Serving Queen Anne & Magnolia Since 1919 www.QueenAnneNews.com
NOVEMBER 12, 2025
VOL. 106, NO. 46
Farewell to the Old Grandstand: Memorial Stadium’s Final Column Comes Down
Staff Report
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n Saturday, November 8, the last grandstand column of Seattle’s Memorial Stadium came down, marking the most visible milestone yet in the stadium’s long-awaited redevelopment. With that final piece of concrete removed, the postwar structure that has stood at the heart of the Seattle Center campus for nearly eight decades is giving way to a new era. According to the project team, the north stadium back wall and base will be gradually removed over the coming weeks, but Saturday’s demolition represented “the most visual demolition opportunity remaining.” The event closed a monumental chapter for a venue that has hosted generations of Seattle athletes, students, and fans. Memorial Stadium was built in 1947 by Seattle Public Schools on the site of the old Civic Field. It was conceived as a living memorial to honor nearly 800 Seattle students and alumni who lost their lives in World War II. Their names are engraved on the memorial wall
at the east end of the field and will be preserved in the new design. For much of its life, the stadium served as the home field for countless high school football games, marching band showcases, and community events. In the 1960s, it briefly hosted concerts and festivals during the Century 21 Exposition and became a versatile civic space for decades to follow. In recent years, its most poignant use may have come
during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Seattle Public Schools shifted graduation ceremonies to Memorial Stadium to allow for outdoor, socially distanced celebrations. Families spread out across the grandstands while students crossed the stage under open skies. The adaptation preserved a rite of passage during an unprecedented time. The stadium’s removal is being handled with respect for that
layered history. Crews began dismantling the south grandstand earlier this fall, followed by the north. Saturday’s demolition of the final column officially marked the end of the old seating structure. The remaining north wall and base will be taken down in stages, and the site will soon transition into foundation and utility preparation work. Despite the visible demolition, the project’s planners emphasize
that this is a renewal, not an erasure. The Memorial Wall will remain in place throughout construction, and the site design integrates it into a new plaza of remembrance, ensuring that the names and legacy it represents stay at the forefront of the stadium’s identity. The Memorial Stadium Redevelopment Project, a partnership between Seattle Public Schools, the City of Seattle, and the One Roof Partnership, will replace the aging structure with a modern, multi-use facility designed for school and community events. The new stadium will seat about 6,500 people, expandable to 8,000 for larger performances, and will feature improved accessibility, flexible programming, and a design that integrates with the Seattle Center campus. With an estimated budget of $140 million and a projected completion in 2027, crews will continue site preparation in the coming months by clearing remaining walls, relocating utilities, and beginning foundation work.
MEMORIAL, 8
SPU Expands Access to Special Item Pickup for a Cleaner, Safer Seattle Submitted
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eattle Public Utilities (SPU) is rolling out an expansion of the Special Item Pickup service beginning in April 2026, making it easier for customers to safely dispose of items that are hard-to-recycle or require special handling. Currently, SPU customers can schedule on-demand pickup for items such as batteries, small electronics, mattresses, and appliances. While this service is available today for a small fee, the new program will introduce one free annual pickup as a benefit to SPU residential customers to help make proper disposal simpler, safer, and more convenient. Each year, SPU customers will be able to request one free collection of a small box of special items (two cubic feet or smaller, up to 60 pounds), plus one bag of household batteries. Properly disposing of these materials will help prevent transfer station fires caused by batteries and divert them from the landfill. In 2027, SPU will expand the service to include large electronic items and bulky furniture, which will provide even more ways for residents to responsibly recycle, prevent illegal dumping, and support a cleaner and safer city for everyone.
Special Free Annual Pickup Electronics Batteries & fluorescent light bulbs Cooking oil & motor oil E COMING TO CURBSIDAR FREE ONCE PER YE APRIL 2026
This is part of SPU’s broader effort to expand access to recycling and disposal options across Seattle. The utility is exploring ways to make the service available to more customers, including residents in multifamily buildings, and will share additional details as program design and operations evolve. For customers who need to dispose of additional items beyond the free annual pickup, SPU will continue to offer on-call, fee-based pickups as well
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PAID
SEATTLE, WA PERMIT 1271
as convenient drop-off options at SPU transfer stations, where many special items can be recycled or disposed of safely for a small fee.
“The updated rates will take effect April 1, 2026” By making it easier to properly dispose of electronics, batteries, and other special materials, this program supports SPU’s goals of protecting worker safety, reducing environmental risks, and keeping Seattle’s neighborhoods clean and litter-free. This expansion was authorized by Mayor Bruce Harrell and the Seattle City Council under Council Bill 121051,
AVAILABLE NOW: Place up to two onegallon jugs next to recycle containers
which set new solid waste rates for 2026–2028. “Seattle Public Utilities continues to align our solid waste system with the city’s values of equity, affordability, and environmental stewardship,” said SPU General Manager Andrew Lee. “This new rate path ensures we can maintain reliable, high-quality service while introducing programs that make proper disposal simpler and more accessible for everyone.” The updated rates will take effect April 1, 2026, with more information on how to schedule your free annual Special Item Pickup to be shared as implementation approaches. If customers would like to schedule a Special Item Pickup now, they can see more information including rates on our page at www.seattle.gov/utilities/special-items.