Alaska Airlines will have a major presence at the Seattle NHL arena, signing on as the sponsor of the Alaska Airlines Atrium.
The upcoming Seattle NHL expansion team continues to prepare for its 2021-22 launch, with construction work at the old KeyArena part of that process. A $930 million construction project led and financed by Oak View Group is notable in its scope, calling for leaving KeyArena’s distinguished roof line intact, while digging 15 feet below the floor and widening the base of the venue. This will result in more interior space and modern facilities under the original roof.
One of the major amenities of the arena has come into focus with the announcement of a partnership with Alaska Airlines. As part of a broader sponsorship package, the airline has landed naming rights to a 36,000-square-foot glass atrium entryway, making the space known as the Alaska Airlines Atrium.
The partnership was announced on Thursday. While this agreement does not include naming rights to the arena itself, it should give Alaska Airlines a major presence at the venue. More from the Seattle Times:
“We don’t put our name on the entire arena,’’ said Natalie Bowman, the airline’s managing director of marketing and advertising. “But by putting it on the front door and putting it in the lobby of the venue — we hope that it becomes the meeting place for everyone who’s going to attend the 300-plus events. So, ‘Meet me in the Alaska Airlines atrium’ is the vernacular that we’re hoping to create within the community.’’
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Talks are still underway that could see Alaska assume responsibility for flying NHL Seattle players back and forth between here and the team’s American Hockey League affiliate in Palm Springs, Calif. Alaska currently has a direct route between Palm Springs and Paine Field.
“With their training facility being up north (at Northgate Mall), we have the direct flight between Paine Field and Palm Springs,’’ Bowman said. “And so we’re viewing that as, when they call someone up from the minors we can get them to the practice facility and get them on the ice before they play in the game.’’
The Alaska Airlines Atrium is perhaps the most prominent piece of a larger partnership that includes multiple elements. Through the agreement, Alaska Airlines is a Founding Partner of NHL Seattle, the arena, and the team’s Northgate Ice Centre.
At this point, the arena is expected to be completed in the summer of 2021. Once it is completed, it will become the home of the NHL franchise and the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, while hosting concerts and other events. It is also being designed to accommodate an NBA franchise, making it a potential home should Seattle eventually be able to secure its first team in the league since the Sonics relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008.
Renderings courtesy NHL Seattle.
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