Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium Replacement Project
Community Event
It’s lights out for the Seattle Public Schools’ iconic Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center…at least for now, as the stadium prepares for a two-year $140 million transformation beginning this summer. But first, the community is invited to an open house event to relive their memories, say a fond farewell, and learn about the exciting plans for Memorial Stadium’s future.
The stadium doors will be open for the public to purchase a bite to eat from one of the onsite food trucks and to picnic on the stadium turf while enjoying live music and snapping keepsake photos.
The free event is scheduled for 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, June 26, at Memorial Stadium (401 5th Ave. North) on the Seattle Center campus.
For additional information – and to submit your favorite Memorial Stadium memories and photos for display online and on the stadium screen – visit SeattleCenter.com/Memorial-Stadium
A New Vision for Memorial Stadium
The much-anticipated Memorial Stadium replacement project will soon be under way, with groundbreaking planned for this summer and construction completed by the end of 2027.
The new stadium will be a multi-purpose stadium to serve SPS student athletics. It will also serve as a resource for the community and be able to host education, arts, culture, entertainment, and community events.
The project is a partnership between SPS, the City of Seattle, and One Roof Stadium Partnership. SPS’s portion is funded by the 2022 voter-approved Buildings, Technology, and Academics/Athletics Capital Levy (BTA V). SPS will continue to own the new facility, just like it does the current stadium.
Interlocal agreement on Memorial Stadium Project
Memorial Wall, which honors 762 local high school students and alumni who lost their lives in World War II, will be preserved and enhanced. Memorial Wall is a designated Seattle Landmark. The project includes a new plaza in front of the memorial to make it more prominent.
The full project is expected to take two years. Graduation ceremonies in 2026 and 2027 will be held at other locations. Sports that typically play at Memorial Stadium will be at other locations that will be announced during the sport season.
You can see the full project information and follow construction progress on the project website.
Centering Student Opportunities
The vision for the dynamic new stadium is to center on students. This includes expanded opportunities for SPS students with new spaces to deepen engagement with Seattle Center’s resident arts, cultural, and sports organizations.
The project also provides a valuable opportunity to foster potential workforce development with career and technical training in fields such as cultural, culinary, and performing arts; science; journalism; and sports and sports management with access to skilled workers and professionals on the ground.
Funding the Project
Currently, the project’s public investment includes $66.5 million approved by Seattle voters in a 2022 SPS capital levy (specifically allocated to build/maintain capital assets), as well as nearly $4 million in state support and $40 million from the City of Seattle. In addition, One Roof Stadium Partnership has committed $5 million and is leading efforts to raise additional private funding needed for the project.
About Seattle Public Schools Budget and Funding
The funds SPS is committing to the project come from the Buildings, Technology, and Academics/Athletics (BTA) capital levy approved by Seattle voters in 2022.
Because this fund is specifically allocated to build or maintain capital assets, it can’t be used for operating expenses or moved to the general fund. The salary and benefits of most employees are paid from the general fund.
Partnership Agreement Approved
In June 2025, the Seattle School Board and Seattle City Council approved the project’s development and interlocal agreements.
News Release: It’s Game On for Memorial Stadium Redevelopment Project
This finalizes the partnership between Seattle Public Schools, the City of Seattle, and One Roof Stadium Partnership (a consortium of Seattle Kraken, One Roof Foundation, and Climate Pledge Arena).
One Roof Stadium Partnership is leading the efforts to raise the additional private funding needed for the project.
News Release: Memorial Stadium Partner Announcement
Collaborative Planning
This work first began in 2017 with a partnership agreement between SPS and the City of Seattle to collaboratively design a Memorial Stadium replacement and coordinate development of the SPS property with the Seattle Center.
In 2021, SPS and the city signed a Letter of Intent outlining the shared goal of replacing the athletic stadium with a more visionary, multi-use facility, which was followed by a Memorandum of Agreement in October 2022. With this agreement SPS and the City will continue their longstanding partnership at Memorial Stadium, with SPS retaining ownership and priority use for student events, while the City would maximize use of the facility through community activities.
In 2022, Seattle voters approved the Buildings, Technology, and Academics/Athletics V Capital Levy (BTA V), which included $66.5 million for the Memorial Stadium project.
Seattle businesses, community organizations and civic leaders are early supporters of this shared vision for a world-class facility which centers on students and equity, including Cornish College of the Arts, Downtown Seattle Association, Greater Seattle Partners, KEXP, Seattle Building & Construction Trades Council, SIFF, Seattle Sports Commission, Uptown Alliance, Uptown Arts & Culture Coalition, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, and YMCA of Greater Seattle.
About Memorial Stadium
Seattle Public Schools’ Memorial Stadium is a successor to Civic Field, built in 1927 as part of the City’s Civic Complex.
The City of Seattle deeded the land to SPS in 1946 to build, operate, and maintain a new athletic field. Voters approved a school levy and bonds (issued in 1942 and 1944) to provide funding for the improvement of school buildings and the construction of today’s Memorial Stadium, which was completed in 1947.
The stadium was selected as the site for a war memorial by a group of community leaders, appointed by Seattle Mayor William Devin following World War II, to pay tribute to the nearly 800 SPS alumni who lost their lives in the war.
The Memorial Wall was designed by Garfield High School student Marianne Hanson. Revenues from Thanksgiving Day football games played in the stadium from 1947-49 paid for construction and installation of the Memorial Wall.
Throughout its history, Memorial Stadium hosted the opening and closing ceremonies for the Seattle World’s Fair and tens of thousands of concerts and community events.
Today, SPS Memorial Stadium is used for numerous school events each year — attracting hundreds of thousands of students and community members for high school athletic events, graduation ceremonies, and community events.
Contacts and Resources
Media Contact: SPSmedia@seattleschools.org