Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Music is a crucial part of Seattles identity. When people around the world are asked about
Seattle, the first words out of their mouths are usually technology, coffee, and music.
As members of Seattles music community, we are writing to voice our strong support for
the efforts of the local investment team of Chris Hansen, Wally Walker, Erik Nordstrom, Pete
Nordstrom, and Russell Wilson to build a privately-funded arena in Seattles Stadium District.
We also enthusiastically support their new proposal to privately fund the redevelopment of
KeyArena as a world-class, mid-size concert venue.
Their proposal to redevelop KeyArena as a music and arts space is especially important to
our community. Seattle currently has a good portfolio of venues with capacities of 2,500
and below, but few options in the 3,000-6,000 range, a size that has become increasingly
important for artists as the music industrys primary revenue stream has shifted from
recorded music to live performance.
The renovated KeyArena would include a 6,200-seat indoor concert space, a 3,000-seat
covered amphitheater, and a 500-seat theater for more intimate performances. These new
mid-size venues would fill a crucial gap for the local music community and touring artists,
while creating a world-class outdoor viewing experience that is currently missing in Seattle.
They would also perfectly complement the 16,000-21,000-seat capacity of the proposed
SoDo Arena for large-scale concerts.
These new facilities would enhance local events such as Bumbershoot and the Northwest
Folklife Festival and attract other music and entertainment events to Seattle Center, increasing
the vibrancy of the local music scene. Plus, this plan would truly support the mission and long-
term vision for Seattle Center without the negative impacts a larger-scale development would
have on surrounding neighborhoods. Music, plays a central role in the creation of identity and
the formation of real communities. - Richard Florida, The Rise of the Creative Class
By creating a civic space that can be utilized by multiple promoters and organizations, the
facility would be a resource for the entire Pacific Northwest music and arts community. This
plan protects the legacy of KeyArena by investing in it for the future, supporting a vibrant
Seattle Center, and creating a dynamic public area that brings together existing organizations
like SIFF, The Vera Project, KEXP, MoPOP, Seattle Opera, and Pacific Northwest Ballet.
We believe this privately-financed proposal from a local investment team is the best option to
support the vibrancy of the Seattle music community, while also protecting the interests and
meeting the expectations of Seattles residents.
Thank You,
Nadine Zgonc
Head of Account Strategy &
Brand Architecture, Play Network