Where is the new stadium located?
The new stadium is being built on the North Bank of Spokane between Howard and Washington Streets Dean Avenue, adjacent to the Spokane Arena and Spokane’s new indoor sports plex (The Podium).
What are the advantages to building the stadium downtown?
For the same construction investment SPS would have made to build a new stadium at the location of Joe Albi Stadium in Northwest Spokane, a downtown stadium will save the District significant money – $22.5 million – in operations and maintenance expenses with the Spokane Public Facility District operating the stadium. Not only that, but a recent study found that a downtown stadium would generate $11.4 million in positive annual economic impact for Spokane, versus only $1.3 million if the stadium were to remain at Joe Albi location.
The central location provides increased accessibility, particularly for students, being right in the center of Spokane’s high schools for better proximity, as well as having access to bus routes and other public transit options.
By being located downtown, this stadium creates significant economic impact by drawing tourism, supporting our local businesses, and creating jobs. Maximizing the use of this public asset and attracting a professional soccer team would have only occurred in a central urban location.
What about parking?
Parking and traffic congestion are always a concern in dense urban areas. Downtown Spokane is situated in a way that another major concern is too much surface parking that sits vacant most of the year.
This proposal includes the stipulation that parking for High School football and soccer games, and any other Spokane Public Schools events held at the stadium would be free of charge to students and families.
In downtown roughly 1,700 parking spaces are managed by the PFD with an estimated 2,500 within walking distance. Most STA bus routes currently run through downtown, providing an already existing public transit option. With the addition of City Line in 2022, regular east/west transit will travel through downtown from Browne’s Addition on the west to the Community Colleges on the east, City Line will run to 11:00pm daily.
Who will manage the stadium?
Spokane Public Schools is building the new stadium, in collaboration with the Spokane Public Facilities District (PFD). When completed, the PFD will operate the venue and the United Soccer League will invest in the project and become an anchor tenant, outside of school use. Spokane Public Schools will utilize the stadium for all high school football and soccer games and be able to use it for other special purposes at no cost to the district and with free parking for all SPS events.
Who is designing and building the stadium and when will it be completed?
Designed by ALSC Architects and built by Garco Construction of Spokane, the stadium project is being managed by Spokane Public Schools and is scheduled to be completed by fall 2023.
