The Climate Pledge Arena 200 level was a joy to review even if the Seattle Kraken are bad, at least on they were on that night. That’s because, unlike the highest tier of seating at most other indoor venues, you don’t feel as if you are some kind of second-class citizen. This isn’t to say you aren’t.
However, the unique design of Climate Pledge Arena makes it seem you’re more than an afterthought. Because the stadium is underground, you enter at the top level. Those in luxury boxes and more expensive seats actually have to go down instead of you needing to make your way up to the nosebleeds.
This means getting into and out of the arena is pretty quick if you’re sitting in the upper deck. It should be noted that there are only two entrance points for 200 level seating and the odd layout, only three sides have a concourse, make going from one side to the other a bit of a pain.
Now on to the most important part of this Climate Pledge Arena 200 level review, the views. These are great for hockey. The upper deck feels close to the action and has a balcony-style vibe to it. There is also a nice slope to the seating.
A lot has been made about the pair of three-side videoboards above the ice and while I understand why the Kraken installed this style, they don’t add much to the viewing experience. These are smallish and you’re never sure where to look for replays.
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The 200 level concourse has plenty of food and beverage options along with multiple team shop areas. It still gets crowded, but there are far worse stadiums in that regard. Perhaps the coolest feature of Climate Pledge Arena is the bring your own cup policy. If you take a clear bottle to the game, it can be filled up for free with non-alcoholic drinks from soda fountains located at various locations inside.
Of course, you can buy a bottle if you don’t have one. It was nice not being gouged for six bucks for water or a Coke. The Kraken have turned to several local eateries to operate food outlets, although none of the offerings looked particularly good.
If you are looking for cheap parking near the arena, SpotHero is the way to go. You can find parking less than a mile away for around $20. You even get a nice 10-minute walk past the Space Needle and through the Seattle Center if you choose the KOMO Center lot. It’s also possible to park at one of the lots by the monorail and ride that to the game.
Climate Pledge Arena 200 level review score: 9
The only real downside we can find in our Climate Pledge Arena 200 level review is the gameday experience which leaves something to be desired. The atmosphere is still finding its feet which makes sense all things considered. Some of the traditions and rituals are cheesy.
This is probably the only area where T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas beats it. However, you would expect Vegas to put together an entertaining production. It’s what the city does. Seattle will continue to grow as a hockey town which should improve the experience.
Everything else, though, is outstanding. The venue is beautiful, the seating is great and you even get free drinks. You should go out of your way to see an NHL game at Climate Pledge Arena. No questions asked.
One last thing to point out. Having been to Key Arena once upon a time, Climate Pledge Arena is a fitting next chapter for this historic sports site. It’s different, but still retains some charms of its predecessor.
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