? The Key perhaps had sentimental appeal, but graceful and interesting? How many straws can one hand grasp?
nice way to word it.
Lots of colorful neon and those seethrough flat screens. I’m expecting the interior to be breathtaking too! How fun is this!
“Another Seattle architect and critic, Lawrence Cheek, said he’s skeptical any new arena design will be as graceful and interesting as KeyArena, built for the 1962 World’s Fair and the home of the Seattle SuperSonics for 41 years.”
Somebody want to tell Lynn Thompson the Sonics played entirely in the Kingdome from 1978 to 1985, and in the Tacoma Dome for the ’94-’95 season. That’s just sloppy work.
Can’t Hansen pay to move the Key Arena to the site???
If Hansen copies the KeyArena roof on top of the new arena, is that enough to stop the complaints? It’s so simple!
not so fast, guys, they want the Kingdome resurrected too…
Chris Daniels @ChrisDaniels5
Small #SeattleArena update…it appears we’re going to get a hard sell on the ‘Ferry-rena’ that’s generated a bit of talk in the last day.
How about a giant flatscreen somewhere in the foyer area for NBA 2K14 games before the real game. I’d love to hang out and watch fans go at it with Sonic players from the past and present. Downtown for three!
There will be an abundance of flat screens at this arena. I think every wall is just going to be a giant flat screen.
Yeahhhh….boyeeeeeee!!!!!
They politely forget to mention that Lawrence cheek worked for the Seattle times and is a strong steinbrueck ally.
We could write an entire book on the journalistic malfeasance swarming about this arena process.
Rick Majerus passes away, age 64.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2012/12/01/st-louis-utah-coach-rick-majerus-dead-at-64/1739971/
Sad day for college hoops - his teams were tough.
BTW - enjoyed the “gentle guitar duet” for Cardboard
Thanks kindly M_Cage!
Marjerus reminded me of George Karl when it comes to someone who just loved the actual game of basketball. Sad to see him go.
If you had to create a team made up of your favorite players to watch, who would be the starting 5 and who would come off the bench? Mine below:
PG: Rondo/Rose
SG: Kobe/Harden
SF: Lebron/Durant
PF: Love/Randolph
C: Howard/Noah
I’m digging Option 1 more and more now. It doesn’t bother me one iota if it’s not as functional as the other options or if it’s a clone of the Sprint Center. Ultimately whatever they decide to build is fine with me. Just as long as a shovel goes in the ground.
I particularly enjoy the part in the article where no one cares about the Kingdome but the Key Arena is architecturally more important. Does anyone here think that you sampled 100 random people (locally or nationally) that more people would be able to identify the Kingdome than the Key Arena?
There is no way that Key Arena is considered some sort of architectural landmark…
Maybe I am dumb…can anyone explain what this sentence means:
“In a politically charged sequel to the recent Sodo arena deal, the Seattle City Council is looking to scour and refine Mayor Mike McGinn’s proposal to allow much taller buildings in South Lake Union”
The word “scour” doesn’t seem to fit in this sentence at all…what am I missing?
The word choice there I think would be “scrub”.
I’ll meet everybody on the lido deck for Supersonic margaritas (line with yellow salt).
I was thinking about court design for the new team and I hope it’s a lot like the old court except don’t change the color of the wood inside the three point line!
mr lawrence cheek quote “key arena is a superb building” lmao he must not get outta seattle that often. He must also think tacoma dome is fine facility too haha. The key has great memories and sad ones. itll be great to start a new chapter.
From Ric Bucher:
“How could the Kings be 4-12 with so much young talent after one of the easier stretches in their schedule?
From what I’m told, attribute a lot to the fact that the team IS young and the general belief around it is that the franchise is going to be on the move. It’s clear in the lack of energy in the building and young teams thrive, arguably depend, on that energy. Keep in mind: the Sonics, in their last season in Seattle, went 20-62 and arguably had less volatile young players (KD, Jeff Green) than the Kings and headier veterans (Nick Collison, Kurt Thomas, Earl Watson). Maybe most of you already expected this, so consider this a PSA for those still thinking the Kings are going to turn this around, or that they just need time. They need more than that. When there are rumors you could be anywhere from Orange County to Virginia Beach to Seattle (my bet), it’s going to have an effect on young minds. Not a good one. about an hour ago”
I sadly watched the whole game tonight and the only person on that team that seemed to care was Jason Thompson. Even the coach looked like he was just buying time until he got fired.
If we do end up with the Kings, I’d prefer if the roster was completely gutted and we build around Andrew Wiggins.
Not super surprising to see them struggling. At the start of our last season, we at least had the benefit of an ownership group claiming to try and work things out in Seattle - not to mention had the means to do so.
It’s one thing to have a lame duck coach, another to have a lame duck entire organization. Has to be tough to operate in that environment.
All I know is if I was a Sacramento player I’d only be renting right now. Definitely not worth owing a vacation home in Sacramento going forward.
Good Read from the Sac Bee…..http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/02/5024535/aileen-voisin-plain-talk-from.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#mi_rss=Kings/NBA
Chris Daniels @ChrisDaniels5
In case you missed yesterday, Hansen’s architects have already made one change to the ‘ferry-rena’ pitch: http://ow.ly/i/1c0Fj #SeattleArena
Chris Daniels @ChrisDaniels5
ICYM…So the #SeattleArena preferred option went from ‘less iconic’ to a ‘beacon as an iconic landmark’… http://ow.ly/i/1c0Fj
It doesn’t get a ton of press, but there are a lot of solid centers in the league right now - not a lot of dominant guys (in fact maybe only one), but a ton of really solid pieces:
Howard, Chandler, Noah, Hibbert, Horford, Cousins, Monroe, Gasol, Varejao, Asik, Gortat, Pekovic, Perkins
Maybe it’s just selective memory, but I can’t remember the position having a list this deep for quite a while.
http://mobile.seattletimes.com/story/today/2019783948/track-.-.-./
Mr Nordstrom sounds like a really cool guy
.
Great end to the Seahawks game. Wilson is the real deal.
That was an awesome performance by Wilson
totally. gotta give props to Tate, Rice and the others for stepping up too.
kind of a buzzkill at the very end, though, seeing rice get hit like that simultaneous to the final td / game ender. Hope he’s alright. The Wilson->Rice phenomenon has been really piquing my interest of late!
I’m hoping Rice is alright. I saw him do a post game interview with Ian Furness(I think it was him anyway) and Rice seemed fine then. But he took one hell of a shot.
He tweeted that he’s fine and will play next week.
That’s a relief
Pete Nordstrom is a great guy. Very normal and humble.
and he’s in a band!
As someone on the other side of the planet, I find it highly amusing that “POS” is an acronym for something else besides “Port of Seattle”.
We’re going to do a show with Pete’s band to raise a little money for charity BTW
Not super impressed by the designs. I understand they are limited by the footprint so doing a crazy Frank Gehry/EMP-like building isn’t an option, but I was hoping for something a little more inspiring and region-specific.
I really think the big steel and glass structure has been done to death. I know this view is shared with the large majority of the architect community. This is an opportunity to make a statement. To create a building that represents what the PNW is all about.
If it were up to me, I’d be looking at creating a building that made heavy use of wood and large Glulams like the Anaheim Ice Arena. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OPWsy0jV2Uo/S_1IMarmm9I/AAAAAAAAAHA/TWJC9ZeLYHc/s1600/Disney+arena1.jpg
I’d pay homage to the Key Arena by embracing “mid-century” low sloping lines, and use natural and raw materials to tie the building to nature.
The proposed arena looks like it could be any arena in any city. Seattle architecture is better than that.
What does everyone think of having the practice facility on site?
A majority of teams have an off site practice/training/medical facility. Chicago just recently announced they will build one in Chicago (they currently have one in the suburbs), New Orleans is in the process of building one. OKC just completed theirs. It would seem that it would help recruit players to have VMAC type facility.