City, Seattle Public Schools and private partner outline plan to rebuild Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center

Seattle Center, Seattle Public Schools and the 1 Roof Stadium Partnership briefed the Parks, Utilities, Technology Committee on May 14 on an interlocal agreement and development agreement to redevelop Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center. The committee heard project scope, governance, funding commitments and a proposed timeline for approvals and construction; no ordinance vote occurred at the committee briefing.

Seattle Center Director Marshall Foster said the project is the result of years of planning and a three‑way partnership that keeps the property owned by Seattle Public Schools while authorizing the city and a private partner to proceed with redevelopment. The school district will retain ownership of the land; the interlocal agreement would set city and district roles and give the city certain campus uses and facilities access as part of the redevelopment.

Project leaders said the overall public commitment to the project is already budgeted in the city’s capital plans and school district funding, and the development team expects $30 million in private philanthropic contributions. Rob Johnson, representing the 1 Roof Stadium Partnership (the selected developer/operator), said the partnership will assume a significant portion of construction risk and operate the facility as a nonprofit for the first five years, with a revenue “waterfall” that first funds operating and maintenance and then supports community programs such as subsidized youth athletics and arts access.

Seattle Center and project staff walked the committee through site plans and design development. The new stadium would lower seating to create a bowl configuration, create a continuous concourse with restroom and concession anchors at each corner, add a west gate and open visual connections into the campus by removing the current large concrete enclosure. The project also includes restoration and forecourt improvements to the memorial wall, which project speakers said currently lacks space for reflection and is in need of restoration. The team told the committee they will return to the Seattle Landmarks Board for a certificate of approval and to the Seattle Design Commission for design review.

The redevelopment includes space for Seattle Center shops and warehouse operations that are now dispersed across campus, allowing those functions to consolidate into new on‑site facilities. Project staff emphasized prevailing‑wage and the use of a student/community workforce agreement tied to Seattle Public Schools commitments; administrative and contracting tasks will be managed by the city's Department of Finance and Administrative Services.

Timeline presented to the committee called for additional committee consideration on May 28, a full council vote as early as June 3, and a school board vote in early June; the project team expects demolition and construction to begin in summer 2025 with an opening aimed for the fall 2027 sports season. Project leads asked the committee for support so the city and district can finalize implementing agreements and proceed to ground‑breaking.

Public commenters who used the two‑minute period included veterans and nonprofit representatives in support of the project and restoration of the memorial wall. Lisonbee Teeter, commander of Ballard Eagleson VFW Post 3063, urged support for council bill 120982 to restore the memorial wall and described the site as "sacred ground." Jackie Kern, a former Seattle employee who worked on the Memorial Stadium project, and Matt Hannah of the Seattle Foundation spoke in favor of the redevelopment and the public–private partnership.

Committee members expressed support and thanked the team for the years of work; several members said they had been briefed previously and expected to take final action in committee and on the council calendar in late May/early June. No formal vote or ordinance adoption took place at the May 14 meeting.