Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena drops Bon Jovi name

The Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena’s shall be known as the Bon Jovi Veterans Arena no more. Arena managers decided late Thursday evening to drop the publicity stunt announced Thursday morning. After arena managers announced that they were temporarily changing its name to the Bon Jovi Veterans Arena, local veterans and community members criticized the decision on social media. “We didn’t really expect people to react the way they did,” arena General Manager Matt Gibson said Friday. Gibson said in the original announcement that the renaming was intended to show “Because We Can” tour promoters that Spokane was serious about hosting the rock band. Big names like Bon Jovi rarely come to Spokane, so booking the concert was a huge accomplishment, he said. “It wasn’t meant to be anything other than a goofy promotional stunt for the concert,” Gibson said Friday. Bon Jovi will play in Spokane on Oct. 6. Tickets will cost between $59.50 and $179.50.