The Storm is relocating due to KeyArena renovations, will return to the new Seattle Center arena upon completion
SEATTLE – The Seattle Storm today announced that the University of Washington’s Alaska Airlines Arena will be the team’s primary venue for the Storm regular season games during the 2019 WNBA season. The team will relocate due to the previously announced renovation and complete shutdown of KeyArena, set to take place in 2019 and 2020.
“The University of Washington and Huskies Athletic Department are incredible partners during the Seattle Center Arena redevelopment,” said Storm President & GM Alisha Valavanis. “Entering our 20th season as a franchise, we are hopeful and excited to have our stellar fan base fill the seats at the University of Washington Alaska Airlines Arena. Our goal was to keep the Storm in Seattle and this beautiful partnership makes that possible!”
Seattle is enjoying a strong 2018 season and will enter the 2018 WNBA Playoffs as a top-2 seed, securing home-court advantage in the semifinals. The team is chasing the franchise’s third WNBA Championship (2004, 2010), and has set the team’s second-best all-time record, currently at 24-8. The 2018 WNBA Playoffs are slated to start Aug. 21 with the first of two single-elimination games. Seattle, who owns a double-bye into the semifinals, will host the first two games of the best-of-five semifinals series on Aug. 26 and Aug. 28 at KeyArena, and an if-necessary game five on Sept. 4, also at KeyArena.
“We are excited to host a portion of the Storm’s 2019 home season here in Alaska Airlines Arena,” University of Washington Athletic Director Jen Cohen said. “The partnership embodies our commitment to cultivating relationships within the Seattle community. Being an active member of a world-class city that has such a strong collegiate and professional presence makes this one of the most unique markets in the country and we are grateful to maintain strong bonds with the professional organizations in Seattle.”
The full 2019 Seattle Storm schedule will be announced in accordance with the WNBA releasing the 2019 schedule at a later date. Seattle’s preseason schedule will also be released at a later date.
“This partnership between the Seattle Storm and the University of Washington cements the fact that Seattle has the best sports teams – supported by the best fans – in the world,” said City of Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan. “While I look forward to the Storm returning to a world-class facility at the new Seattle Center Arena, I’ll be rooting for our world championship Storm in their temporary home at Alaska Airlines Arena.”
Storm 360 Members, package buyers and those who have placed 2019 deposits will soon be receiving information regarding ticket renewal options, seating locations and in-game experience changes.