Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke on season 2 expectations, Seattle NBA rumors and Sue Bird statue plans

SEATTLE – Seattle Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke sat down with Seattle Sports activities Dwell’s Aaron Levine for a one-on-one interview forward of the NHL franchise’s second season.

Leiweke addresses every little thing from latest NBA rumors, to Sue Chicken statue plans, to Kraken season two expectations, and the one-year anniversary of the Neighborhood Iceplex in Northgate.

Q: It was a monumental weekend on the Kraken Neighborhood Iceplex celebrating its one-year anniversary in Northgate. Kraken CEO Todd Leiweke becoming a member of us tonight. How necessary was this weekend and every little thing that is taken place on the Iceplex because it’s opened?

Leiweke: Nicely, it was an ideal weekend. But it surely was actually a celebration of the 52 prior weeks on this place being open. And you understand, this was a part of our imaginative and prescient. And this is without doubt one of the desires that completely got here by way of. We have had over one million folks come by way of the doorways, some by no means placing on a pair ice skates of their life, others dreaming of probably taking part in within the NHL, we have got a younger man who’s coaching and is now ranked nationally as one of many high determine skaters. So below this lovely roof, a number of superb issues have occurred and extra are gonna come.

Q: I do know followers acquired a bunch of reductions particular offers all through the weekend. In some ways, it is virtually like closing the door on the primary chapter of an ideal story. And now we’re at the beginning of chapter quantity two with coaching camp proper across the nook. The place do you assume this crew is because it heads into its second season

Leiweke:  Nicely, that was a heck of a 12 months. Should you would have advised me once we started this journey that we might in some way lastly determine the world scenario on this metropolis, we carry an NHL crew right here, we construct a coaching heart that will draw one million folks, however you do it within the midst of a worldwide pandemic, I might haven’t believed Aaron, however that is precisely what occurred. So you understand, I feel for us, it is tremendous thrilling. A variety of the challenges of final 12 months have now gone away, launching a crew in COVID was simply uniquely troublesome – gamers not assembly different gamers; households, gamers not having the ability to socialize off the ice, you understand, in a restricted manner. Youngsters not coming to video games, visiting crew followers – I would by no means thought I would miss visiting crew followers! However we did. And all of that now adjustments. And in our coaching heart, not solely is our coaching camp going to start, however we’ll host the Coachella Valley Firebirds right here. And you understand, there will be a time period the place these two groups are internet hosting coaching camp on the identical time one sheet away. And I have been by way of quite a bit in sports activities – that is going to be a primary for me, and it is tremendous thrilling.

Q: Actually a glimpse into the long run with the Firebirds on the town for a few video games. Additionally, with all the joy surrounding 12 months one moving into. Had been all of us untimely with expectations final 12 months, and wouldn’t it be overstepping to assume this crew has the prospect to make the playoffs in Yr Two?

Leiweke: Nicely, you understand, to let you know the reality, my expectations have been met. What we at all times mentioned is, we wish to be sensible and construct by way of the draft. And we actually labored exhausting on constructing out an analytics crew and a brilliant, tremendous scouting workers. And after I look again on the first two draft years we have had, I could not be extra proud. Our heart place, which is usually the toughest place to fill within the NHL, you understand we discovered our future stars. And to assume that we really feel that manner going into our second season – loads of credit score to Ron Francis. And being affected person as a result of he needs to win greater than anybody. This man had an incredible profession. 23 years captain of 4 groups. Member of the Hockey Corridor of Fame. This man needs to win as a lot as anybody however he would not wish to win as soon as – he needs to construct a sustainable winner. And that is actually the directive from possession. And you understand, to try this you’ve acquired to be sensible, you must be strategic. If you are going to draft, you’ve acquired to be ready for when these preliminary draft 12 months contracts come up. We’re excited for the season – we had not solely a profitable draft, we have been actually enthusiastic about free company after which made a commerce that may be certainly one of my favourite trades in my profession. And we’re tremendous excited.

Q: I do know the followers are very excited as effectively. And I’ve realized one massive factor with the world. That place will get actually loud if there is a massive occasion and we simply noticed that within the final week with the WNBA playoffs with the Storm – such an fulfilling sequence to observe in that constructing. I’ll maintain asking – how shut are we to getting a statue of Sue Chicken exterior the world?

Leiweke: “Nicely, let me discuss a bit of bit in regards to the Storm as a result of the world was actually about a spot the place desires would come true. So, for hockey followers, desires got here true – the crew got here and it will be nice. For followers of Paul McCartney, to see certainly one of his remaining exhibits – possibly his remaining present in Seattle. For Bruce Springsteen’s followers who’re going to get to see The Boss. However I feel for the WNBA crew, their finest days are actually in entrance of them. They’ve had an incredible story thus far. However legitimately they’ll now dream massive desires. This enviornment for them introduced some prosperity that had been lacking. It created a real partnership. They are not only a tenant, they’re companions. And so they’re nice pals. And, you understand, exhausting to see Sue’s profession finish, however thrilling to consider their future. And now they seem to be a crew with sources and renown. Visiting crew gamers got here in and noticed this constructing. The long run for the Storm is tremendous vivid.

Q: And I do know Sue goes to be hanging round city additionally. That is good factor. Again to the statue factor shortly, any probability sooner or later?

Leiweke: Nicely, we attempt to do issues proper. And I feel there’s just one proper consequence there. However I am not going to get forward of our pals on the Storm.

Q: Okay,effectively, fingers crossed with that one, we’ll verify in with our pals on the Storm. Additionally, I do know you have additionally mentioned that you’ll observe the NBA’s lead in any attainable enlargement bulletins. There was a report earlier this week that the league wished to announce future enlargement to Seattle and Las Vegas proper across the Clippers preseason recreation right here. Are you able to handle that in any respect? And any validity to it?

Leiweke: Yeah, I am not going to deal with that. There’s going to be loads of rumors and innuendos. , we expect one of the best factor that we are able to do is just not ever get forward of the league. They’ve acquired massive points coming: They’re in a CBA dialogue, they usually’ve acquired broadcast offers developing. In due time, they may get to this. And in due time, we’ll be effectively positioned. The exhausting work is finished, constructing a world class enviornment. That is why the crew left. We now have that world class enviornment in place. It would stand the take a look at of time. The constructing is phenomenal for basketball. And we’re tremendous excited in regards to the Clippers taking part in the Portland Trailblazers right here. And in reality, two video games which might be gonna play right here, the primary NBA recreation in our constructing will occur that first week in October – and we’ll have a packed home and in our personal Seattle manner we’ll inform the world we’re right here. We’re prepared.

Q: Little question about that. And I do know the world was a giant factor. However let me form of ask it this manner: If the league was to say, ‘Hey, that is an choice. Does your group have every little thing in place, from the upfront prices to a plan to make the funds work within the constructing? Is every little thing buttoned up out of your finish if the league have been to say, ‘Hey, we’ve acquired a inexperienced gentle?’

Leiweke: Nicely, you understand, we’ve an proprietor that owns a part of an NBA crew. So there is a built-in affinity there. And I might simply say, Aaron, I got here again to make some stuff occur. And we’re not executed but. And so, I do not wish to get forward of the commissioner. However we have tried to do every little thing proper. From privately financing a constructing, to saving a historic landmark, to embedding extra capacitors and getting the monorail mounted, being nice companions with the Storm, to constructing a coaching heart. We have executed every little thing proper. However we’re not executed. And we all know this city will not be fulfilled till we carry the NBA again. However I am going to go away it at that.

Q: Nicely, we love to listen to that. And if it occurs, you your self would have your fingerprints on 4 professional franchises on this city – from the Kraken, to the Sounders and the Seahawks as effectively. The 12s shall be loud tomorrow in opposition to Russell – You assume they’re going to cheer him or boo him –  what do you assume?

Leiweke: Nicely, I’ll simply say this: I like this city. That is my hometown and to return again and have the privilege of doing this…however once we take into consideration sports activities proper now on this metropolis, my Sounders – love the Sounders; the Storm and what they’ve executed; the Mariners and John Stanton, one of many nice house owners in all sports activities, not simply on this city and all sports activities they usually’re getting what they deserve, which is that this crew goes to make a run and they are going to make massive noise within the playoffs. After which are you able to imagine it? Recreation One, Monday Evening Soccer, Russell Wilson, who would have thought? That is why it is a lot enjoyable to be a sports activities fan on this city. And finally, that is what I’m.