As part of the ongoing process of evaluating plans for the possible redevelopment of the Arena at Seattle Center into a state-of-the-art entertainment and sports facility that could potentially bring the NHL and the NBA to Seattle, the City of Seattle assembled an Arena Community Advisory Group.
The group’s purpose is to help the City ensure that a redeveloped Arena would connect and integrate with Seattle Center and surrounding neighborhoods and advise on mobility planning, to partner with the City in the development of labor agreements supporting current and future worker, and to champion “Women and Minority Business Enterprises” policy inclusion in any forthcoming agreements that may be negotiated
Members of the Arena Community Advisory Group include:
- Monty Anderson – Executive Secretary, Seattle Building and Construction Trades Council
- John Barr – NHL to Seattle
- Robert Cardona – Uptown Alliance
- Andrea Caupain – Chief Executive Officer, Centerstone
- Evan Clifthorne – Project Belltown
- Brian Curry – 10 Mercer Restaurant and Seattle Center Advisory Commission member
- Deborah Frausto – Uptown Alliance
- Ollie Garrett – President, Tabor 100
- Nicole Grant – Executive Secretary, Martin Luther King County Labor Council
- Mike McQuaid – South Lake Union Community Council
- Brian Robinson – Founder, Sonics Rising
- Sarah Wilke – Executive Director, Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF)
- Jane Zalutsky – Executive Director, Seattle Center Foundation
According to city officials, the group will meet on an ongoing basis through the permitting and environmental review processes and development of any final development agreements that may be negotiated.
In early 2017, the City of Seattle issued an RFP for the redevelopment of the Arena. The City chose Oak View Group as the preferred partner and is currently negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Oak View Group. The City Council will review and potentially adopt the MOU later this fall.
