Rising From the Deep: The Seattle Kraken, a Tenacious Push for Expansion, and the Emerald City's Sports Revival

by Geoff Baker

Encompassing sports, civics, and regional identity, this is a multifaceted narrative of launching a franchise from the ground up

In 2021, Seattle released the Kraken.

Evoking the aquatic mystique of Puget Sound while epitomizing colorful innovation, the Seattle Kraken, the National Hockey League's newest expansion franchise, entered its inaugural season backed by league-wide fanfare and with an eye toward the future of both the team and its city.

In true Seattle fashion, they would play their games on ice from recycled rainwater in front of sold-out crowds at the privately funded, all-electric, Amazon-sponsored Climate Pledge Arena. If an organic union of sports and civic identity was ever possible, this would seem to be it.

How did it go so right? What made the Emerald City the perfect setting for a new hockey franchise just years after it had failed to retain the NBA's SuperSonics? And could the same forces that propelled the Kraken into existence be redeployed to attract a basketball team once again?

Rising From the Deep traces the dynamic origins of the NHL's newest team, from the history of Seattle hockey in the early 20th century, to the winter sports void left by the bitter departure of the Sonics, to the the development of a team identity that captured the imagination of hockey fans everywhere.

Seattle Times investigative reporter Geoff Baker takes readers behind the scenes and back to the start with power brokers, players, and fans in this fascinating, hard-fought saga.

Genres: Hockey, Sports, Nonfiction, History

329 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2022

Reviews

[Pat Trent · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started this book with the energy of someone starting a book about Batman fighting crime, but instead it was like reading a book about Bruce Wayne’s experiences in the board room of Wayne Enterprise’s. Minimal hockey, lots of talk about the adventures of CEO’s and politicians trying to purchase real estate and teams.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were a few parts that felt nonsensical, but overall, I really enjoyed the look into the history of sports venues in Seattle and how the Seattle Kraken came to be.

[Mike Barbre · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those of us who are Seattle sports fans, this book is key to understanding the truth of the convoluted, frustrating, but ultimately successful quest that was finding a solution to securing a new arena for both pro hockey and ultimately basketball again in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest
From the Seattle City Council on down, nothing came easy. But that gem of a venue remains well worth the sweat and tears.

[Katy Emeigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

UPDATE: I have finished the book, and I have…thoughts. First off, it is still not good. The typos and questionable grammar still persisted as I went along. And to be honest, I could not tell you much about the last 40ish pages. I was skimming at that point because the writing was just so boring and repetitive. Definitely not a one-star read, because I think the book would have had to be a DNF for that to happen, but it still is not a book I would ever recommend. This experience makes me feel less nervous about pursuing my dreams in journalism, if someone can write a book with so many jarring mistakes and misinformation and still have a job in the field. Geoff Baker, Triumph Books…do better.

This is the point where I realized that this book is not good:

pg. 35: “…the 1995 American League Division Series against the defending World Series champion New York Yankees.”
This is just…wrong. For starters, postseason baseball was not even played in 1994. There was a lockout in August of that year that resulted in the cancellation of the postseason. So technically, we could consider the 1993 winner to be the defending champion. But here’s the issue with that argument: not only were the Yankees not champions in 1993, they didn’t even PLAY in the World Series. It was between the Phillies and Blue Jays, and let me just say, this feels like Joe Carter erasure. Joe, my friend, I am so sorry. I am a Phillies fan and even I am offended on your behalf, sir.

At this point, I am left wondering if this book was given ample time in the editing process. Honestly, it just feels haphazard, both in writing and in proofreading. I understand that Geoff Baker is a writer for the Kraken and this is meant to be in his wheelhouse. However, it is the lack of fact checking that truly took me out of the story at times. Additionally, the multiple jarring grammatical errors and typos should send Triumph Books, the publisher, to the penalty box. If you ask me, it’s a match penalty.

This whole reading experience has made me sad because I love the NHL and I was so excited to read this book. However, I cannot, in good faith, recommend this book. It would be a disservice to hockey fans, and sports fans in general, to rave about this work.

[Daniel Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was essentially a long-form essay from an investigative / sports journalist in Seattle, WA covering the arrival of the Seattle Kraken NHL franchise and the background political machinations and cultural context during that time (roughly 2012-2022, although Baker also covers pro history in Seattle all the way back to the early 1900s).
There was a spotlight placed on the Kraken's home arena, Climate Pledge Arena (known as KeyArena for the bulk of the book). A large portion of the book involved insider knowledge of business dealings and developments in the years leading up to the Kraken's debut season. This would normally not have held my interest, and honestly I came into this book hoping to hear about the massive engineering project that was preserving the KeyArena historic roof, but I found that the facts Baker chose to include and his personal insights were interesting enough to keep me reading. He's clearly a sports fan, which makes sense given his career choice and comes through in the tone of his writing. Likewise, he found ways to add his occasional dry humor into the way he phrased things that really helped this read like a book and not an extremely long newspaper article. Baker's perspective as a Seattle local during the time on which he's reporting also lent to his ability to accurately capture the public perception of the team and of the city itself, which as a Seattle-area resident myself allowed me a deeper connection to the book.
Upon finishing this book, I do wish there had been more focus on the engineering involved in the redesign or the athletic side of the business, but anyone who's genuinely interested in sports reporting and hockey probably would enjoy this.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this not because of an interest in the Kraken but rather itching to get a fuller picture of the history and political machinations behind Seattle's arena debates and the revival of (my beloved) KeyArena (now Climate Pledge). In this regards, it did not disappoint, though it is bit too celebratory of various wealthy industrialists and spends too much time in the beginning describing cultural aspects of Seattle (e.g. the supposed Seattle Freeze), the relevance of which to the arena Baker doesn't really make clear. Sonics revivalists like myself will be heartened though: Baker's accounts makes abundantly clear that the arrival of the Kraken is step one on the path toward eventual resurrection of NBA franchise for Seattle.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than just the story of how the Seattle Kraken came to exist in Seattle, Baker gives readers a detailed background of the social and political landscape in the Seattle/Tacoma area that fully informs everything that lead to Seattle once again becoming a hockey town. Having followed the story closely as it happened, I thought I knew the story but Baker pulled back the curtain to reveal all the behind the scenes discussions and maneuvering that ultimately led to the renovation of Key Arena, the acquisition of our NHL franchise, and renewed hopes for the eventual return of the Seattle Sonics. Highly recommended.

[Nathan Sun-kleinberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

The process to own a sports franchise is a kabuki power play between billionaires, local politicians, and the dons of sports leagues. This wouldn’t appear to be something that the average Joe would be interested in, but through rigorous reporting, the “Seattle Times” reporter Geoff Baker tells a riveting tale about the decades old fight to build a new arena in Seattle, which led to the creation of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken.

[Jessica Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I told my mom when she asked me how the book was about halfway through, ‘Geoff Baker is really good at his job!’ I have a newfound appreciation for all the folks who worked often behind-the-scenes to bring hockey to my hometown, as well as what’s been done for and in the community through the entire Kraken organization.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first few chapters were more or less a review of Seattle’s past and some of the other sports teams that reside in Seattle. I vaguely remember all the events that led to the Seattle being awarded an NHL franchise and the painstaking steps, and missteps that happened during that period, via articles in the Seattle Times. Well written and a good read for all Seattle sports fans.

[Steve Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

While tha author had some interesting, behind the scenes access and knowledge, it felt like a very negative cloud over what ultimately should have been a celebratory moment in Seattle's sports history.

[Olga · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t intend to get glued to this book like I eventually did. But I found this book to be very interesting as far as what was going on the inside of the arena wars and the deal that came out of it that got us the NHL team.

[Jeremy Porter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe it was me, but I was expecting more hockey from a hockey book. Instead, I read about the history of Seattle (the community, business and sport history) and a whole lot of the political / construction industry.

[Greg Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the breakaway story on how Seattle’s quest to replace the Sonics brought the NHL to the Pacific Northwest! An enjoyable and informative read and perfect for passing the time leading to the next puck drop.

[Junkets · Rating 1 out of 5]

got the kraken's best beat reporter fired on a whim

[Julie Berry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as part of the King County Library System's 2023 10 to Try Reading Challenge: Read a book about sports or a sports figure.

[woodswit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really delightful read - so much delicious NHL and NBA tea! Really loved how the author introduced the different key players in this story. Super informative but never dry. So much fun!