$700 million in KeyArena renovations approved by Seattle City Council

A rendering of the renovated KeyArena shows the glass atrium from the south.
Courtesy Oak View Group

This rendering shows a renovated KeyArena as it would be arranged for NHL play. Developers said Tuesday that hockey is a focus of the renovation, while music and entertainment are also high priorities, but they're also making sure the arena is ready for an NBA team, should the opportunity arise. Oak View Group announced on Tuesday that a joint venture between Skanska and AECOM Hunt would oversee the $700 million project as general contractor.
Courtesy Oak View Group

Coming in hot off the heels of the Storm's victory in the WNBA championships, the stadium just scored a win of its own.

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On Monday the Seattle City Council voted to approve $700 million in renovations to KeyArena. The motion passed 8-0, with Councilwoman Teresa Mosqueda absent.

The vote was seen as the final local roadblock to bringing more sports teams to Seattle and the historic stadium, finalizing plans in the works for more than a year and a half. It is entirely financed by the people investing in the arena, "protecting our dollars" as Mayor Jenny Durkan has phrased it in the past.

With the renovation deal is ratified, the next stage in bringing a hockey team to Seattle will be the NHL executive-committee meeting.

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As expected, the city council and public comment was overwhelmingly in favor of the new arena.

"The Seattle Center and KeyArena are assets worth saving, and not just saving, but revitalizing," Councilwoman Sally Bagshaw said, adding that she believes Seattle will see an NBA team by 2020.

"This is an incredible opportunity for us to design, permit, develop and construct, again with minimal financial participation from the city. This is a big deal (and) this is a different deal than we were looking at 2 1/2 years ago."

It was a sentiment echoed by the Oak View Group, the team behind the renovation.

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"Today is a historic day for the future of our city and the New Arena at Seattle Center," the Oak View group said in a statement. "We are one step closer to transforming an iconic landmark into a state-of-the-art arena that sets a new global standard at no risk to the City or taxpayers, while still preserving the soul, character, and honoring the Champions of an arena that has given Seattle so much."

RELATED: KeyArena through the years:

The Century 21 Exposition (also known as the Seattle World's Fair) ran from April 21, 1962, to October 21, 1962. Nearly 10 million people attended the fair. As planned, the exposition left behind a fairground and numerous public buildings and public works; some credit it with revitalizing Seattle's economic and cultural life. The site, slightly expanded since the fair, is now called Seattle Center . This aerial photograph was taken October 22, 1961, during construction for the Exposition and shows the fairgrounds and downtown Seattle. Prominent in the frame is the Seattle Center Coliseum, built by the State of Washington to house its "World of Tomorrow" exhibit. After the close of the Exposition the Pavilion was remodeled as the Washington State Coliseum (later Seattle Center Coliseum), and became home to the Seattle SuperSonics beginning with their inaugural season in 1967. The Seattle Storm has played there since 2000. The Coliseum was rebuilt between 1994 and 1995, bringing the arena up to NBA standards of the day, and renamed KeyArena. Courtesy of MOHAI, John Vallentyne Photographs, 2009.23.474 — The Century 21 Exposition (also known as the Seattle World's Fair) ran from April 21, 1962, to October 21, 1962. Nearly 10 million people attended the fair. As planned, the exposition left behind a fairground and numerous public buildings and public works; some credit it with revitalizing Seattle's economic and cultural life. The site, slightly expanded since the fair, is now called Seattle Center . This aerial photograph was taken October 22, 1961, during construction for the Exposition and shows the fairgrounds and downtown Seattle. Prominent in the frame is the Seattle Center Coliseum, built by the State of Washington to house its "World of Tomorrow" exhibit. After the close of the Exposition the Pavilion was remodeled as the Washington State Coliseum (later Seattle Center Coliseum), and became home to the Seattle SuperSonics beginning with their inaugural season in 1967. The Seattle Storm has played there since 2000. The Coliseum was rebuilt between 1994 and 1995, bringing the arena up to NBA standards of the day, and renamed KeyArena.

Courtesy of MOHAI, John Vallentyne Photographs, 2009.23.474
Courtesy of MOHAI/MOHAI, John Vallentyne Photographs

"Century 21 Exposition's 'world of the space age' theme building, the Coliseum 21, [being] built to house exhibits showing how man will work, live and play in the year 2000. It will be one of two Century 21 Exposition pavilions which are larger in size and scope than the American Pavilion at the Brussels World's Fair. The other: U.S. Science Pavilion, in which the Federal Government will display space age science." -Seattle World's Fair Public Relations Department. When the fair opened, the building was called the Washington State Coliseum. It is now Key Arena. Courtesy of MOHAI, Century 21 World's Fair Collection, 1965.3598.2.15 — "Century 21 Exposition's 'world of the space age' theme building, the Coliseum 21, [being] built to house exhibits showing how man will work, live and play in the year 2000. It will be one of two Century 21 Exposition pavilions which are larger in size and scope than the American Pavilion at the Brussels World's Fair. The other: U.S. Science Pavilion, in which the Federal Government will display space age science." -Seattle World's Fair Public Relations Department.

When the fair opened, the building was called the Washington State Coliseum. It is now Key Arena.

Courtesy of MOHAI, Century 21 World's Fair Collection, 1965.3598.2.15
Forde Photographers/Museum of History & Industry, Seattle; All Rights Reserved

When the Beatles performed at the Seattle Center Coliseum in August 1964, nineteen-year-old photographer Timothy Eagan had an enviable view of the group from the edge of the stage. This vantage point gave Eagan the opportunity to photograph the four lads at relatively close range, as in this shot of Beatles founding member John Lennon. Eagan shot three rolls of film that night, practicing the photography which would become his professional career in Seattle and, later, New York City . In addition to a poised John Lennon, this photo shows the packed seating behind the stage. The sailors at lower right were among the one hundred Navy men from Pier 91 brought in at the last minute to help the police with security at the concert. Though the crowd behind the stage looks benign in this photo, a "child expert" who attended the concert reported in the Seattle Times the following day that "The experience of being with 14,000 teenagers to see the Beatles is unbelievable and frightening." Lennon, however, seems unperturbed by the din, and even by the jellybeans, marshmallows, and other items thrown at the band by the audience, which litter the stage at John's Beatle-boot clad feet. Courtesy of MOHAI, Timothy Eagan Collection, 2014.14.2_41 — When the Beatles performed at the Seattle Center Coliseum in August 1964, nineteen-year-old photographer Timothy Eagan had an enviable view of the group from the edge of the stage. This vantage point gave Eagan the opportunity to photograph the four lads at relatively close range, as in this shot of Beatles founding member John Lennon. Eagan shot three rolls of film that night, practicing the photography which would become his professional career in Seattle and, later, New York City . In addition to a poised John Lennon, this photo shows the packed seating behind the stage. The sailors at lower right were among the one hundred Navy men from Pier 91 brought in at the last minute to help the police with security at the concert. Though the crowd behind the stage looks benign in this photo, a "child expert" who attended the concert reported in the Seattle Times the following day that "The experience of being with 14,000 teenagers to see the Beatles is unbelievable and frightening." Lennon, however, seems unperturbed by the din, and even by the jellybeans, marshmallows, and other items thrown at the band by the audience, which litter the stage at John's Beatle-boot clad feet.

Courtesy of MOHAI, Timothy Eagan Collection, 2014.14.2_41
Timothy Eagan Collection, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle; All Rights Reserved

Seattle was the third stop on the Beatles first official world tour. On August 21, 1964, the Fab Four played to a crowd of over 14,000 in the Coliseum at Seattle Center. The local paper reported that girls outnumbered boys by at least 20 to 1, and that most of these were young teenagers. As seen in this photograph, some parents came along as well, either to supervise their children or, as seems the case here, for their own enjoyment . Nineteen-year-old photographer Timothy Eagan, who grew up in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood, managed to score a press pass to the concert from family friend Ed Donohoe, editor of The Washington Teamster. The fearless teen elbowed his way up to the front of the stage to shoot three rolls of film. Here, Eagan captures the reactions of the audience just as the Beatles walked on stage. The audience had remained relatively calm throughout the performances of the four warm-up bands, but exploded into screams as the Beatles appeared. An article in the Seattle Times the following day, headlined "Beatles' Fan Stir Terrifying Noise, Danger" likened the experience to "being sealed in a crazed capsule pitching through the chasms of space" where "scenes beyond the worst horror movies unreeled without letup." In this photo, the crowd simply looks happy and excited. Courtesy of MOHAI, Timothy Eagan Collection, 2014.14.1_08 — Seattle was the third stop on the Beatles first official world tour. On August 21, 1964, the Fab Four played to a crowd of over 14,000 in the Coliseum at Seattle Center. The local paper reported that girls outnumbered boys by at least 20 to 1, and that most of these were young teenagers. As seen in this photograph, some parents came along as well, either to supervise their children or, as seems the case here, for their own enjoyment . Nineteen-year-old photographer Timothy Eagan, who grew up in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood, managed to score a press pass to the concert from family friend Ed Donohoe, editor of The Washington Teamster. The fearless teen elbowed his way up to the front of the stage to shoot three rolls of film. Here, Eagan captures the reactions of the audience just as the Beatles walked on stage. The audience had remained relatively calm throughout the performances of the four warm-up bands, but exploded into screams as the Beatles appeared. An article in the Seattle Times the following day, headlined "Beatles' Fan Stir Terrifying Noise, Danger" likened the experience to "being sealed in a crazed capsule pitching through the chasms of space" where "scenes beyond the worst horror movies unreeled without letup." In this photo, the crowd simply looks happy and excited.

Courtesy of MOHAI, Timothy Eagan Collection, 2014.14.1_08

Seattle's KeyArena, originally named the Washington State Pavilion, was built by the state to house the World of Tomorrow exhibit for the 1962 World's Fair (also Century 21 Exposition). After the fair closed, the city of Seattle bought the Pavilion, renamed it the Seattle Coliseum, and converted it into a convention, sports, and entertainment facility. After an extensive remodel in 1995, the building was reopened as KeyArena . This image shows the building during the remodeling in 1964, finished in time for the Vacation and Travel Show in June, and a performance by the Beatles on August 21. Courtesy of MOHAI, Seattle Post-Intelligencer Photograph Collection, 1986.5.8802.1 — Seattle's KeyArena, originally named the Washington State Pavilion, was built by the state to house the World of Tomorrow exhibit for the 1962 World's Fair (also Century 21 Exposition). After the fair closed, the city of Seattle bought the Pavilion, renamed it the Seattle Coliseum, and converted it into a convention, sports, and entertainment facility. After an extensive remodel in 1995, the building was reopened as KeyArena . This image shows the building during the remodeling in 1964, finished in time for the Vacation and Travel Show in June, and a performance by the Beatles on August 21.

Courtesy of MOHAI, Seattle Post-Intelligencer Photograph Collection, 1986.5.8802.1

Seattle hip hop artist Macklemore greets fans before introducing Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, left, during the annual "We Day" celebration, an inspirational event and a year-long educational initiative photographed Thursday, April 23, 2015, inside KeyArena in Seattle, Washington. Tickets cannot be bought; schools and groups take on one local and one global action and report back to "Free The Children" charity to earn their way to We Day.JORDAN STEAD/SEATTLEPI.COM

The decision came a little more than a month after officials with Oak View Group and its partners in the renovation announced contractors and new design details. In the joint venture by Skanska and AECOM Hunt, Oak View officials said the team would be employing new excavation techniques to minimize the impact to the surrounding neighborhood.

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The video below details how crews will hold the roof up while they dig and expand below:

Those innovative drilling methods contributed to the already significant price tag getting bumped up from $660 million, along with an extra 50,000 square feet of construction.

Upon completion, the new space will be able to host all manner of events, from concerts to sports.

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Aside from the Seattle Storm, the new anchor tenant at the stadium is hoped to be an NHL team. Earlier this year the Oak View Group, the team responsible for the renovations, acquired Dave Tippett, a longtime hockey coach who notched more than 1,100 NHL games in his time, as a "senior advisor" to the NHL expansion effort.

That interest may not match the fervor of Sonics fans who are still bitter about the lack of a men's basketball team in the city, even 10 years later. It was a sentiment echoed during public comment at the city council meeting.

Officials have maintained that attracting an NHL franchise to a newly redeveloped arena might be a first step in that process. Still, should the NBA decide to return to Seattle for more than a preseason game, the stadium will be ready.

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Work on the arena is set to begin this fall, with plans to complete work in time for a 2020 NHL season start.

SeattlePI reporter Zosha Millman can be reached at zoshamillman@seattlepi.com. Follow Zosha on Twitter at @zosham. Find more from Zosha here on her author page.