SPOKANE -- The U.S. Figure Skating Championships is over but Spokane has a huge list of big events coming up. Those events should mean a lot more money coming to town.
The calendar for this coming year is huge. There are events every few weeks that bring in $20 million or more. 2010 is going to be busier than any other.
The Spokane Regional Sports Commission says the U.S. Figure Skating Championships brought in about $8 million. But in less than a month, the State 2B Basketball Championships comes to town worth almost $1 million. The Pacific Northwest Volleyball National Qualifier in March should bring in more than $4 million.
Spokane also gets the first two rounds of the NCAA Men's Tournament. That could bring in another $4 million. In August, the American Legion World Series will help out with $3 million. That does not even count sold out concerts or even Hoopfest and Bloomsday.
Businesses, like the Davenport Hotel, see a lot of that cash. It's the headquarters for some of those events.
"It's jobs, it's great jobs and we need that in Spokane. It's good wages, great tips for people working our restaurants," said Davenport Hotel Manager Matt Jensen.
With every drink and every customer from Spokane and out of town, the money keeps pouring in.
