The purpose of this west coast trip was to see the Maple Leafs in Vancouver and Seattle, the two NHL rinks where I had yet to see them play. When my friend Sharpy decided to join, it made planning a bit tricky, as we both had to avoid certain COVID test requirements. The best solution was for me to fly from Seattle to Vancouver on Saturday and then drive back to Seattle after the game with Sharpy, who would then take the rental car back to Canada. It was a brilliant plan, but as we found out, not resistant to the NHL's special brand of Covidiocy.
I awoke early on Saturday and made my way to a chaotic SeaTac airport, where I had to check in at the counter, as it is the airline's responsibility to confirm that passengers meet Canada's entry rules. At this time, the Leafs still had two players in the COVID protocol and it looked like the game would be played. Two hours later I was in Vancouver and getting more hopeful. Then Sharpy arrived from Ottawa and told me that two more Leafs had entered the protocol. Oh-oh. After getting the car, we drove to Flying Beaver, a brewpub right on the Fraser River that is well worth a visit, especially if you like seaplanes. While having lunch with a friend, the news broke that both Leaf games that weekend were postponed. So it was time for Plan B. The Kraken were to face the Oilers that night and so rather than head into Vancouver, we immediately turned south and crossed the border. I spent all of five hours in Canada and actually did not set foot in Vancouver itself.
Arriving on the outskirts of Seattle after a couple of hours in some heavy rain, we hit the traffic that defines this part of I-5. As we slowed, I noticed a train station next to a hotel just off the highway. A quick search showed that the train station is Northgate, the newly opened northern terminus of the 1 Line, Seattle's light rail system that goes through downtown and all the way to the airport. This was ideal for our weekend needs, so we booked a room and relaxed for a bit after a hectic few hours.
We then took the 1 Line to Westlake, from where you can ride the Monorail to Seattle Center, home of Climate Pledge Arena. We walked instead, stopping at Uptown Hophouse for a light meal and a couple of beers. Of course, there was the constant worry that this game would be postponed too but by 6:00, it was clear that it would go on. So we crossed the street and made our way to Climate Pledge Arena, the venue that changed Club 123 to Club 124.
Vaccination credentials are checked and you walk through security without taking things out of your pockets, a welcome change. We entered via the Alaska Airlines Atrium, which brings you to the upper concourse, something you don't see that often.
Despite being a new venue in Club 124, Climate Pledge Arena is not new itself. It was first opened in 1962 for Seattle's World's Fair, making it the oldest building in the NHL. The Seattle SuperSonics played here until they left for OKC in 2008, and the WHL's Thunderbirds used it until they moved to Kent in the same year. I had seen both teams here, so it was not even a new venue for me. Of course, it has undergone extensive renovations since then, with only the roof and building structure remaining.
It is tough to see the roof at night, but I did snap a picture of it while landing in Seattle the day before. The arena is just behind the Space Needle. The other venue in the picture is Memorial Stadium.
I'm not going to talk about the arena in much detail; after the day we had, I just wanted to sit and watch the game. I did take a brief tour and snapped a few photos. The concourses are very white, but not your typical setup, which allowed for ease of movement in most places.
The team store is huge, and you can look down into it from the upper level.
The venue has a relatively small footprint that results in the upper deck being relatively close to the ice, particularly behind the nets.
Double-digit sections denote the lower bowl, with the 100 level up top behind the nets (called Mount Baker Hall at one end) and the first few rows along the sides (known as loge seats), with the 200 level above that on the sides and one end. It is quite similar to Prudential Center in New Jersey in that regard.
There are twin, triangular scoreboards at either end, another unique touch.
The shot below is from a rail in the upper deck, not a bad view at all.
A closer look at the scoreboard.
Looking back at the 100 level seats with the 200 level above and the suites below.
At one end of the arena is a small stand where entertainment takes place, similar to what happens at T-Mobile Arena in Vegas.
There is one very cool bar on the upper concourse that is designed to resemble a Kraken, the sea monster of legend for which the team was named.
The shot below is from the top rows of the upper deck; now you are getting rather far away and the scoreboards are blocked too.
As game time approached, I returned to my seat, which was in Section 12, right next to the club (view below). Like so many new arenas, all seats between the face-off circles are reserved for the clubs; in this case three sections on either side. The premium to sit here is rarely worth it.
After the game, I wandered in to take a couple of pictures. Yes, the seats are very nice.
Below is the actual WaFd Bank Club area that covers Sections 13 through 15, the other side is the Symetra Club that comprises Sections 01, 02, and 26. There are also suites right next to the ice that are called Tunnel Club Suites.
Returning to my seat, the shot below is looking back up at the entertainment area, easily visible due to the bright green railings.
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