The lack of a traditional scoreboard above center ice helps open views from central seating sectionsOAK VIEW GROUP
An early look at the $930M KeyArena renovation through the eyes of virtual reality glasses show the new version "looks and feels like an entirely new venue," according to Geoff Baker of the SEATTLE TIMES. Mortenson, the project's lead contractor, has a VR program where "special eyewear is donned to view the inside of commercial projects in 3-D ahead of being built." During Baker's 45-minute tour, Mortenson officials and Oak View Group construction exec Ken Johnsen took him "through multiple arena levels top to bottom" and it "felt uncannily real." Baker noted the new KeyArena has "one of the smallest NHL capacities, yet there are excellent sight lines to the ice everywhere and a tight look to the seating bowl that I think hockey fans will appreciate." Instead of two rows of corporate suites "ringing the bowl, there is just one; making for less of a corporate look because sight lines are filled more with fans in seats than luxury boxes." There also are "two scoreboards at opposite ends of the ice instead of one above the red line -- really opening up views from central seating sections and suites." Baker: "I'd expect this to eventually become the NHL norm" (SEATTLE TIMES, 3/17).
