Skip to content

Best Concert Venue: Climate Pledge Arena

By Seattle Mag November 15, 2024

Aerial view of a large, illuminated triangular-roofed concert venue at night, surrounded by trees and city lights in the background.
Photo courtesy of Climate Pledge Arena

This article originally appeared in the November/December 2024 issue of Seattle magazine.

Before Climate Pledge Arena opened three years ago, major concerts increasingly bypassed the old KeyArena, preferring to play at the Tacoma Dome instead because of logistics and audio issues. Today, the sound system is close to perfect, the sightlines are excellent, and the venue boasts 30 women’s restrooms.

Hot Tip

People often forget that only clear bags or small clutches, purses, or wallets no larger than 4 inches wide, 6 inches high, and 1.5 inches deep are allowed, check-ins for other bags are blocks away.

Staff Pick

Neumos is my top choice for live music. It’s such an intimate venue, making every concert feel special.  — Emma Smith, account executive / social media manager

About Readers Choice 2024

Every year, our annual Readers’ Choice Awards round up Seattle’s best — from standout burger joints to the city’s most scenic spots. Whether you’re after fresh seafood, cocktails with a view, or a place to unwind, these are the places to be.

Follow Us

Henry Mansfield Wins a Spot at Northwest Tune-Up

Henry Mansfield Wins a Spot at Northwest Tune-Up

A new contest for Washington musicians wrapped earlier this month in Bellingham. Nearly 200 artists entered, and it came down to five finalists.

Earlier this month, Seattle-based queer indie artist Henry Mansfield won the final round of Doc Swinson’s Opening Act Contest at Wild Buffalo House of Music, earning a slot on the Northwest Tune-Up Festival main stage this July. Mansfield makes loud, anthemic pop rooted in storytelling, with songs that move between grief and joy and pull…

Nordic Pop Comes to the Nordic Museum

Nordic Pop Comes to the Nordic Museum

An afternoon concert brings Seattle singers, strings, and percussion together for a dreamy midwinter dance party.

January in Seattle is a mood. The light is thin all day, and by midafternoon it starts to collapse into night. It’s the time of year when any plan that involves leaving the house has to earn its keep. This is where Nordic Pop comes in. On Sunday afternoon, January 18, Seattle musician and producer…

How a Local Teen Explained Auto-Tune to the World

How a Local Teen Explained Auto-Tune to the World

High school senior Jason Zhou is among 30 teens recognized for a standout science explainer video.

A two-minute film on the math behind Auto-Tune has put 17-year-old Jason Zhou of Redmond in the running to win the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, an international contest where students explain complex scientific ideas with clarity and creativity. The challenge is open to students ages 13 to 18, and each video must come in at two…

I’ve Completely Slept on Shibuya HiFi 

I’ve Completely Slept on Shibuya HiFi 

The Japanese-style listening bar is an absolute must-visit for music lovers. 

Every once in a while, I stumble upon something in Seattle that I either didn’t know about or knew about but didn’t experience for months (or years), and become completely, can’t-stop-telling-people obsessed with it. Some examples include the Lonely Siren bar, Kraken games, and Lagree Pilates. My latest discovery is Shibuya HiFi, the Japanese-style listening bar…