Mercer Arena was a multi-purpose indoor arena located at the Seattle Center in Seattle, Washington, United States. Over its long history, the venue served as a key facility for various sports, concerts, and conventions, particularly playing a supporting role to the larger venues within the Seattle Center complex.
History and Name Changes
The arena originally opened in 1928 as the Civic Ice Arena, primarily serving as a venue for ice sports and general public skating. It was a significant part of the Seattle Center complex, which was originally built for the 1962 World's Fair (Century 21 Exposition). For the fair, it was refurbished and renamed the Seattle Center Arena. In the 1990s, with the construction of the new KeyArena (now Climate Pledge Arena), the arena was renamed Mercer Arena, taking its name from Mercer Street, which bordered the Seattle Center complex.Key Uses and Events
Throughout its existence, Mercer Arena hosted a diverse array of events:- Ice Hockey: It was a long-time home for junior hockey teams, including the Seattle Totems of the Western Hockey League (WHL), and briefly hosted the Seattle Ironmen of the Pacific Coast Hockey League (PCHL) in its early days.
- Basketball: The arena notably served as the first home court for the Seattle SuperSonics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) during their inaugural 1967–1968 season, before they moved to the larger Seattle Center Coliseum (later KeyArena).
- Concerts: Numerous musical acts performed at the venue, especially before the proliferation of larger concert venues in Seattle.
- Conventions and Trade Shows: Its adaptable space made it a suitable venue for various conventions, trade shows, and exhibitions.
- Other Sports: It also hosted events like roller derby, professional wrestling, and high school sports. Its equestrian facilities allowed for horse shows and rodeos.