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Seattle Center seeks funding for campus repairs, waterfront operations and safety ahead of major events
Summary
Seattle Center briefed the Select Budget Committee on a proposed 2026 budget that shifts maintenance costs onto earned revenue funds, funds pedestrian safety barriers and fire‑system repairs, and continues waterfront operations and a tribal heritage/operations center at the Pike Street site.
Seattle Center Director Marshall Foster told the Select Budget Committee the department’s 2026 proposed budget prioritizes safety, partnership expansion and reinvestment in the campus and waterfront, citing a return to pre‑pandemic attendance and the need to maintain aging systems. “Our mission is to create exceptional events, experiences, and environments that inspire the human spirit and build strong communities,” Foster said during the briefing.
The department said it is largely self‑funded: about 70% of its operating expenses are covered by earned revenue from parking, facility and event fees, long‑term leases, concessions and monorail concession payments. Dematrice Winston, deputy director and director of finance and administration for Seattle Center, told the committee the department expects roughly $17.5 million in general fund support in 2026 and about $41 million in other funds, the majority earned on campus.
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