“Can you imagine downtown Seattle with a bustling ice rink?” That’s what the Seattle Ice Arena Memorial Plaque commemorates. This plaque marks the spot where the Seattle Ice Arena once stood. It was a 4000-seat multi-purpose arena. The arena was located east of the present-day Olympic Hotel on University Street.
Built in 1915 for $100000, the Seattle Ice Arena was home to the Seattle Metropolitans. This team was part of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association from 1915 to 1924. The Metropolitan Building Company, owned by the University of Washington, developed it. Its design harmonized with the surrounding buildings.
The Seattle Ice Arena witnessed history. On March 26 1917 the Seattle Metropolitans achieved a remarkable feat. They defeated the Montreal Canadiens here. This victory marked the first time an American team won the Stanley Cup. Imagine the roar of the crowd, about 3500 fans strong. They cheered as their team secured a 9-1 victory.
Interestingly, Montreal had not anticipated defeat. They didn’t even bother to bring the Stanley Cup to Seattle. Despite the momentous win, the Stanley Cup never returned to Seattle.
The Seattle Metropolitans nearly clinched another title in 1919. The championship was set for a five-game series against Montreal. The series was tied at two games each. A worldwide flu epidemic forced its cancellation. The flu claimed the life of Joe Hall, a star player from Montreal. No championship was awarded that year. It remains the only time the Cup was not presented to a team.
In 1920 the Seattle Metropolitans had another shot at the Cup. They faced the Ottawa Senators. The Senators won the best-of-five series 3-2. Despite the team’s successes financial challenges mounted. The team struggled to balance expenses. A smaller fan base made it even harder. These financial issues led to the cancellation of their lease. The Seattle Metropolitans concluded the 1923-1924 season with a 14-16 record.
After its hockey days, the arena had a brief stint as a roller rink. Shortly after the 1924–25 season it was converted into a parking garage. This garage served the Olympic Hotel. In 1963 the Seattle Ice Arena was torn down. The IBM Building replaced it.
Today, the Seattle Ice Arena Memorial Plaque serves as a reminder. It commemorates a place where sports history was made. It honors the Seattle Metropolitans and their groundbreaking Stanley Cup victory. It reminds us of a time when Seattle was at the forefront of American hockey.