Jaws

Lore & Background

The Kraken's arrival in Seattle brought with it an immediate need to build a fan identity from scratch—there was no decades-old tradition to inherit. In that vacuum, the ocean-creature motif became the natural anchor. The team is a kraken; the section is Jaws. Together they form a small mythology of deep-water predators, and fans lean into it with flags, face paint, and a shared vocabulary that references the trench, the current, and the hunt.

What distinguishes Jaws from a generic end-zone or upper-deck section is the emphasis on sustained, coordinated noise rather than one-off celebrations. Drums, air horns, and call-and-response chants create a rolling wall of sound that shifts intensity with the game's momentum. The section's energy is less about individual heroics and more about collective pressure—fans describe it as 'the tide coming in' when the crowd surges forward during a power play or a tight third period.

The group also reflects Seattle's broader cultural texture: a mix of long-time Pacific Northwest sports fans who followed the Kraken's expansion bid, younger supporters drawn by the team's fresh start, and a visible presence of the city's tech, maritime, and arts communities. The result is a fanbase that feels distinctly local—pragmatic, a little ironic, but fiercely proud when the puck drops.

In Their Own Story

The arena lights dim to a low teal glow. Somewhere in the Jaws section, a bass drum thuds once, twice—then silence. A thousand faces turn toward the ice. The home team's center drops the puck, and the first hit cracks like a wave against a seawall. The section erupts: flags snap, the chant rolls out in a low, guttural wave that builds and builds until the glass vibrates. A kid in a too-big jersey grabs her dad's arm. The dad just grins, eyes on the ice, and lets the roar carry him. Somewhere above, the jumbotron flashes a kraken tentacle curling around the frame. The tide is in. The night is theirs.

Reader's Guide

Climate Pledge Arena sits in the SoDo neighborhood of Seattle, a short walk from the Waterfront and the Duwamish River. The building is a modern, single-purpose hockey venue with steep sightlines, a high-definition glass board, and a retractable roof that lets in Pacific Northwest rain on game days.

The Jaws section occupies a dedicated zone where fans gather with flags, drums, and coordinated signage. The most recognizable tradition is the 'Kraken Call': on key moments—faceoffs, power plays, or after a big save—the section leader calls out a prompt and the crowd answers in a single, thunderous 'KRA-KEN!' that rolls across the ice. It's less a song and more a pressure wave.

The fanbase is notably diverse for a new-market team: longtime Seattle sports fans, transplants who followed the expansion bid, families with kids in small jerseys, and a visible contingent of the city's maritime and tech communities. The local identity leans into the Pacific: rain-soaked jerseys, coffee in hand, a wry humor about the weather, and an unshakable pride in finally having a team that feels like it belongs to the coastline.

Did You Know?

• The Kraken's expansion into the NHL was approved in 2018, and the team began play in the 2021–22 season, making it one of the youngest franchises in the league.
• Climate Pledge Arena is named for the Climate Pledge, a sustainability initiative, and the venue's design emphasizes energy efficiency and a connection to the surrounding SoDo neighborhood.
• The 'Kraken Call' chant became one of the franchise's signature fan traditions almost immediately, with the section's coordinated roar becoming a recognized part of the home-game atmosphere.
• Seattle's Pacific Northwest location and maritime history gave the franchise a natural ocean-creature identity, distinguishing it from the land- or mountain-themed mascots of many other NHL teams.