Seattle Kraken and Kirkland Are Building Something Massive, and Hockey in the Northwest Just Changed

The Seattle Kraken and the City of Kirkland just announced a $60 million partnership that is going to reshape how hockey grows in the Emerald City. They're building a brand new Kraken Iceplex in Kirkland with two full rinks, a restaurant, and a community center. This isn't some small expansion. This is the organization doubling down on the future of the sport in Washington.

Two Rinks, One Vision

The new facility is going to have two ice sheets, which means more ice time for everyone from kids just learning to skate to adult league players. There's also a restaurant built right into the complex, giving families a place to grab food without having to leave the building. It's the kind of infrastructure Seattle has been missing, and frankly, it shows the Kraken aren't just focused on what happens at Climate Pledge Arena. They're thinking about the whole ecosystem.

Youth Hockey Is Already Booming

The timing here makes sense. Youth and rec hockey is surging right now. Last season alone, there were more than 570,000 players across the country, with an increase of over 30,000 players in just the past few years. That's a wave the Kraken clearly want to ride. A dedicated facility in Kirkland gives them room to run Learn to Skate classes, Learn to Play programs, youth leagues, and adult hockey leagues all under one roof.

The Kraken are also running their Skating Academy with coaches who teach kids how to skate like the pros. Between the new iceplex and these programs, they're building a real pipeline from neighborhood rinks to the big show.

More Than Just Hockey

The community center piece of this project signals that the Kraken understand they're part of Kirkland's fabric now, not just a visiting tenant. This partnership with the city shows the organization wants to be embedded in the community, not just extracting value from it.

For Seattle hockey fans, this is massive news. The more rinks, the more programs, the more kids learning to play. That's how you build a hockey culture that sticks around for decades. The Kraken are clearly thinking long term here, and Kirkland is getting a world class facility out of it.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.