Former reporter envisions HUB of activity

The Valley HUB sports complex has been struggling to raise money ever since it was reopened by churches involved in the Spokane Valley Ministerial Association in 2007. Now the facility has a new director with a new mission.

“I am really the next phase in the evolution of the HUB,” said director Steve Becker. “So many people have worked so hard to make this happen.”

Becker, a former longtime reporter with KREM-TV, said his job is to increase the Valley HUB’s name recognition and to get the complex more involved with the community. “That’s kind of the priority right now,” he said. “We need to work aggressively to make sure this building is being utilized to the highest degree possible.”

His focus will shift from the ongoing fundraising that has been a key issue. Organizers have seen several deadlines for purchasing the building for $3.9 million come and go. The solution will probably be to launch a capital campaign in the future, said Becker. “We are going to have to buy this building,” he said. “We have a very generous landlord.”

Right now the HUB’s calendar is full on evenings and Saturdays. Regular events include pickleball three days a week and Upward basketball. AAU basketball fills the facility’s five basketball courts every Saturday. There are classes in boxing and tae kwon do. Soccer clubs frequently use the building for practice, as does a local badminton club. “Right now, things are busy,” Becker said.

But still the building sits largely empty during the day and on Sundays. The building has plenty to offer but not many programs, Becker said, so he’s reaching out to organizations that need space. Becker would like to find a sponsor to host an open gym for a few hours each Sunday. The sponsor is needed to underwrite the cost to open the facility. “A building this size, you can imagine our utility bills are frightening,” he said.

Improvements are steadily being made. Becker recently contracted with Have Beans Will Travel to provide concessions during tournaments and other large events.

Becker doesn’t just see the HUB as a recreational facility. It’s also a classroom where kids can learn about hard work, sacrifice and team work. The building can also be a boost to the economy when it hosts large events that draw participants and spectators from across the country. “The HUB is an engine of economic development,” he said.

Becker is enthusiastic about his job even though he has no background in sports. “I’m not a sports person at all,” he said. “I’m a parent. I’ve spent many, many hours of my life in this building.”

After his time at KREM, Becker worked in public relations for a time. “I was looking for some kind of a leadership position at a nonprofit organization that works with kids and families,” he said. “Good things happen because of intentional effort.”

In his time with the HUB he’s been impressed by the dedication of board members and volunteers. “The HUB really is a testament to the community,” he said. “It really is an honor for me to be given this opportunity.”