When did Seattle get a hockey team
Seattle finally got its NHL team back. On December 4, 2018, the league awarded an expansion franchise to the city, ending nearly a century without top-tier professional hockey. The Seattle Kraken began playing in the 2021-22 season at the remodeled Seattle Center Arena. When did Seattle get a hockey team? Well, that answer marks one of the biggest moments in the city's sports history.
Seattle's hockey history before the Kraken
Seattle had professional hockey long before the Kraken showed up. The Seattle Metropolitans played from 1915 to 1924 and made history by becoming the first American team to win the Stanley Cup in 1917. After they folded, the city lost major league hockey for decades. Minor league teams came and went the Eskimos, Sea Hawks, Ironmen and others but Seattle never landed another NHL franchise (frustrating for fans, honestly).
Two expansion bids failed to bring hockey back. In 1974, an ownership group won a franchise for the 1976-77 season but couldn't meet financial deadlines. Another attempt in 1990 also collapsed due to money and ownership problems. These failures made the 2018 award feel like winning the lottery for Seattle fans.
How the Kraken became reality
Seattle Hockey Partners made the difference. The ownership group included David Bonderman, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Tod Leiweke serious money and serious commitment. They paid a record $650 million expansion fee, surpassing what Vegas paid for the Golden Knights just years earlier. That massive investment showed the NHL and Seattle fans alike that this team was here to stay.
The remodeled Seattle Center Arena became the Kraken's home. The renovated building seats 17,400 fans and features modern facilities you'd expect from a major league venue. The arena's design and location in downtown Seattle created the perfect setup for success. Previous ownership groups lacked the resources and vision that actually made this expansion work.
What the Kraken have accomplished so far
The team's early results surprised absolutely nobody. They finished last in their inaugural 2021-22 season, which was expected for an expansion team building from scratch. But year two changed everything. The Kraken made the playoffs in the 2022-23 season, showing rapid improvement and genuine competitive growth.
GM Ron Francis built the roster through the expansion draft, selecting players from other NHL teams. The team's philosophy emphasizes speed, character, and toughness. That approach has produced quick development and real playoff contention. Seattle's success proves that when a city gets the right ownership, the right arena, and the right plan, NHL hockey thrives.
The Kraken represent Seattle's return to the big leagues and they're staying put.
This material is AI-assisted. See something that doesn't look right? Contact zoneonecomplex at [email protected].