Seattle City Council passes support to demolish Memorial Stadium

The Seattle City Council passed a plan to support the demolition and rebuilding of Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center on Tuesday, according to the Seattle City Council official blog.

Demolition and rebuilding would be completed through a private-public partnership, with the assistance of the City of Seattle and Seattle Public Schools, who own the stadium.

The legislation, which was sponsored by Council President Debora Juarez, passed 8-1. Kshama Sawant voted no.

The plan would entail the 76-year-old stadium being replaced with a new venue focused on students and other Seattle youth, according to the city council.

A new stadium would have to have at least 8,000 seats under covered stands, as well.

A decision to select the company to redevelop, operate and maintain the new stadium is expected to be made May 22.

Funding for the new stadium has already been dedicated as follows:

  • $66.5 million from Seattle voters through the SPS 2022 Building Technology Athletics and Academics levy
  • $21 million from Seattle’s 2023 to 2028 Capital Improvement Plan
  • $4 million from the Washington State 2023 capital budget