SPOKANE, Wash. — When the Spokane Arena was introduced to the public in 1995, it replaced the iconic Spokane Coliseum. At first, it was the only place on Spokane's north bank to host major sporting events. 30 years later, the arena's neighbors now include two state-of-the-art event facilities.
The opening of the Spokane Arena was a glimpse of what's to come for the north bank's future.
"Yeah, if you think about it, this area that we're looking at here was a dirt parking lot," said Stephanie Curran, the CEO of the Spokane Public Facilities District (PFD), while looking out of the arena's windows.
The PFD began working on an indoor track to expand the arena's success. More than 15 years of planning later, The Podium broke ground in 2019.
"And sure enough, we're booked with track events every weekend from November to March, which is traditionally not a high tourist season in Spokane," Curran explained.
The Podium quickly came to life after construction finished, and plans to build a new downtown stadium were finalized. The North Bank became a hub for event facilities: the Spokane Arena, The Podium and One Spokane Stadium are all within yards of each other.
"So these venues attract people from outside our area to come in. They spend their money, they stay in a hotel, go out to restaurants, do all the things you do when you travel, and then they go home," Curran said. "They're not a drain on our resources. They're not a drain on the city. They're just coming in, leaving money, and then going."
This year alone, The Podium has generated $65 million of economic impact and brought in approximately 150,000 people to Spokane for sports-related events.
According to Curran, they hope to have those numbers rise every year.
"We're just going to be constantly bringing in business and new money. That's the other thing," she said. "That $65 million is new money. Without these buildings, that money wouldn't have been here."
The North Bank started as the Coliseum, dirt parking lots and a few straggling buildings. Now, it is considered a major stadium district.
"I think it would be like the Placemaking District," Curran laughed.
The name is still up for grabs, but whatever it's called, the city now has a new hub for events.
"We're doing exactly what our goal is," Curran said. "Generate money to other entities and keep our city vibrant."
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