Big Progress at Northgate. Kraken Training Facility, Light Rail, Pedestrian Bridge. (Seattle: neighborhood, construction)

[homesinseattle]

Video here: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.kin...5-f1194c9db7c8

“A look inside the Seattle Kraken's training facility in Northgate. In hockey terms, you could call it a hat trick: Despite everything that transpired in the past year, Seattle's Northgate neighborhood is scheduled to open three mega projects at the same time.

It is is a big deal, in and of itself, that Sound Transit's Northgate Link light rail station is scheduled to open by the fall of 2021 and will connect people to downtown Seattle. And it is a big deal still, that the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), and multiple partners will also be opening a multi-million dollar pedestrian bridge over I-5 at the same time, that will connect the east and west sides of the Northgate neighborhood, from North Seattle College to the new Northgate station.

Then, you throw in the idea that the Northgate Mall will be revitalized with the new Seattle Kraken's headquarters and training facility, and you might understand why their is some excitement brewing in the neighborhood.

"This place is going to be rocking," said Kraken Vice President Todd Humphrey, as he entered the still-under-construction three rink ice center on Tuesday.

Humphrey, a former professional hockey player and tech entrepreneur, has been leading the planning for the center, which will serve as a business, training, and team operations hub. As he stood at what will be ice-level, his enthusiasm was evident.

"A thousand fans will be able to watch over here," he said as he pointed to the south side of the rink, and then again to the planned bar to the east, explaining the vision for the Kraken's main sheet of ice. He told KING 5 on Tuesday that fans will be able to sit in the bar, or the stands, and watch games on a big screen, or practice down below.

The bar will include an outdoor promenade, where the old Nordstrom once stood, just steps from the light rail station. Walk a few more steps to the south, and people can watch action on a second rink. Yet another sheet, on the far end, butts up against a new planned park and potential wintertime activities as well.