Kraken Community Iceplex

Lore & Background

In 2018, Simon Property Group announced plans to redevelop the 55-acre Northgate Mall into a mixed-use center featuring hotels, housing, offices, and an ice hockey facility. The hockey facility was intended for use by the NHL's Seattle expansion franchise. Following a partnership with Starbucks, construction of the $80 million Kraken Community Iceplex began on February 27, 2020. The 19-month construction was completed in September 2021, and an open-house took place that same month.

The venue was designed by Generator Studio and built by BNBuilders. It has 1,000 seats around its main rink and 400 seats at two other rinks primarily for community use. The main rink was ready in the summer of 2021, and the other two were ready in the fall. The facility also includes a restaurant known as the 32 Bar & Grill, as well as a health clinic.

The Iceplex hosts the USA Hockey-sanctioned Seattle Jr. Kraken, which competes at various levels: the recreation team in the Puget Sound-area Metropolitan Hockey League, the select team in the Pacific Northwest Amateur Hockey Association, and the Tier 1/AAA team at higher levels. During the 2022–23 season, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the Kraken's AHL affiliate, played two games at the Iceplex—a 4–3 loss to the Abbotsford Canucks and a 5–3 win over the Calgary Wranglers.

Reader's Guide

The Kraken Community Iceplex serves as the central training and administrative hub for the Seattle Kraken, anchoring the team's presence in the Northgate neighborhood. Its opening in 2021 marked the completion of a key component of the Northgate Mall redevelopment, transforming a former parking lot into a modern ice sports facility. The venue's three rinks support both professional and community hockey, with the main rink hosting Kraken practices and the two smaller rinks available for public use. The Iceplex also became the training facility for the Seattle Torrent, a Professional Women's Hockey League expansion team that began play in the 2025–26 season, further cementing its role in the region's hockey ecosystem. By hosting AHL games during the Coachella Valley Firebirds' inaugural season, the Iceplex provided temporary home ice for the Kraken's top minor-league affiliate. The facility's restaurant and health clinic add to its function as a community gathering place. Its design and construction, completed in 19 months for $80 million, reflect the rapid development of Seattle's professional hockey infrastructure following the NHL's expansion to the city.

Did You Know?

• The Iceplex opened on September 10, 2021, after 19 months of construction.
• It is located within the Northgate Station mixed-use development, replacing parking lots near a light rail station.