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KeyArena
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Stadiums & Arenas Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Stadiums & Arenas, Music Venues [Edit]
Seattle Center305 Harrison St
Seattle, WA 98109
Neighbourhood: Queen Anne
(206) 684-7200
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- No
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
84 reviews for KeyArena
84 reviews in English
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Review from Stella R.
Kirkland, WA
5/25/2012
Such a huge arena! It's really good for huge music shows. Seats are comfy, really good way to get the sound through the place too!
Parking can be an issue since it's filled with people and the food is pretty pricey.
Good for an every-so-often visit. -
Review from Morgan L.
Something bugs me about Key Arena... I am not sure what it is.
However they really do know how to put on a concert. No long lines, no hours to get a beer, no bum rush after the show, no bullshit.
They made Radiohead an amazing experience compared to other venues... and you'd know what I am talking about if you saw them at White River!
P.S. The seats are a little small so you may want to spring for GA tickets! -
Review from Joshua B.
3/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
It's an arena. There are shows and events here. Rat City Roller Girls, Harlem Globetrotters, the big rock/pop bands when they come to town.
I miss the Sonics. Sad basketball fan is sad.
That is all. -
Review from Randy K.
Everett, WA
Rockin worship road show. The parking is a pain, but the venue is good.
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Review from Ryan P.
2/19/2012
I know this place has been around since the early 60's and I'm sure there's been lots of great memories in this place over the years, but it's time to tear it down. As arenas go, this place is an ancient, out-of-date relic that needs an implosion and an army of bulldozers to make any improvements. Even with the $74 million renovation in the early 90's didn't do much good.
I went here recently to see the Rat City Rollergirls, and was amazed at how small it was on the inside. -
Review from Corinne K.
Seattle, WA
3/21/2012
I came here about two years ago for a Pearl Jam concert, It was AMAZING! This stadium isn't the greatest but it also isn't the worst.. the layout is okay, but people standing in front of you block your view, when I was here there were people smoking pot and cigarettes which was incredibly annoying.. and the people behind us were screaming and drunk.. NOT CUTE.. If I was to return I would probably be sure to get better seats even though the ones we got were awesome.. simply to keep away from the cheaper pot smoker areas.
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Review from Riley F.
Seattle, WA
4/13/2012
It may have outgrown basketball but this arena is more alive than ever hosting my favorite Roller Derby team the Rat City Roller Girls. It may be flat track but they don't act like it.
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Review from clint w.
12/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Key isn't as big as arenas in other cities, and it's not as noisy as it used to be, before that remodel. The sound isn't that bad for concerts and although it lacks the space for nicer places to eat, it's not bad.
Despite what the NBA commissioner says, it could be home to an NBA franchise. They could have expanded the rest of the grounds to include some other accoutrements, without breaking the bank. -
Review from Alex F.
Seattle, WA
4/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Key Arena has never been that great. I've seen the sonics play here (god rest the sasquatch) as well as Muse and Blake Shelton. The arena as a music venue doesn't work very well. The acoustics die in this empty void of a space. The seating is just alright, nothing to be excited over. The novelty of a place like Key Arena is done. If Seattle wants an NBA team back, lets give them something to come back too. The storm have given us a championship winning team. Don't they deserve somewhere decent to play?
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Review from Mo Y.
Kirkland, WA
2/20/2012
Outdated building, tough parking in the middle of town and no NBA team .....? I used to be a suite holder, the food is expensive there and the service is OK. Even the suites were so expensive when you take in consideration having a Basketball Team that could not win..................
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Review from Jorge M.
9/9/2011
Great Venue!
The location is great. There are numerous restaurants nearby, and it's a great place to start from if you are using public transportation to get around. Just avoid the chatter boxes and the BlackBerry addicts!
So rude!! -
Review from Michelle L.
Tacoma, WA
12/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
The sound quality is not the best. It's even apparent on my recent recorded concert videos the sound is lacking. This place is not good for concerts.
The food is so awful it made my stomach sick the next day. (I don't recommend the pizza, frozen pizza is better than that crap I ate here). -
Review from Jon L.
9/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
I liked that Bumbershoot moved the mainstage to KeyArena from Memorial Stadium. From the looks of it, I would say the venue is not aging that well. However considering that it was built in 1962, I have to say that it has held up fairly. But I can understand why the Sonics tried to get the city to build a new arena several years ago to no avail prior to their move. It is a bit of a relic and no Madison Square Garden.
It still does feel like a NBA arena with the giant screens in the upper levels. The seating here is pretty typical and so are the views of the stage. If you are in the nosebleeds, your viewing experience is going to amount to pretty much watching the giant TV screens to the side unless you have brought binoculars. I have not been to the Key for a concert before and given this experience, I would have to think hard about that if a favorite music artist was playing here.
The concessions are predictably pricey. Even more so than the food and drinks offerings outside at Bumbershoot. Get a bite to eat before coming here if you can. I like though that they do have buses that stop right in front of the entrance to the Key so public transportation is not bad. Parking is also pricey, especially if you park in any of the nearby lots on event nights and the Seattle Center parking lot is a bit of a walk away.
I would say as a venue, the Key is a two. But since I despise Memorial Stadium, moving the Mainstage at Bumbershoot to Key deserves it an extra star. -
Review from Sandy K.
11/20/2011
Michael Jackson-Immortal Tour
This show was a complete disappointment, I believe, due to the venue- Key Arena, Seattle.
I paid $250/ticket plus handling fees to see the show & was completely disappointed with the audio & technical issues. They had to stop the show once, started 45 minutes late, did a adlib intermission and one of the big video panels was nonfunctioning.
On top of this, while trying to get to our seats, the usher made rude comments about the price I paid for the seats. This is NOT the way to treat guests attending a Cirque show. -
Review from Ken L.
Went to see X factor with Simon Cowell, LA Reid, and Paul Abdul. The state was set up with only half the arena and had great audio and surprising clean. Regardless of where you sat, the seats in most places had a good view of the stage. I didn't have a problem getting street parking as I arrived early. An important thing to note is that if you are going to park in the areas across the street, read the meter carefully as they prohibit parking at the meters from 4 to 6 PM and YOU WILL BE TICKETED.
The only real complaint I have is that I had to sit in front of a person who had the most putrid stench from hell. It was like she did not shower since she was born; similar to rotting trash that you throw out every week. Even after she left, the trash fumes lasted until the show ended. Gross! -
Review from Lee J.
Los Angeles, CA
1/21/2012
5 stars just to keep the memories alive. It wasn't the best arena (oldest in the NBA), we didn't have the best team (barely made the playoffs), and our mascot was really weird, but the Sonics were our team who played their hearts out against the '95 Bulls. I'm rooting for the Seattle Thunder this year. Never forget.
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Review from Stephanie C.
Lynnwood, WA
7/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's hard to review the Key. I know it's old and not the prettiest or largest arena around, but I sort of have no choice but to go since events just happen to be here. We've been to Trans Siberian Orchestra two years running... we've had floor seats... and those hurt my tushy after 2-3 hours. They are also SUPER close together. We sat on the 1st level, 2nd row for a comedy show.. those seats are a bit better, but definitely not the best.
I didn't have much of a sticker shock regarding beer and food prices though, because it's the same across nearly all sporting venues and arenas. It's unavoidable.
2.5 stars. -
Review from Frank L.
3/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I saw UFC Fight Night 24 at KeyArena last night. Great venue for fights. I doubt there was a bad seat in the house. The room is circular and just the right size for watching fights. The arena is clean, modern and the surrounding area is a very nice tourist spot--with the Space Needle and museums in Seattle Center.
However, KeyArena could learn a few things from my favorite venue, Staples Center. At Staples, the ushers check tickets and make sure everyone is in their assigned seat. If you go to the snack bar or restroom at Staples, you need to show your ticket to the usher when you go back to your seat. Also, at Staples, the ushers control the flow of people going back to their seats. Thus, there aren't a lot of folks standing and walking in front of the action. The ushers at KeyArena just stand there, doing nothing.
I know there were several people with cheaper tickets trying to take empty seats near me. I came back from the restroom once and found some jasper sitting in my seat. I told him to get the hell out of there. I really wanted to punch him in the face. That shouldn't have happened. In fact, considering the price I paid for my ticket, it really pisses me off that a@@holes were allowed to sneak down for better seats. That's bullsh*t.
They are total stormtroopers about not allowing people to bring their own food into the arena, however. I saw a security guy at the gate make some kid throw away an apple. Really? Couldn't give him a break on his healthy snack? Had to make the kid buy nachos instead? The concession stand prices at Key are as predictably outrageous as any place I've been. Drunks staggering around with glass bottles made me nervous.
Anyway, the arena emptied quickly at the end of the fights, and there were no fights in the parking lot. No big issues getting out or on the road. I'd definitely go to the fights in Seattle again. -
Review from Krista M.
3/27/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Key Arena. I love you and I hate you.
I love that there really aren't any bad seats for an event like the UFC fights. The arena is small enough that even if sitting in the upper level seats you have a pretty decent view. I love that the place doesn't seem grungy and most of the staff are pretty helpful and nice. I love that there are parking garages near by. $15 for our carpool wasn't too bad and we only had to walk a block. Unlike Qwest were you pay $40 and walk two miles.
But I hate a few things about this arena. 8 dollars for a f#$king Bud Light now?! Really? The concession prices are beyond ridiculous. What will it be in five years, $15 for a beer? Stop ripping us off.
I hate the concession workers too. Dear Lord it took 30 minutes to get through a line of eight people. There were a bunch of ladies working the stands moving like frickin zombieeeeeees. You don't just swipe and go with the credit card machines either. You have to wait for buttons to be pressed and two receipts to print out. Time is important at these events. I missed an entire 3 round fight. And they started running out of beer two hours before the fights were over, hated that too.
If I skip the hassle of the concessions completely I enjoy Key Arena much more. But it's hard when you are at an event that lasts 6 hours. People gotta eat. I gotta drink. So I guess I'll suck it up and deal with it. So you should suck it up, don't run out of beer and MOVE YOUR ASS! -
Review from Melissa S.
Seattle, WA
12/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I've been here for several concerts now, most recently the Deck the Hall Ball on December 7, 2011, and my general impressions are pretty mediocre. The sound quality depends on the show, but a few times it has been absolutely awful. Scratchy speakers with poor instrumental/vocal balance. So bad that people look around and ask each other, "Are they going to DO anything about this?" Its so obvious that something's wrong, but nobody does anything about it.
The people employed by Key Arena to take tickets and work the snack counter are older, and typically well into their 60's. While it's totally fine to have a physically slow person taking tickets, its not the same for the snack counter. Ordering two grilled chicken sandwiches turned into a MISERABLY slow process. We watched the short-order cook take 10 minutes to "cook" a chicken breast that had been sitting in a steam warmer. When the food was finally ready, the woman working the cash register was making change for a fellow employee and was completely oblivious to us standing there. After watching our food sit next to her for about 2 minutes, I interrupted her and asked her for our food. She looked at it as if she'd never seen it or us, and handed it to us. These people cannot multi-task at all. On a different occasion when I ordered a pretzel, a different older lady moved at an agonizing pace to get it. I have nothing against old people, I just think Key Arena needs to do a better job allocating jobs to their employees.
Its probably not necessary to say this, but the food was poor and very overpriced. A dry grilled chicken breast on a bun with lettuce, tomato, and no condiments was $8. The Deck the Hall Ball is a 7 hour concert marathon, and once you enter, you aren't allowed re-entry. So we were forced to buy their over-priced food. Don't even think about bringing in snacks - they searched all our bags. The location is good as there are a ton of restaurants nearby. So just grab a bite before the show.
The other aspects of the venue are pretty good. The seats are pretty comfortable and even the nosebleed section has a good view of the stage. There are lots of bathrooms and room to walk around. There are a lot of alternative parking options nearby. I'll be back if its a band I really want to see. -
Review from Amy S.
Elk Grove, CA
3/24/2011
My first visit to Key Areana to see my first Rat City Roller Girls.
It was very enjoyable experience for me. It was fun and exciting. Best of all I was lucky to sit in the private suite with friends. Like regular suite, it has sofas,refrigerator, boom box, TV and all other kitchen stuff.
One thing made me not happy. I bought a bottle of coke and ask for ice in the cup but the cashier say no because they have no cup. I don't know why they are so cheap....there were ton of cup next to cashier. They charge so much for coke and can't even give me some ice with cup. If i had known this, i would have brought cup from the suite. What a bad customer service on this part. -
Review from Amanda D.
Seattle, WA
2/23/2011
AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL!
Key arena itself isn't bad- we sat on the upper level and could see fine. The problem was before we got in. We attended the UW vs Seattle U game and ordered tickets as a group for will call (Because printing them at home was extra PER ticket???). We arrived about 15 minutes before tip off (would have been there earlier except I work on the other side of the lake).
I was not expecting the line for will call to be so long!! It went down the stairs and around the corner all the way to the sports bar. A gentleman told us that they had three windows open for people purchasing tickets and just one for will call... seems a little silly since the game was starting so soon and there was 1000+ people waiting to get tickets they'd already purchased. Eventually, they opened the other windows for will call. But we missed the first 8 minutes of the game!!!
But really? They sold those tickets so they had to have known what it would be like!
Key Arena should be for an NBA team (SEATTLE SHOULD HAVE AN NBA TEAM!). -
Review from Matt R.
Edmonds, WA
7/27/2008
Just saw a mind-blowing Nine Inch Nails show here last night. The concert itself gets 5 stars in a heartbeat. They are the perfect drug.
Here's a hint if you go to a concert: Don't get a ticket in the seats. Just don't! Get General Admission so that you can be down near the stage. If seats all that's available, say, "Oh well, they'll come back eventually, Seattle is a major American city*." Well, unless it's Tom Waits or someone who makes it up to this neck of the woods once every decade or two.
The split second the main band comes out, everyone stands up. If sitting for a while is imperative to enjoying a show you won't like it. Also, there are some seats here where I can imagine the sound quality and line of sight to the stage is awful.
As you can tell by the four stars, I got a GA ticket. It was fantastic. You have to deal with the typical giants wandering the crowd and standing in front of you, but you can deal with it. Just wander to a new location and hope no other giants are hoping to stand in front of you.
Minus one star because everything there concessions-wise is way overpriced. $7.00 a beer. No thanks. I'm not drunk enough to pay that.
Supposedly some kind of pro basketball team played there at one point, but I'm not too sure about that bold claim.
*Warning if you adopt this mindset as well: I'm an optimist. -
Review from Me H.
Seattle, WA
1/22/2007
My knee and hips/thighs are bruised and it's all thanks to Key Arena. I went to a hockey game Saturday night. We bought the most expensive seats $20 though I'm not sure what made them more expensive than the others. We walk to our seats and go to sit down and I smash my hips on the cup holders on my way down. Now I'm not some gigantic person, but I'm female and I got HIPS and my hips and the seats at Key Arena did NOT get along very well. Thankfully I wasn't the only one who had seat issues a few others around me told me they too think the seats are small (I sure hope they weren't saying this to make me feel better.) The guy in front of me leaned back and squashed my knees, and I'm short so that means there's NO leg room either.
The +'s:
* The ladies room was clean, super clean fully stocked and no trash on the floor what so ever.
* The fans, OMG they are freaking crazy and really into their hockey.
The -'s:
* The seats.
* The fans, OMG they drink so much they are always getting up to go get more beer and pee.
* The guy in the purple jacket who spazzed out in the stairs every time music came on, he was dirty and smelled funny.
* The cup holders, they bruised my hips/thighs.Listed in: I've got a meeting in the…
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Review from Joolie T.
8/19/2007
i've been here for:
Incubus
N'SYNC
Britney Spears
Gwen Stefani
Bush
Missy Elliot
Monday Night Raw
Smackdown
however, never for a game. i've actually only been to ONE sports game in Seattle. one day- i hope i get to see the Sonics play.
the beer they serve is pretty decent- the food is expensive, but what do you expect? however, i had one of the best concert viewing experience here. we bought tickets from a scalper outside of the arena, got Gen. Admission, chugged 2 cups of beer and ran down to the ground floor and rocked to Incubus... one of the best concerts ever. it was rowdy, people were smokin' j's, we were in massive mosh pits, i got THIS close to Brandon Boyd (lead singer of Incubus) and while my foufy foufy friends had private VIP rooms upstairs, nothing beats being right there in the crowd.Listed in: I LEFT MY HEART... in SEATTLE
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Review from Kat T.
Seattle, WA
7/15/2009
Anyone caught with illegal contraband will be shot. Rock on!
I was there in 86 when the roof leaked during the Sonics vs Suns game and the ref had to call the game because of rain. I've been to many games and concerts at this venue but something has changed. The last show I went to the place was swarming with cops and security guards. They were broadcasting warnings from the loud speakers about anyone caught with booze or drugs. No reentry allowed. You will be searched. If you choose not to be searched you are assumed to be guilty and will not be allowed entry.
Come on!
Could you please treat us like adults? Adults who smuggle in booze and drugs but still adults all the same!
Whew! Glad to get that off my chest. Now let me tell you that I really like seeing music here. Ya ya ya... it is no Benaroya Hall when it comes to acoustics but it isn't the Tacoma Dome either! I like that it is practically in my back yard. I like that it has history (Beatles, Who, Doors, Elvis all played here). I like the fact that I can go to a variety of places for pre-show dinner & drinks within walking distance.
I like it! 4 stars Yay! I'm a fan. -
Review from Marc S.
Kirkland, WA
8/11/2009
I went to see Depeche Mode last night. Unfortunately, the stage was largely obscured by a huge array of speakers, from where I was sitting. I wouldn't exactly say that the acoustics are terrible, but then again, I know what concerts were like in the old King Dome. Now THAT was terrible. Definitely nothing to write home about here, though.
What's up with this BS about not allowing beer cups into the concert area, anyway? If it's OK for you guys to rip us off with $8 beers, shouldn't we at least be allowed to enjoy them in peace? I suppose guzzling them down to catch a buzz before the show makes us all ever so much safer. Such a caring and responsible policy. (Might as well go to 7-11, and chug a forty-ouncer or two before the show. Save yourself twenty or thirty bucks.)
For all of this 'service', I paid $72. $57.50 for the ticket, the remainder going towards Ticketmaster extortion fees. Since the city owns this venue, maybe it should consider giving its residents a break by telling Ticketbastard to take a well-deserved hike. Sell the tickets directly to the people. Shocking thought, I know.
At least the concert was good. -
Review from Vanessa J.
Seattle, WA
5/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Blech, Key Arena with your nasty bathrooms and rude people serving you $9 beers. If Roller Derby didn't force me to watch it here, I would never darken your homely doors again.
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Review from Rachel H.
Seattle, WA
9/21/2010
unlike some other Yelpers, I've NEVER been to a sonic game and glad i never did. I do, however, go to the Storm games, which is a DAMN GOOD basketball team.
Anyway, Everywhere you sit in the Key, you are able to see the court fine. some spots better than others, but that's how it goes in all arenas. And like in all stadiums, areans and fields, the food and beer is pricey! but there is a chicken strips meal with fries that's kind of worth the money. You get a pretty good amount.
The staff at the Key are always nice.
The only downside is one time I paid for food with my card and it was never handed back to me and I didnt realize it until I got home so i had to cancel my card and go to the bank like every other day, but that's an other story!
I have been here for concerts a few times. not the best place to see a band. -
Review from Ti B.
1/26/2008
It's no Staples Center...but definitely a cool venue.
I went here to sit with our courtside tickets...front row for the Sonics game. it was pretty awesome! I loved it.
We had complimentary beers, wines, food galore, and good times. -
Review from Alix H.
6/8/2007
Back in the 80's, my puberty silly school girl crush on Richard Marx took me and my 8th grade girl friends to his concert at the Key. It was also my very first concert. I thought Richard was the cat's meow even though his super tight jeans showing off his roll of quarters bothered my pre-womanhood young mind a bit. Concert ticket in the 10th row center was $18.
Then my next concert there was during my college school girl days when I was in the I love bad boys with romantic heart phase. Def Leppard rocked the house and I thoroughly enjoyed the hot boys in tight spandex. Ticket price for a mid-level but not quite nose bleed seat was about $27.
Fast forward to last year when Prince, who after 10 years of hibernation still looks freaking delicious and really grooved up da house. I LOVE YOU PRINCE! Ticket price, $65, in a relatively good location, about 20 rows up on the stadium seating but center.
Two days ago, I saw The Police and every little thing they sang was magic. Gawd, doing Yoga sure gave Sting a mind blowingly hot body. I am a fan forever. Ticket price, $125 in the nose bleed section.
Moral of story? See as many concert as you can before you can't afford it no more. Key arena does a good job with concerts and they allow alcoholic beverages in the audience. But my advice is not to get too hammed otherwise you won't remember the concerts. -
Review from John R.
Seattle, WA
3/27/2011
I recently visited the Key Arena to watch UFC Live 24. This is a great venue and even the "cheap seats" are not bad for viewing. The chairs are a bit worn, but not uncomfortable as I didn't have any issues sitting there for about 7 hours of live fights! Food is pretty good and as you would expect very expensive. $8.00 beer cups, $7.50 chicken strips & fries and Fish and Chips. B
I took the bus into town so I can't comment on the parking situation, but I know that area in general doesn't have a large selection of street parking nearby.
Great view of the fights, we were section 121 row 5. I will definitely go to the Key Arena again for concerts, sports etc. -
Review from Tracy S.
Baltimore, MD
4/15/2008
One star for you, Key Arena.
Last Friday, you had the 14th Dalai Lama and Dave Matthews event in your venue. There were signs ALL OVER THE PLACE that you weren't granting in and out privileges.
Okay. That means folks who arrived at 4:30PM for the conversation between His Holiness and Dave Matthews had to stay inside until the 7:30PM concert, rather than nip out to get supper in between events.
WHY, THEN, DID YOU NOT OFFER ANY VEGETARIAN OPTIONS TO YOUR CAPTIVES?!
My friend ended up having a soft pretzel for dinner because none of the possibly vegetarian vendors were even open. I had a soft pretzel, too, as it would have been really mean of me to have a hot dog while she couldn't eat anything but a pretzel.
Seriously. An event with a Tibetan Buddhist dignitary and you couldn't even get any vegetarian options? Soft pretzels and fake-cheese nachos do not a vegetarian-friendly dining option make!Listed in: Are you local tonight?
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Review from Betty N.
Dublin, CA
2/16/2009
Oh Sonics, how I've missed you. We had season tickets the year before they moved and had great seats. You see familiar faces and the energy level in that place was amazing. Parking was a pain because it was a walk. Especially in the fall when it was windy and rainy.
I got food poisoning one time afterwards and I think it was from the chicken fingers...but that has yet to be determined...It was not a good night! lol. Other than that the food was arena food so you can't complain or expect much. The hot dogs are pretty tasty though!
I miss going to the Key Arena. From the security guards to the ushers to the true fans...it made the Sonics worth going to see every week and now they're gone..*sigh. -
Review from Bryan K.
Seattle, WA
3/31/2008
5 stars for good enough. Now, I'm not going to claim it's the nicest of all arenas I've ever been, but the two times I have been here have been fantastic.
Years ago I went to a Sonics game and sat right behind the players bench, back in the days of Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton, Detlef Schrempf, Nate McMillan, and the Big Smooth. It was one of the many highlights of my sporting event experiences.
More recently (this past weekend) I had the privilege of seeing Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band (the un-official Gods of New Jersey) rock the place harder than it's seen this past Sonics season, no doubt.
Well, to get to the point, I thought the place was decent, it housed the rock show quite nicely. Obviously, it doesn't compare to places like the Gorge or Red Rocks, but if it's mid winter (or in this case early spring) and there is a torrential downpour outside, Key Arena makes for a nice sanctuary to take in a life changing rock extravaganza. -
Review from Sara S.
3/31/2008
Much of the 4-star review goes to Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band, I admit.... just saw them at the K.A. last weekend!! We were seated in the balcony (1st row) and kind of on the side of the stage. You would think we wouldn't have as good of a time... but we DID!!!
Yeah Bruuuuuuuce.... we really felt pretty close. Plus I could yell down to some people I knew on the next level, and they could hear me!!
-1 star for the ridiculous prices that made my jaw drop. $3.75 for a bottle of water? Whaaa...? $6 for a slice of pizza? Even the pretzel and popcorn were a little steep. Take it down a notch, eh, corporate-company-that-owns-the-rights-to-the-food -at-the-stadiums... -
Review from Carly L.
7/27/2008
I'm giving Key Arena five stars for the following reasons:
1. I saw George Michael there
2. Seeing George Michael was one of those "I have to see him in concert or I will die" kinda performers.
3. My tickets were fabulous, even though not close to stage, George's sound was amazing and you could see him clearly
4. Said concert made me weep like a giddy little 12 year old oblivious to the fact George would have no interest in me.
5. It was fucking George Michael.
6. Best Bday present ever.
Only gripe was bottled water was ridiculously overpriced, but I don't give a shit when I get to see George Michael.Listed in: The west side is the best side
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Review from Steve O.
Seattle, WA
3/2/2009
David Stern your a fucktard..Key arena is a very nice venue..Its better than the staple center in LA...Because of your whining..u started the process of losing the sonics to some shitty state.
Is the arena perfect..of course not..parking can suck..and why cant i get a stoli screwdriver..instead have to pay 8 bucks for a beer. But the place is clean..there is not a bad seat..though i would like abit more leg room.
So just like mercer arena...which should be home of the seattle thunderbirds..its only a matter of time, til the seattle politicians close this place down too. Thats a shame. -
Review from Will L.
11/13/2007
I feel bad for the Seattle Supersonics (and Storm). Specifically for the players. Here's this big mess caused by both the former ownership and the current ownership that has caused most of Seattle to despise the team. And here's this group of ... what 10-20 players? who just really want to play basketball and enjoy some support and the ardor of their fans in the city they hail from. But, unfortunately, thanks to the greed of the former wealthy owners who wanted the city and its taxpayers to pay for a new stadium, and the new owners who just want an excuse to move the team to Oklahoma though they claim otherwise, most people in Seattle that I talk to don't much give a rat's ass about the Sonics, and in fact feel a bit of disdain towards them.
It doesn't help they aren't winning, and haven't been for a year or two. Hard to muster enthusiasm for a losing team, especially in a city known for fair-weather fans (and you know what they say about Seattle's weather. Thank goodness the Red Sox or the Cubs don't play here, how would 100 years of losing go over for a Seattle team?!)
Me, personally, I root for my home teams; I get angry at them and yell at them when they're playing poorly (unless I'm watching a Mariner's game in which case I merely squeak at them, as I don't want to get thrown out by the 'good behavior' nazis), I get depressed when they can't get it together, and I continue to support them. For example, I saw the Mariners play several times last season. Case closed.
I've never much liked basketball. I find it kind of dull except for those one or two moments of action where someone jumps in the air and dunks, but I dig the team strategy sports, and in my opinion B-ball has always been about a couple hotshots who make all the plays, and a few other guys who pass the ball to them.
However, I gotta say, those guys were doing the best they could with some real stinkers on the team (Yeah, you Swifty. For godsakes at least pretend to hustle. Maybe practice shooting so you could at least score a point. IMO you're there solely to bring in the grunge rock crowd and piss off fans even more so ownership can move to Oklahoma unopposed. Yeah, that was me cheering when you feaux limped off the court), and not a lot of support from a 60% filled stadium. When they brought their 30 point deficit to a tie in the last 5 minutes of the game they had the entire place standing and cheering. Keep it up fellas.
Speaking of the entire place, what exactly is everyone bitching about? Sure, I got stuck trying to stand up and cheer when my wallet and my keys got stuck on the armrests. Yeah, the tightness of the seats meant that me and my fairly skinny friends were crammed in there pretty tightly. I know I need to lose 50 lbs. And yeah, it was steep, but I haven't been in a covered bball/hockey stadium that wasn't steep -- how do you expect to see when you're up in the nosebleed? watching something as small as hockey or bball? This isn't football or baseball we're talking about here.
I didn't buy food, I was stuffed from dinner. No idea if it was any good. I did wait in line for the bathroom, and we were all holding our noses. A big arena should have big bathrooms. When the men's room line is as long as the women's, you know there's a serious design flaw, as none of us are fluffing our hair (well... most of us). I could see the scoreboard, I could see the dancers, I could see the game. That's enough for me. -
Review from Marcy N.
10/7/2010 17 Check-ins Here
It's hard for me to write a review on this arena because I've been to some very nice arenas around the USA. Not that there is anything wrong with this one but it's hard to believe that it's fairly new. The seats are very close together and my knees always hit the back of the seat in front of me.
There aren't really any bad seats in the arena. No matter where you sit you've got a pretty good view of the action.
I'm a season ticket holder for the Seattle Storm so I spend a lot of time at the Key. For the most part everyone that works here is very pleasant.
I can't vouch for the food here since I never eat at the Key but I can tell you how happy I am that they are now serving Coca-Cola products!! Woo-Hoo!!
