Global development and investment firm Oak View Group three months ago rolled up their sleeves to begin assessing how its NHL Seattle venue could be redesigned to become a carbon neutral arena, the first in the world. The redesign efforts, which stemmed from OVG’s talks with Amazon to become the venue’s naming-rights sponsor, included working with architecture and design firm Populous as well as general contractor Mortenson, among others. “I give a lot of credit to [Amazon Founder] Jeff Bezos. He wasn’t sitting there telling us, ‘You go figure it out.’ Amazon was with us every step of the way addressing every issue,” said OVG CEO Tim Leiweke. “Tremendous commitment from him.” The redesign required “tens and tens of millions of dollars,” Leiweke said, adding to a roughly $1B project for what is now Climate Pledge Arena. The building is named after a not-for-profit global initiative.
FIGURING OUT NEW MENU: Part of the redesign included eliminating gas from the building and working with concessionaire Delaware North to design a new menu. OVG also needed to start thinking about new power sources for the building. Now, the arena, in part, is tied into Amazon’s solar panel farm. Additionally, installing a new recycling system next to the building was key in order to not damage the historical preservation of the KeyArena roof. “This is the hardest deal I’ve ever been a part of to try to pull together,” Leiweke said.
WORKING IN AMAZON GO: Leiweke said Climate Pledge Arena will have “an awful lot” of Amazon Go integration, saying, “We had to have it in the building.” OVG worked with Delaware North and Amazon to reconvert concession stands into Amazon Go stands. Leiweke noted, “The thinking is not just about sustainability, but it’s about technology. It’s about customer service and also sustainability.”
