Calling All Depositors: Seat Selection Begins

It's time, it's real and it's personal. Calling all Seattle Kraken ticket depositors. The general seat selection process begins Tuesday and it features more than 40 different seating options and prices as part of the most innovative ticket plan ever rolled out for sports fans.
Depositors will receive emails Tuesday outlining next steps for their very own opportunity to pick their seats-every one with eye-popping views-and bring the renowned Seattle-high-decibel noise to Climate Pledge Arena. The wait is officially in the penalty box.

On March 1, 2018, 32,000 future Kraken fans worked laptops, tablets and cell phones to join the virtual queue for season tickets. It was a nerve-wracking cycle for some fans struggling to get through but eventually prevailing, euphoric for others with perfectly-timed bandwidth. The Kraken franchise notched sports history as the fastest professional franchise to reach 10,000 depositors (in 12 minutes!), plus the unprecedented and astounding 32,000 cash depositors in one day.
"This franchise is forever indebted to our 32,000 deposit holders who stood with us to show the NHL we are a hockey town with an exclamation point," said Tod Leiweke, Kraken CEO. "They gave this franchise life in one day. We created a ticket plan to reward those depositors and give them all the chance to be part of the most intimate seating bowl in the NHL.
"We worked on the ticket plan for months and listened to our depositors. We threw conventional wisdom aside and said what's a new and better way to do it."
The better way includes 9,000 partial-season plans, the most in the league, as more than 50 percent of Kraken depositors expressed interest in 22-game, half-season plans. Everyone who participates in the half-season plan will attend the Kraken's opening weekend of twin home openers, targeted for a Thursday and Saturday night. Fans can choose Red or Blue plans that slot certain "Original Six" team fans might prefer to see up close in visitors' uniforms.

The better way includes multiple-year license agreements for price certainty across three to seven seasons, plus a one-year term option for those fans who aren't ready to make a longer-term commitment. Fans can be assured the costs of season tickets will be steady over a significant time period. There are payment options, such as 12-month payment plans via the Kraken and founding partner WaFd Bank. Fans who choose the WaFd Bank option will receive the first authentic Seattle Kraken jersey, when available in 2021. The bottom line beyond pricing is flexibility of your ticket package.
"We call it 'optionality,' said Leiweke. "We looked at it from the prism of our fans. We wanted to create options for price points and plans to fit people's lives. We did feel an obligation to our 32,000 depositors. We tried to respect them at every turn.
It is important to Kraken ownership the ticket plan establishes lower price points for greater fan access. There will be 600 single-game tickets priced at $40 or less. Nearly 5,000 ticket plans will be priced under $100.
"We are thrilled to invite fans to start selecting their seats and exploring the best option that suits them," said Bill Chapin, Kraken senior vice president of sales and service. "We made conscious decisions to create lower pricing in certain sections of the bowl."
Chapin said the Kraken sales staff is ready to answer every question: "They are empowered and equipped to support our depositors through our virtual seat selection process, which includes the ability to show you the view to the ice from every seat. They are supremely informed and educated about the options for every seat and sightline in Climate Pledge Arena. They have worked hard and smart to be ready for every depositor's big moment. We can't wait to get started."
The Kraken will be connecting with depositors beginning Aug. 24, after some informational emails that will help fans become familiar with the seating bowl and ticket options.

"Some teams might sell out full-season plans and serve less customers," said Leiweke "That's not how we looked at it. We looked at it as there is a family formed with 32,000 depositors. We want that family to experience what will be the most beautiful arena in the world with a game presentation second to none in the NHL. And we want our players to experience how lively and supportive our crowd will be night after night by how we set up this ticketing plan."
Another innovation in the ticket plan is every depositor joining the "family" will be surprised and delighted with additional benefits as the first puck is dropped and beyond. One unique benefit: Every plan holder will be eligible for free public transit rides to and from Climate Pledge Arena if fans choose to ride a bus, train or monorail.
The Kraken sales staff is offering fans two ways to buy their tickets - one via virtual appointment with an account manager who will join via Zoom call to talk you through the process Or there is a video for those people who want to do it themselves.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will not be in person appointments as the team prioritizes the health and safety of both fans and staff.
The Kraken waiting list has grown to more than 52,000 fans in recent weeks during the hat-trick summer at hand. Those fans will also be receiving email updates and Leiweke promises good news soon for the wait-list group.
"We're excited about the membership plan we are going to announce," he said. "We are going to create engagement opportunities for them. It's a work in progress. Today, we are focusing the 32,000 depositors."