Designed by architect, Paul Thiry, and paid for by the State of Washington, the Washington State Pavilion (Coliseum) was built for the 1962 World's Fair at a cost of $4.5 million.

Four massive reinforced concrete abutments support the building's roof, which is 110 feet (11 stories high). The aluminum-paneled roof is supported by steel compression trusses and nearly six miles of steel tension cables."

After the World's Fair, the building had renovations and first opened as Washington State Coliseum, then in 1964, the facility was renamed the Seattle Center Coliseum.

In its initial configuration, the arena had a seating capacity of 12,250 for ice Hockey games (1964 to 1974).

Home of the WHL Seattle Thunderbirds