The Oak View Group has today announced that Mortenson will replace Skanska and AECOM Hunt as general contractor for the Seattle Center Arena. Additionally, world-class architecture firm Rockwell Group has joined to design the arena’s suite and club levels.
“Mortenson’s local Seattle office spent five months leading pre-construction efforts on the arena project and is very familiar with our approach and goals,” said senior construction executive Ken Johnsen. “Skanska-Hunt helped launch us, but I felt this project needed a dedicated single source team and we have mutually agreed upon a change. Mortenson is the nation’s pre-eminent arena builder and they are poised to complete this project in time for the Seattle Storm’s 2021 season. This decision is based on Skanska-Hunt’s construction priorities as well as the busy Seattle construction market.”
Mortenson has completed more than 170 projects throughout the world and continuously finds itself as one of the top three sports facility builders in the world. They have a long history of pushing the boundaries with world-class facilities and developing the ultimate arena experience.
The group was previously involved with the arena’s pre-construction efforts.
“Our Skanska Hunt joint venture is proud to have provided valuable pre-construction services for the new Seattle Center Arena,” said Kevin McCain, executive vice president and general manager of Skanska’s building operations in Seattle. “Given the market challenges and shift in timing, it did not make sense for our joint venture to move forward to the next phase of the project, so we recently came to a mutually agreed upon decision to end our joint venture’s involvement with the arena project. We are excited about the NHL coming to Seattle and we will provide full support to Oak View Group during this transition.”
Joining Mortenson is the Rockwell Group who will work alongside Populous to design the facilities state-of-the-art interior - specifically the four club areas and suites.
“Rockwell Group is the gold standard for designers. We are thrilled to make them a key part of our design team while they work towards a first-class experience for our guests,” said Johnsen. “Their engagement is a symbol of the high standards we have set to create the world’s next great arena.”
When all is said and done, the new Seattle Center Arena will top out as the largest private investment in Pacific Northwest sports and entertainment history. The 17,400-person capacity (hockey) and 18,600-person capacity (basketball) arena will open in 2021 and host the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, Seattle University, and Seattle’s NHL expansion team.
Comments
Not sure the beat place to post this but...
…things are not going well in Phoenix:
https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/2018/12/12/phoenix-suns-arena-deal-michael-nowakowski/2287692002/
Sarver is a horrible meddling owner and I really wouldn’t want him as an owner of the Sonics. I also would be opposed to receiving a team that was moved because the owner tried to hold the City/fans hostage to pay for arena upgrades.
Move them to vegas.
By itsanospreybich on 12.12.18 10:51am
Agreed
Best guess here is if he tries to move them up here, he’s probably going to want 100% of the revenue. AFAIK that’s not part of the Oak View business model so no thanks. The league, who already has our problem to deal with, does not need another one like it. Silver needs to step in and deal with this IMO.
By snovalleyhockeyfan on 12.12.18 11:23am
He has no grounds to make that kind of demand with OVG.
By gstommylee on 12.12.18 11:47am
Of course not
hence me noting "no thanks." Silver needs to step in and tell Mr. Sarver to knock it off. By the way, the Arizona paper is now reporting that it appears the vote that was supposed to be taken regarding the arena is going to be delayed. Why that is I do not know because frankly whether you do it today or two months from now the vote result will probably be the same because there is such disdain for this guy down there. Phoenix has been a tremendous NBA market for many years – if you are of a certain age, you probably remember the playoff rivalry between the Sonics and Suns back when Barkley was down there in PHX – and that building has been a great building as well down there. Granted, the building probably does need to be fixed up and what not, with it being 30 years old now, but Sarver needs to be more willing to help pay for some of that.
By snovalleyhockeyfan on 12.12.18 11:52am
NBA is already practically setup as regards to ownership for a potential Seattle team
If Shaver wants to move team to Seattle then NBA should require him to sell part of the team to Bonderman.
By gstommylee on 12.12.18 11:56am
Sarver kind of sucks.
I don’t know the last good team that he had in Phoenix since he was owner? I know the last time they were relevant was back in 2010 when they made the WCF and lost in 6 games to eventual champions the Lakers that year. If a move were to happen that’s why the Sodo plan would have been better, however we have the Seattle Center plan now with the NHL coming.
Of course Sarver is using Seattle as leverage every owner has done that to get an arena deal done since the Sonics moved back in 08. I am cautiously keeping an eye on it, but I am not optimistic about the Suns moving and becoming the Sonics again. I would prefer an expansion team even if that means we have to wait a few more years after that.
By WoodLandSonic40316 on 12.12.18 11:36am
I'd have mixed feelings if Sarver were serious about moving to Seattle
He’s not of course, he’s simply using Seattle as leverage. But if he were, yes Sarver is extremely problematic as an owner. The Suns used to be similar to the Sonics and Blazers: only one or no championships and precious few finals appearances, but with an overall franchise record well above .500 because all three franchises were good at rebuilding so they’d have losing records for only a few seasons before returning to the playoffs.
The Suns though are about to have their fifth straight losing season, a record for them. When a team is that bad for that long, it’s not the fault of the players and probably not the coach either, but instead the GM or owner. And ultimately it’s up to the owner.
Bad owners are a curse upon a franchise. Seattle’s seen some; Bennett of course is in a class by himself but think of George Argyros and for that matter most or all of the Mariner owners prior to Nintendo, and Ken Behring with the Seahawks. Donald Sterling with the Clippers, Ted Stepien with the Cavs.
But if Sarver were serious about moving the Suns to Seattle, should Seattle fans say no thanks? Owners come and go, as Argyros and Behring did. There’d be a chance that Sarver would skip out of town again but I think a greater chance that good local owners could be found. Of course, that’s probably what’ll eventually happen in Phoenix, the team’ll stay put and Sarver will leave either sooner or later.
By mkt42 on 12.14.18 6:40pm
He wouldn't beable to skip out of town again
Not under the that 39 year +2 extension no relocation lease he would have to sign if by some silm chance he moves the team to Seattle.
By gstommylee on 12.14.18 6:50pm
Sarver is garbage and the Suns need to stay in Phoenix.
I think the City Council will break and give him the renovation money, though, so it will be moot. I doubt the NBA wants to move out of a top-15 market at this point, too, though then again, they are known for moving teams from big markets to non-existent ones cough.
Sarver is basically their Howard Schultz though. Cheap bastard, wants to squeeze every penny out of the city, piece of shit. That was a perenially good team until he got his hands on them.
By Razztopia on 12.12.18 8:33pm
The NBA has yet to move a franchise since Seattle
I doubt that’ll change any time soon. Btw Sarver isn’t even a billionaire.
By gstommylee on 12.12.18 9:13pm
Relocation will only change
when it’s addressing a market not an arena issue. Owners have already mentioned this.
By Matt Tucker on 12.12.18 9:42pm
Pretty much that.
By gstommylee on 12.12.18 10:21pm
probably Las Vegas or sell them to Bonderman
more than likely will stay in Phoenix/Glendale
By Jeff - j1012 on 12.12.18 11:55am
Las Vegas is the much bigger reloc threat to use
btw how long is their lease has left? Do we know.
By gstommylee on 12.12.18 11:58am
2022
40 year lease was signed in 1992 but allows for an opt-out at 30 years if the building is considered "obsolete."
I’m not sure either Vegas or Seattle are anything more than leverage. It would seem to me that moving into Scottsdale and possibly partnering with the Coyotes would be a better solution if he doesn’t get his handout from Phoenix. Just my two cents.
By BBS117 on 12.12.18 12:39pm
I believe Shaver wants nothing to do with the coyotes
By gstommylee on 12.12.18 12:54pm
Correct
By snovalleyhockeyfan on 12.12.18 1:22pm
Yup, this is why the Yotes are having such a hard time. Sarver doesn't want them in his building.
Glendale is lukewarm on keeping them. They might really be down to striking a deal with a tribe and building a hockey-only arena on tribal lands. I don’t think Scottsdale or any of the municipalities in the East Valley are interested either, so…
By Razztopia on 12.12.18 8:35pm
...that (a deal with the tribes) might just happen if......
the league doesn’t decide to just sell the team to Tilman Fertitta and have it moved to Houston.
By snovalleyhockeyfan on 12.13.18 7:28am
so far that idea with the tribes has yet to happen
By gstommylee on 12.13.18 10:25am
And it won't if the league finds common ground with Fertitta
There is a reason after all that the Coyotes got shifted to the Central….shhh……..
By snovalleyhockeyfan on 12.13.18 11:56am
And the team can't stay forever in glenade
either Barroway gets his $$$ guy and builds a new arena or the team moves.
By gstommylee on 12.13.18 12:49pm
IMO the chances of the Coyotes moving went up a bunch once Houston entered the picture
Prior to that, it was clear the NHL had Vegas and Seattle marked for expansion to get that sweet expansion money. And the NHL was not going to move another team to the east, so the Coyotes were stuck in the West without a clear alternative market.
Now, Houston shows up and offers a market similarly sized to Phoenix (so the NHL isn’t "downgrading") but with a far stronger hockey history (Aeros) and a close geographic rival (Stars).
Bettman and the other NHL owners spent a lot of money and literally directly owned the team for years to keep it in Arizona, but it seems time is running out.
I’d love for the yotes to figure things out and stay in that market with a better arena location, but it’s hard to see how that gets accomplished after years of no progress.
By CapsKraken on 12.14.18 2:22pm
Does it not strike anyone just how disinguinuous this is?
He is threatening to move the Suns to one of two cities unless Phoenix gives him a bag of cash – yet both LV and Seattle are smaller media markets (albeit Seattle is just slightly smaller), and both have 100% privately funded arenas.
By BBS117 on 12.12.18 12:31pm
phx is 12 and Seattle is 13 tv market
By gstommylee on 12.12.18 12:54pm