A Message to Our Community - from Acting Seattle Center Director Randy Engstrom
August 21, 2026
"This has been a profoundly difficult moment for Seattle Center and for our city. What happened on our campus was heartbreaking, and we continue to hold the victims, their families, and everyone affected in our thoughts. Seattle Center has always been a place where people come together — to celebrate, to create, to connect — and experiencing violence in a space built for community has shaken all of us.
Over the past several weeks, I’ve reflected deeply on what it means to steward a place that truly belongs to the public. Seattle Center is one of our city’s most important civic gathering places. And amid this tragedy, I’ve witnessed extraordinary compassion, resilience, and solidarity across our community.
I’ve seen the courage of first responders and the professionalism of Seattle Center employees, partner organizations, event staff, volunteers, vendors, artists, and City partners who stepped forward to support one another. I’ve heard from people throughout Seattle asking how they can help. And together, at the silent vigil at the International Fountain, we gathered to grieve and begin the long process of healing. These moments remind us why Seattle Center matters, and why our collective care for this place is so essential.
As we transition from immediate response into recovery, our focus is on the work ahead. The investigation remains open, and we will continue working closely with SPD and our public safety partners as their work moves forward. Last week, we met with the producers of Bumbershoot to review emergency protocols and enhance security measures in light of this incident. These updates are being incorporated into this year’s festival to ensure stronger coordination, clearer communication, and a shared approach to keeping attendees, artists, vendors, and staff safe. In addition, the Seattle Center Foundation has offered local vendor support and financial assistance to help those affected as recovery continues.
This work will continue with every event on our campus. In the weeks ahead, we will meet directly with future event producers and partners to review expectations, refine safety practices, and confirm that all events are grounded in common standards and shared responsibility. Alongside this work, Seattle Center staff are undertaking a broader review of our campus wide emergency protocols to ensure we are evolving our systems to meet the moment and the future.
There is no single solution, and healing will take time. But learning, adapting, and improving is one of our most important responsibilities as stewards of a public space that is central to Seattle’s identity.
For more than sixty years, each generation has strengthened Seattle Center through care, creativity, and collaboration. That continues today. Our commitment is to preserve what has always made this place special: an open, welcoming campus where people from every background, neighborhood, and generation can gather. That sense of belonging will guide every decision ahead.
Recovery will take time. Healing will take time. And meaningful change will take time. But we will move forward together — with humility, care, and the same spirit of community that has defined Seattle Center since its beginning.
To everyone who has supported your neighbors, cared for those most affected, and reached out with compassion: thank you. Your actions reflect the strength of this city and reaffirm why public gathering places like Seattle Center matter so deeply.
Seattle Center has always been more than a collection of buildings and open spaces. It is one of the places where Seattle sees itself. In this moment, our efforts — to heal, to learn, to adapt, and to support one another — will shape the future of this campus and the community it serves.
Together, we will honor those affected by continuing to build a campus, and a city, defined not by fear, but by compassion, resilience, hope, and belonging."
Randy Engstrom
Acting Director, Seattle Center
