Xfinity Arena

Xfinity Arena
Former names Everett Events Center (2003–2007)
Comcast Arena at Everett (2007–2014)
Location 2000 Hewitt Avenue Suite 200
Everett, WA 98201
Owner Everett Public Facilities District
Operator Global Spectrum
Capacity Hockey: 8,149[1]
Center stage concert: 10,000
End stage concert: 9,000
Construction
Broke ground April 23, 2002[2]
Opened September 27, 2003[3]
Construction cost $71.5 million
($91.7 million in 2015 dollars[4])
Architect LMN Architects[5]
PBK Architects, Inc.[6]
Structural engineer Magnusson Klemencic Associates[7]
Services engineer Hermanson Co. LLP[7]
General contractor PCL Construction Services, Inc.[7]
Tenants
Everett Silvertips (WHL) (2003–present)
Washington Stealth (NLL) (2010–2013)
Tilted Thunder Rail Birds (2010–present)
Everett Raptors (IFL) (2012)
Everett Explosion (IBL) (2007)
Everett Hawks (NIFL/AF2) (2005–2007)

Xfinity Arena at Everett is a $83.3 million multi-purpose complex, in Everett, Washington, designed and developed by the Everett Public Facilities District. The Everett Events Center opened in October 2003. Naming rights were sold to Comcast in 2007, who renamed the arena to Comcast Arena at Everett. In 2014, the name was changed to Xfinity Arena, named after the Xfinity brand that was adopted by the Comcast Cable division.[8][9]

The 10,000-seat venue has hosted a variety of concerts and other types of performances. A few events that have showcased at Xfinity Arena at Everett include Ringling Brothers Circus, moto cross, and family shows such as Disney on Ice, Harlem Globetrotters, Sesame Street Live and a myriad of others.

The venue served as the host for 2008 Skate America, a three-day ice-skating championship featuring world class skaters. The events were both nationally and internationally televised on NBC. It was the first event of six in the 2008-2009 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, a senior-level international invitational competition. This was Skate America's largest attendance ever recorded in its history.

Hockey

Xfinity Arena is the home of the Everett Silvertips, a Western Hockey League franchise. In their first season (2003–04) the Everett Silvertips were led by former NHL Head Coach Kevin Constantine, to win the WHL Western Conference Championship.

Indoor football

In 2012, Xfinity Arena was the home of the now-defunct Everett Raptors of the Indoor Football League.

Lacrosse

In 2010, Xfinity Arena became home to the Washington Stealth of the National Lacrosse League. The franchise was previously known as the San Jose Stealth, and before that the Albany Attack. The National Lacrosse League announced on June 27, 2013 that the Washington Stealth will relocate for the upcoming season. The team will preserve its nickname in the move. Further details will be announced at press conference on July 2, 2013.[10]

Banked Track Roller Derby

Xfinity Arena is also home to the Tilted Thunder Rail Birds, a Seattle-based, all-female, banked track roller derby league.

Side view of Xfinity Arena

Previous tenants

The arena was also home to the International Basketball League's Everett Explosion for one season in 2007 before they moved to Monroe and were renamed the Snohomish County Explosion, where they currently play as of 2008. Xfinity Arena has also hosted arena football for three years (2005–07). The Everett Hawks being a primary football tenant in the arena played for the NIFL in their first season at Everett going undefeated at 14-0, but lost in the semifinal to the Tri-Cities Fever. The team switched to af2 in 2006 and became a minor-league team where they didn't find much success which led to their folding in 2007.

Conference Center

The Edward D. Hansen Conference Center is a $12 million center located in the same building as the arena. The conference center was designed by H2K Design and Botesh, Nash & Hall as a world class facility that includes state-of-the-art amenities with an unmatched versatility. This aesthetically innovative three story facility includes a 12,000-square-foot (1,100 m2) ballroom that is capable of accommodating 800 guests. In addition to the ballroom the conference center has three executive meeting rooms ranging from 700-900 square feet which makes for the ideal private meeting space. The Northwest’s premier conference center hosts over 200 events annually ranging from meetings, tradeshows, banquets, galas, receptions and much more. The conference center is also home to the City of Everett’s collection of art masterpieces which includes artwork from the Pilchuck Glass Collection.

Ice Rink

The Xfinity Community Ice Rink is a NHL regulation 200' x 85' ice rink that is located inside Xfinity Arena at Everett. It is an enormous public ice skating rink, which is used for public skating, local hockey leagues, figure skating, instructional sessions and much more. Currently the rink is open year round, and has the versatility to transform into a 57,000-square-foot (5,300 m2) space that has the capability to host trade shows, expositions, consumer shows and special events.

Concerts

References

  1. ↑ 2011-12 WHL Media Guide
  2. ↑ Wade, Susan (April 20, 2002). "Yuill Signs Everett Lease; T-birds Owner Will Sell Team to Buy New WHL Franchise". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  3. ↑ Tuinstra, Rachel (September 24, 2003). "A $71.5 million Venue Represents a Big Leap of Faith' for the City". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  4. ↑ Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–2014. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  5. ↑ LMN Architects | Xfinity Arena at Everett
  6. ↑ Everett Regional Events Center - PBK Architects
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Broughton, David (November 24, 2003). "Washington City Opens Home for Junior Hockey League Team". SportsBusiness Journal. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Comcast Arena is now XFINITY Arena at Everett" (Press release). Everett, Washington: Xfinity Arena at Everett. September 10, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  9. ↑ Winters, Chris (September 10, 2014). "Everett’s events center renamed Xfinity Arena". The Herald (Everett, Washington: Sound Publishing). Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  10. ↑

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Xfinity Arena.

Coordinates: 47°58′43″N 122°12′13″W / 47.978694°N 122.203536°W