Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion
Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion is a basketball arena in Seattle, Washington, home of the Washington Huskies (Big Ten, NCAA Division I). It opened in 1927, making it 99 years old in 2026 and seats 10,000 for basketball. It ranks 16th of 18 in the Big Ten by capacity.
Its record crowd is 12,961 (high school state tournament semifinals, 1957). The closest NBA arena is Moda Center in Portland, about 145 miles away.
Arena facts
- Location
- Seattle, Washington
- Home of
- Washington Huskies
- School
- University of Washington
- Conference
- Big Ten
- Opened
- 1927
- Capacity
- 10,000
- Nickname
- Hec Ed
- Former names
- University of Washington Pavilion (1927–1948)
Hec Edmundson Pavilion (1948–1999)
Bank of America Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion (2000–2010) - Record crowd
- 12,961 (high school state tournament semifinals, 1957)
- Also home to
- Washington women's basketball
Washington volleyball
Washington gymnastics
Seattle Storm (2019 season) - Size rank in D-I
- 99th of 360
Famous games at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion
- 1949: Hec Ed hosts NCAA Final Four games, the first of two times the tournament's final rounds come to the building.
- March 26, 1952: Kansas beats St. John's 80-63 at Hec Ed to win the NCAA championship in the first tournament billed as a Final Four.
- 1957: A state high school tournament semifinal draws 12,961 fans, the building's all-time attendance record.
- March 6, 2004: Washington stuns top-ranked, unbeaten Stanford 75-62 on national TV before 10,086 fans.
- Jan. 19, 2019: The Huskies become the first NCAA men's program to win 1,000 games in a single building.
Game night
Getting there. The University of Washington station is the listed transit stop.
Seating & views at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion
Hec Ed seats about 10,000 for basketball after a 1999-2000 renovation that moved the court 50 feet west into a tighter bowl and turned the east end into a practice gym. Roughly half the seats are chairs and half are bleachers, most of those with backs. The renovation also removed the 20 upper-level pillars that used to block views, replacing them with two long roof trusses, so sightlines are now clear throughout.
Parking & tailgating at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion
Hec Ed is on the University of Washington campus, and the nearest light-rail stop is the University of Washington station on Sound Transit's Link line, which makes transit the simplest way in on game nights. Campus event parking is managed by UW; check the Huskies' game-day page for current lot assignments and payment rules before you drive.
Plan your trip to Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion
Arenas near Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion10
- 1D-IRedhawk Center — Seattle Redhawks same city
- 2WNBAClimate Pledge Arena — Seattle Storm same city
- 3NBAModa Center — Portland Trail Blazers 145 mi
- 4D-IViking Pavilion — Portland State Vikings 145 mi
- 5D-IChiles Center — Portland Pilots 145 mi
- 6D-IGill Coliseum — Oregon State Beavers 214 mi
- 7D-IReese Court — Eastern Washington Eagles 221 mi
- 8D-IMcCarthey Athletic Center — Gonzaga Bulldogs 230 mi
- 9D-IMatthew Knight Arena — Oregon Ducks 247 mi
- 10D-IBeasley Coliseum — Washington State Cougars 249 mi
Questions about Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion
Where do the Washington Huskies play home games?
The Washington Huskies play at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion in Seattle, Washington.
How many people does Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion hold?
Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion seats 10,000 for basketball.
When did Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion open?
Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion opened in 1927.
What is Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion’s nickname?
Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion is known as “Hec Ed.”
What is the attendance record at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion?
The record crowd at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion is 12,961 (high school state tournament semifinals, 1957).
What other arenas are near Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion?
Redhawk Center is also in Seattle. See the full list of nearby arenas on this page.
Facts are for the 2026–27 season. Distances are straight-line miles between city centers. Capacity figures vary by source. See something wrong? Let us know. Is this your arena? Get the “Listed on Hoops Arenas” badge for your website.