Five weeks after the downtown Spokane stadium was approved, plans are beginning to form

The hard work only starts with an effort to get a sports stadium into downtown Spokane.

If it were a game, it would only be halfway. More than two years ago, voters approved a capital loan to fund a new stadium for Spokane Public Schools, and it will be two more years before fans cheer in the stands.

It’s been five weeks since the district agreed to spend its $ 31 million north of the Spokane River in place of Joe Albi’s original location.

“It’s hard for me to believe it happened,” said Stephanie Curran, CEO of the Spokane Public Facilities District, last week.

“And I really think it’s the right decision,” said Curran. “I haven’t seen a lot of negatives since the vote, but the people who opposed it just want them to give us a chance to show them that this is going to be a positive thing.”

Since then, the school district, PFD, Civic Theater and representatives of the United Soccer League have been dealing with the details.

The next step is to approve an inter-local agreement between the school district and the PFD, which will operate the 5,000-seat stadium along with its neighboring properties, The Podium and Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.

Before the final vote, the PFD basically agreed to a list of requirements for the school district. Key provisions include that the district retain ownership of the stadium, receive priority event planning rights, pay no more than $ 31 million to build the stadium, retain a portion of “market-based setup fees,” and retain free and sufficient Parking spaces.

The district also receives a share of all income from extracurricular events.

The district is also saving $ 350,000 annually in operating and maintenance costs – that’s $ 22.5 million over the expected 50-year life of the facility – by not building in Albi.

“Who wouldn’t want to save so much money?” Said Curran. “And we can manage it more effectively because I already have employees in other buildings and we can work with other venues.”

Attorneys from both companies will work out the details – “dot the i and cross the ts,” said Mark Anderson, assistant superintendent of Spokane Public Schools, last week.

“We have not rested on our laurels,” said Anderson, who led the negotiations with the PFD together with President Jerrall Haynes.

Additional comments on parking and noise abatement appeared to appease officials and fans of the theater that supported the downtown project on the eve of the vote.

As the stadium design unfolds, the theater will also have a seat at the table; as well as representatives of the United Soccer League, which has provided an additional 2 million US dollars for the project to expand their League One to Spokane.

The school district can also use the premises for graduation ceremonies and other events free of charge. If the weather is bad, the event will be moved to the podium or the arena.

However, the district loses some time in the process. Instead of opening the 2022 football season in a new Albi stadium, they will have to wait another season and expect to play in the old Albi in the fall.

Construction on the new stadium is expected to start in February 2022.

The district will also lose some funds that have already gone into planning costs. ALSC Architects PS from Spokane will be taken over for the new project.

It is unclear how much of the current design will be integrated into the city center, which will be an above-ground stadium as opposed to the bowl shape in Albi.

However, Anderson expects some common elements, including the number of dressing rooms and the ability to light up the stadium with the home team’s school colors at each event.

The district also expects to bring certain historical features of the Albi Stadium – including the bronze statue of Joe Albi – to the new facility.

The stadium project will be part of a development push on the north bank of the river.

Mark Richard, President and CEO of the Downtown Spokane Partnership and a key driver of the project, is optimistic about the region’s potential.

“We’re getting some really positive calls from investors right now,” said Richard, who pointed out that the mostly low-income area qualifies as a state opportunity zone that would allow investors to make significant cuts in capital gains taxes.

The issue of parking – a point of contention in the run-up to last month’s decision – is also addressed.

The PFD is responsible for resolving parking bottlenecks. Talks are being held with nearby businesses to use their facilities to provide an additional 1,000 seats at high volume events.