Shaq's Big Chicken, Lil Woody's to open restaurants inside Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena

As the opening day of Seattle's freshly-renovated Climate Pledge Arena nears closer, recent announcements about the venue's food and beverage options have gained some national attention. 

Lil Woody’s announced Tuesday its been named the official burger partner for the Seattle Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena. The arena location — called Lil Lil Woody’s — will be located on the main concourse. The menu, designed for "quick, casual service," will highlight the restaurant’s top three burgers: the Lil Woody (quarter-pound beef patty, cheddar, onions, pickles, ketchup, mayo), the Big Woody (quarter-pound beef patty, bacon, cheddar, pickles, onions, tomato, lettuce, ketchup, mayo), and the Impossible Veggie Burger. Concert- and Kraken-goers will be able to pay for their meals using Amazon’s "Just Walk Out" technology.

For the next three weeks, Kraken and Lil Woody's burger fans can celebrate the upcoming season with three exclusive burgers, available at the Capitol Hill, White Center and Ballard restaurant locations. From Oct. 12-18, fans can pick up the Kraken Hat Trick: a quarter-pound patty topped with cream cheese, bacon, jalapenos, smoked cheddar, a sunny-side-up egg and hot sauce. Then, from Oct. 19-15, Lil Woody’s will be collaberating with Climate Pledge Arena’s Executive Chef Molly De Mers to create That’s My Jam: a quarter-pound patty with cheddar, arugula, preserved lemon gremolata and bacon jam. Lastly, the restaurant will be serving its Barn Burner burger created by Kraken left wing player Brandon Tanev. From Oct. 26-Nov. 1, fans can enjoy a quarter-pound patty topped with peppers, an over-easy egg, caramelized onions, pickles and ketchup.

If chicken is more your thing, news broke on Twitter last week that Shaquille O’Neil will be bringing his Big Chicken restaurant to Climate Pledge Arena, the first-ever arena location for the chain. Special for Climate Pledge, the chicken joint has created an exclusive sandwich, aptly dubbed the Kraken. The Seattle-exclusive will feature buffalo chicken, bleu cheese and cream cheese. And like other food, beverage, and merchandise locations throughout the arena, Big Chicken will be equipped with "Just Walk Out" Amazon technology.

Other local eateries will also have a presence at Climate Pledge Arena including Ballard Pizza and Din Tai Fung. For a more formal dining option, Metropolitan Grill will offer a sit-down service restaurant in the arena's premium seating area. Elliot’s Oyster House and Just Poke will also be present at the arena, but menu options have not yet been released. 

The food and beverage program at Climate Pledge Arena, named The Climate Collective, is “committed to providing a program that surpasses the culinary experience typically found in an arena." Executive Chef Molly De Murs studied molecular gastronomy at the Scottsdale branch of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. Before coming to Climate Pledge Arena, Murs served as the executive chef for the Seattle Aquarium.

All of the restaurants will be open when Climate Pledge Arena welcomes visitors for the first time on Oct. 22 for Coldplay’s grand opening concert.