Paul Silvi: Seattle Kraken fall short in memorable home opener

Sometimes in our business we have the privilege of attending some pretty memorable sporting events. The Kraken home kick-off on Saturday night was one of those events.

SEATTLE – Sometimes in our business we have the privilege of attending some pretty memorable sporting events. The Kraken home kick-off on Saturday night at the brand new Climate Pledge Arena was one of those events.

The place was filled to the ceiling with fans and even had a few celebrities, including Heart’s Ann Wilson, who blew up a rousing rendition of the star-spangled banner that only she can. It was the ovations she got in the end that shook me. Or maybe more precisely, shook my seat.

As I sat over the ice in the hanging press area, the whole row began to sway. We all noticed the movement right away, much like the press box in the old Husky Stadium. A press box that seemed to develop a life of its own every time Dawgs was put on, vibrated and trembled.

For us older boys, call this experience a bit of a throwback to the past, but it was almost fitting considering we were sitting under an arena roof that has been around since the early 1960s.

When Vince Dunn scored the Kraken’s very first goal in the new arena with three seconds remaining in the first third, the press line was in full swing. Throw in the waves crashing on the two giant billboards that float above the ice and I could see where there could have been some treacherous moments for those affected by motion sickness.

The arena itself is as advertised and more. From design to lighting to all amenities – that cannot be explained in black and white. Like hockey itself, the Climate Pledge Arena must be experienced. The fans were thrilled from the first puck drop. They didn’t need additional motivation from stars in the arena like Macklemore or Seahawks stars Bobby Wagner and DK Metcalf. Or Russell Wilson and Ciara gathering the crowd from their seats. Or even Gary Payton Shawn Kemp and Sue Bird who add their own excitement to the atmosphere. No, the fans didn’t need all of the extras, but they got them and they loved them.

The Climate Pledge Arena is crying out for Seattle. It’s a state-of-the-art arena that has a lot going for it. They plan 75 concerts a year and other big events, but for me it will always be about hockey. I grew up with the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

Now, after 28 years in Seattle, I’m getting to see NHL hockey up close again.

I may not be there to see the Kraken lift the Stanley Cup, but I will definitely be there to search.