August 2024

Welcome to the August 2024 Sports ETA Facility Showcase, a feature that aims to highlight the best sports facilities within our membership, showcasing what sets them apart, as their "key difference maker". This month, we're thrilled to feature the Spokane Sports' premier indoor sporting venue: The Podium, the crown jewel of Spokane's sports events and tourism portfolio.

Established in 1989, Spokane Sports has been a driving force in the region's economic development as a nonprofit organization. They play a pivotal role in attracting, retaining, and facilitating sports events across Spokane, fueled by a dynamic blend of funding sources, including a Tourism Promotion Assessment (TPA), lodging tax funds, and rental car tax revenues. This robust support empowers them to elevate sports events and tourism in the region. The showcase of The Podium exemplifies how Spokane Sports achieves their success through strategic partnerships and collaborative efforts.
               

THE PODIUM
 

The Podium, completed in the Fall of 2021, was built with the needs of many athletes and sports organizations in mind; it's a 135,000 square foot indoor facility with a 75,000 square foot space dedicated to competition. The factors that determined The Podium’s design were influenced by a blend of public and private economic investments. This, along with a central location chosen for its accessibility and the potential to draw both local and out of town participants, shapes the scale and overall quality of The Podium.  

The Podium is owned and operated by the Spokane Public Facilities District while Spokane Sports is responsible for the marketing, promotion, and programming of the facility. These two groups are mutually dedicated to providing athletes with an “exceptional experience”.  As with many facilities being constructed after the COVID-19 pandemic, the final $53 million construction cost included an unanticipated $10 million dollar increase that is being funded by public bonds with an anticipated pay off date of 2043. In true collaboration, many entities came together to fund the construction and operate the facility, so residents do not incur a tax increase.   

The Podium attracts national and international events while being versatile in hosting other events. It is anticipated that The Podium will generate between $11M to $20.5M in direct tourism spending annually, which will generate 17,000 to 33,000 hotel room nights. The benefit of this substantial new revenue, of $1.7 million in additional tax revenue for the community, is a win for the greater Spokane region.  

To date, The Podium has hosted indoor track & field events such as the Spokane Events Showcase, the Spokane Indoor Challange, and the 2022 USA Track & Field Indoor Nationals. It has also added to its already impressive resume events such as the 2022 USA Karate National Championships, USA Badminton Junior National Championships as well as the Badminton 19U World Junior Championships. The impact on local businesses is measured through increased revenue, hotel occupancy rates, and spending patterns observed during events. Each event further reinforces their overall plan to provide an exceptional experience for local athletes and those coming in from across the country and oversees.

KEY DIFFERENCE MAKER: A versatile and world-class facility intentionally designed for economic and community impact.  

Parting Thoughts 
Spokane Sports has worked diligently to design and build an impactful facility for their region. They collaborated with their partners and governmental entities on a strategic pathway that will benefit their destination for years to come. How do you collaborate with your community partners to elevate sports events and tourism in your destination? 

A special shoutout to Keytra Lewis and Keith Webber of Spokane Sports for providing in-depth information about The Podium.  Thank you for being true storytellers in our sports tourism space.  

Want to showcase a facility in your destination?
Contact: Vince Trinidad at Vince@SportsETA.org

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