In 2018, Simon Property Group announced their intention to redevelop the 55-acre Northgate Mall, located in Seattle's Northgate neighborhood, into a mixed-use center featuring hotels, housing, offices, and an ice hockey facility, in addition to retail space.

The redevelopment replaced several parking lots adjacent to a nearby light rail station.

[1] The hockey facility was to be used by and serve as the headquarters[1] for the NHL's Seattle expansion franchise who had recently been accepted into the league.

[2] Following a partnership deal with Seattle-based company Starbucks, the $80 million construction for the ice hockey facility, named the Kraken Community Iceplex,[3] began following the groundbreaking ceremony on February 27, 2020.

[9] The American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Kraken, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, started a series of games in Seattle and Everett during their inaugural 2022–23 season pending construction of their arena, playing games against the Abbotsford Canucks and the Calgary Wranglers at the Iceplex as well as Climate Pledge Arena and Angel of the Winds Arena in four games throughout October.