Cool as Ice

This annual event always involves an ice rink installed somewhere unusual—in this case, the stadium that usually hosts peanuts, popcorn, and Mariners baseball.

Chris Mast

The game spotlights Seattle’s still-young and already successful hockey team, the Kraken, who normally play in Seattle Center’s sleek Climate Pledge Arena (334 First Ave N)—they’ll take the ice against the Vegas Golden Knights. Launched as the NHL’s 32nd team in 2021, the Kraken have quickly become a force to be reckoned with in the league’s Pacific Division and a beloved fan favorite in the Emerald City—and not only because their team dog is a rescue husky named Davy Jones. Now in its third season, the team has resumed the tradition of players “yeeting the fish,” or flinging a plush-toy salmon into the stands in a salute to Seattle’s famous Pike Place Market seafood tossers.

The Winter Classic is but one major sports event to look forward to in Seattle. In 2026 the FIFA World Cup comes to North America, with Seattle selected as one of the 16 host cities.