Amazon, NHL Unveil Seattle's 'Climate Pledge Arena'

SEATTLE, WA — Following months of speculation, the arena where Seattle's professional hockey team will take to the ice next year finally has an official name — paid for by Amazon.

NHL Seattle, Oak View Group and Amazon unveiled "Climate Pledge Arena" Thursday morning and released several artist renderings of the new sign that will replace Key Arena atop the iconic roof.

NHL Seattle said the new facility will be the world's first zero-carbon arena, powered solely by renewable energy, including on-site solar panels and off-site solar farms. The extensive renovation project is set to be completed next summer, featuring a completely new arena constructed beneath the landmark roof built in 1962.

In addition to renewable energy, owners outlined several other practices to lower its carbon footprint:

• Single-use plastics will be phased out by 2024, replaced with aluminum or biodegradable bottles.
• Fans will see only compost and recycling bins — no trash cans on site.
• Promising the "greenest ice in the world," the rink will be comprised of rainwater and refrigerants with no greenhouse gas emissions.
• A fully-electric Zamboni fleet.

Under the agreement with Amazon, OVG and NHL Seattle will also make yearly donations to Amazon's Climate Pledge initiative, with a stated goal to reach zero-carbon emissions for all businesses by 2040.

Seattle's new hockey team, set to debut for the 2021-22 season, is yet to be named.