The Oak View Group have taken a big step in their journey to build a new Seattle Center arena. According to KING 5’s Chris Daniels, the company has hired former Target Center vice president Steve Mattson as its new Director of Operations.
As Daniels says, the Target Center, home to the Minnesota Timberwolves, just re-opened after completing a $145 million renovation. It included increasing premium seating and club suites, things that OVG CEO Tim Leiweke has pointed to as essential for increasing revenue at the Seattle Center arena. While there, Mattson also held the positions of Executive Director and Director of Finance. Mattson was also the general manager of Leiweke’s former company, AEG Facilities.
It’s safe to say he knows a thing or two about NBA arenas.
In a recent interview with Sonics Rising, Leiweke said he would be building up an executive team for the arena very soon and this appears to be the first domino to fall. This team will shepherd us through the entitlement process in preparation of demolition and construction, scheduled to start in less than a year.
Mattson, 55, moved to Seattle in May when his wife Marissa got a job at Amazon.
Statement from OVG:
OVG lands Industry Veteran to support New Arena at Seattle Center Redevelopment
(Seattle, WA) – December 13, 2025 – Oak View Group (OVG) today announced the hiring of Steve Mattson as Director of Operations for the New Arena at Seattle Center.
Mattson brings 27 years of major market arena operations experience to OVG. He comes to Seattle from the Target Center in Minneapolis, home of the NBA Timberwolves. For the past 16 years he was Vice President/General Manager with full responsibly for all aspects of the 19,000-seat facility.
During the approval, construction, and pre-opening phases of the New Arena at Seattle Center, Mattson will provide critical operator background on analysis, labor relations, design and overall understanding of how the arena will operate upon opening. Having just completed an 18-month, $140 Million renovation at Target Center, Mattson will bring relevant experience to the entire design and construction process.
“Steve is a special talent in our industry and someone who has a track record of excellence and innovation in his work as an operator and in his dealings with the professional sports leagues,” said Tim Leiweke, OVG CEO. “His expertise will be critical as we move into the next phase of our work with the City of Seattle in revitalizing the Key Arena and Seattle Center.”
Over the course of his time at the Target Center, Mattson oversaw:
* The $140 million public/private partnership with the City of Minneapolis for the renovation of the Target Center.
* Industry record concert tour
* National events, including: NBA All-Star Game, NCAA Women’s Final Four, NCAA Wrestling Championships, and International Figure Skating Championships
* 8 consecutive years in the NBA playoffs (1997-2004)
“As an arena operator, this project is an opportunity of a lifetime. We will deliver a cutting edge and innovative world-class arena to Seattle and make it one of the most desired sports and live entertainment venues in the country. We have a lot of exciting work to do: By entering the project at this moment – we are in the design phase and early in the NHL expansion process – there is a platform to build on that will lead to a great outcome for the residents of Seattle. I’m fortunate to join the OVG team and utilize my arena operations experience for the New Arena at Seattle Center,” said Steve Mattson, Director of Operations, New Arena at Seattle Center.
The addition of Mattson comes on the heels of The City of Seattle and OVG’s recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding for the privately financed redevelopment of KeyArena at Seattle Center. The MOU provides an agreed-upon framework for OVG to construct, operate, and maintain a redeveloped arena nearly double the size of KeyArena. It anticipates a 39-year lease with two eight-year renewal options for a total of up to 55 years. The arena will also be designed to preserve the current and historic roofline, and meet LEED Gold or equivalent standards. The City and OVG will next work to memorialize the MOU terms into a Development Agreement, Lease Agreement, Seattle Center Integration Agreement, and other related transaction documents.
About OVG:
Oak View Group (OVG) is global advisory, development, and investment company for the sports and live entertainment industries. Based in Los Angeles, OVG is helmed by its CEO Tim Leiweke and backed by Azoff MSG Entertainment. OVG comprises of a sponsorship/partnership company, a consulting division, a venue security company, a media and conference division, a venture fund/equity division and the Stadium and Arena Alliance.
Comments
The more NBA ties, the better.
I’d also be curious about his experience at Target Center. What worked really well at Target Center and what he feels was lacking and could be improved upon at the new arena in Seattle.
By itsanospreybich on 12.13.17 1:17pm
God this feels like progress
I know it is easier to cheer for the underdog than the establishment but is is so, so refreshing to have an organization and infrastructure forming. This is a huge deal and lots of smart and talented people are necessary to make it happen. Welcome to Seattle Steve!
By Brian Robinson on 12.13.17 1:25pm
Yep
We are trying to solve a long standing problem that has persisted for decades. There’s a reason why this problem has been so hard to solve, this isn’t easy. We’ve been trying and failing for decades to build an arena that works for both the NBA and the NHL. Ackerley’s original failed SODO plan, the first failed Key remodel, Hansen’s failed efforts. It is better to have experts who have done this in other markets before than it is to have people who are learning on the job. No disrespect to Hansen, but it is what it is.
By PeterCGraef on 12.13.17 3:36pm
SEA and MPLS
Note the similarities between Seattle and Minneapolis. We’re very similar in market size. Both arenas are owned by their respective cities and are operated by another entity. TC is operated by AEG. TC opened in 1990 and has undergone 3 rounds of renovations since: 2004, 2014, 2017. It’s important to keep in mind that this project does not exist in a vacuum and that others have come before it and succeeded.
By Sixth Man on 12.13.17 1:46pm
The renovation of Key Arena will cost significantly
more than the Target Center price tage was, I don’t feel like it’s comparable at all. I also think it’s OK to acknowledge that OVG is attempting something no one else has, they’re blazing a new trail and all indications to this point are that they will succeed.
By itsanospreybich on 12.13.17 2:09pm
Target Center
is also an arena designed for the NBA first. The Wild play at their own arena in St. Paul. Not sure if this means anything, but just pointing this out. I’m sure that Target Center has an NHL configuration, and meets NHL specifications. It’s just that they chose to build their own arena when they expanded to Minnesota.
The new SCA only seats 17.100 for hockey, and I heard that would be the second smallest capacity of all NHL arenas. I guess the NHL covets Seattle so much as a market and knows that an NHL team in Seattle will need lead time on the NBA to be successful, so they are okay with any facility that meets NHL specifications.
By PeterCGraef on 12.13.17 3:10pm
It is much easier
to secure stadium/arena deals in Minnesota, so that probably played a factor in building their own arena for NHL too. The deal for the Vikings new stadium would never have passed here for the Seahawks.
By PeterCGraef on 12.13.17 3:13pm
It's also much easier to start with NHL and adapt to NBA than vice versa
as we learned in Brooklyn and, oh yeah, Seattle.
By Taylor Bartle on 12.13.17 3:35pm
That's why the Matteson hire
is so crucial. He has experience designing an NBA only facility to maximize NBA revenue. Since we are starting with the NHL, Matteson can bridge the gap and make it work for both leagues.
By PeterCGraef on 12.13.17 3:48pm
Unfortunately, Ackerley had no intention of an adaption of Key Arena
that would work for the NHL.
By NWEastcoaster on 12.13.17 5:34pm
This is the most important point from an NBA perspective
This gentleman is intimately familiar with the ins and outs of NBA specifications for arenas and renovations specifically. I know it’s not one to one for target center and the key, but it’s nice to know a guy that has certainly knows many of the key players in the nba offices os heading the arena development. Has to know what the league wants for revenue generation and likely can bounce ideas off of those officials.
By Barely Able on 12.13.17 3:20pm
Exactly
Target Center is an NBA only facility, so it is designed to maximize revenue for an NBA team. His experience there will help tremendously in designing a new SCA that will be able to generate more than enough revenue for the eventual new Sonics to be successful.
By PeterCGraef on 12.13.17 3:28pm
One way that OVG has compensated for the
smaller seating capacity is the enormous bowl of lower seating. I believe the media and others on this forum have speculated the arena would have the highest volume "premium" seat tickets in both leagues, which will obviously generate more revenue. The smaller capacity will also create higher ticket demand, which will drive prices up even further. Not ideal for a lot of fans who want to attend games, but should create healthy cash flow for the teams.
By itsanospreybich on 12.13.17 3:51pm
18,350
isn’t really smaller for NBA. I think that is comparable to most NBA arenas in similar markets to Seattle. However, it would be one of the smallest capacities among NHL arenas though.
By PeterCGraef on 12.13.17 3:56pm
Hansen's SODO arena
only would’ve had a 18,500 capacity for NBA.
By PeterCGraef on 12.13.17 3:58pm
18,350 would place them as seventh
lowest capacity in the NBA according to the list I read.
By itsanospreybich on 12.13.17 4:03pm
I don't really think it's fair
to compare Seattle to markets like New York and LA though. I think it’s fairer to compare NBA capacity for the new SCA to other NBA arenas in similar sized markets to Seattle. The difference between 19,000 for Target Center and 18,350 for the new SCA is small potatoes, especially if you compensate with a huge lower bowl and more club seats.
By PeterCGraef on 12.13.17 4:07pm
Well we definitely agree that the lower bowl
will provide the necessary compensation for the lower overall seating capacity and I definitely wouldn’t compare Seattle to New York or LA, but it is important to consider that Seattle is one of the fastest growing regions in the country. It certainly could have handeled an arena with a larger seating capacity. The reason for the lower seating capacity is the limitations of the existing structure, not the market.
By itsanospreybich on 12.13.17 4:17pm
Definitely agree that the steps
They have taken will increase revenues. However, Hansen’s SODO arena would’ve only had a 18,500 capacity for NBA. Both 360 and Popolous were essentially on the same page as to the ideal size for an Seattle arena. Of course, Hansen had to deal with limited space too, but both plans were more or less the same type of arena.
By PeterCGraef on 12.13.17 4:25pm
Tho Sonics Arena website says the capacity
is 19,000 seats, not 18,500. One other difference is that the additional space that would originally be used for the practice facility in the SoDo arena could be utilized down the road if more seating was desired.
By itsanospreybich on 12.13.17 4:37pm
i thought 19000 were for concerts
By gstommylee on 12.13.17 4:37pm
Articles on the web say the higest capacity for the SoDo arena is up to 21k,
So I assumed that was the concert capacity.
By itsanospreybich on 12.13.17 4:42pm
Here
https://www.sonicsrising.com/2017/4/17/15321748/whats-next-new-seattle-arena-sodo-key-arena-2017
This says SODO would have had 18,500 for NBA, 17,500 for NHL, and a 19,000 capacity for concerts that can be expanded to 21,000.
By PeterCGraef on 12.13.17 5:04pm
So the only significant difference
Between SODO and SCA seems to be the maximum capacity for concerts.
By PeterCGraef on 12.13.17 5:08pm
Sonics Arena
is planned for 18,500 for basketball, 17,350 for hockey, and 19,000 for concerts. They have the possibility to expand by close to 2000 bodies beyond that, though I think most of that would a mix of standing and temporary seating.
SCA is planned 18,350 for basketball, 17,100 for hockey, and 19,100 for concerts.
By Matt Tucker on 12.13.17 6:19pm