Consultant: Arena Would Pay Off

RE: NIC considers sports arena/Maureen Dolan, Coeur d'Alene Press

If it sounds familiar, it should. When North Idaho College trustees approved exploring the possibility of building a sports arena in Coeur d'Alene this week, they dusted off an idea that's been kicked around Coeur d'Alene since at least 2008. The question trustees said they want answered is whether Coeur d'Alene has the market to support a multi-million dollar arena. Could the Lake City host prime-time sporting events and big-name concerts like western neighbor Spokane? It's actually been answered by one consultant already — the same one that did similar studies for the McCarthey Athletic Center at Gonzaga University and the Spokane Arena. And that answer was yes. So if NIC does move forward with the idea - which it said it would — it shouldn't have to reinvent the wheel, officials said this week/Tom Hasslinger, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

Question: Great idea if it can be done with little cost to the local taxpayer, right?