Local

Workers put finishing touches on Climate Pledge Arena

It’s all down to the finishing touches.

On Wednesday, workers rushed around Climate Pledge Arena painting and assembling.

Even Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke said he was cleaning up after a soft opening Tuesday and in advance of the opening Coldplay concert Friday night.

“In my 40-year career of opening 20 facilities around the world, I like to pick up trash,” he said.

More than anyone, Leiweke made the arena happen, promising Seattle a privately-financed home for an NHL team, and someday, an NBA franchise.

“We still have another team that we have to go get, and we’re committed to that. But I now think we have the world’s greatest salesperson for the NBA, and that’s called Climate Pledge Arena,” Leiweke said.

Oak View Group’s costs soared from $650 million to more than $1.1 billion, in part because Amazon bought naming rights and insisted the arena be carbon neutral.

“Not only did we fulfill the commitment we made, and I think that’s important, but we kept on figuring out ways to make it better,” Leiweke said.

Reporters toured many of the spaces Kraken fans and concertgoers will experience.

There’s the Alaska Airlines Atrium, with soaring windows and video walls that bring people down to the main concourse for the Kraken Team Store and food vendors, with just-walk-out payments.

There are premium club areas and a Climate Pledge Wall with living plants.

There’s also more premium seating in the Tunnel Club along the passage between the ice and the Kraken locker room, with the team logo on the ceiling.

“You never want to put it on the floor. It’s bad luck to step on a logo,” said Rosie Selle of Climate Pledge Arena.

Most Kraken players haven’t seen their home locker room yet, but they will before the franchise home opener Saturday night.