Concert Promoter Agrees To Bring 40 Events To Arena

One of the largest concert promoters in the country has signed a contract with the city of Spokane promising to bring 40 events to the new Veterans Memorial Arena over the next three years.

The contract with MCA Concerts Inc., of Universal City, Calif., “promises that we’ll be profitable,” said Kevin Twohig, the arena’s general manager.

“It will allow us to get some of the same concerts that play at the Gorge to come here and play as well.”

The renewable contract allows the arena and MCA to profit-share, with the arena pooling its rental fees with the California company’s ticket sales and advertising commissions. The two will split the money 50-50, Twohig said.

It’s not an exclusive contract, which means that other concert promoters also can bring events to the arena.

Twohig said he couldn’t elaborate on what the arena’s first event might be, but he promises it will be big.

A press conference with MCA to discuss details of the contract is planned for Thursday.

Meanwhile, the end of the $55 million project’s construction phase is in sight, and it’s “on-time and within budget,” Twohig said.

Workers are in the “finishing phase,” painting walls, installing seats and planting trees, Twohig said.

The arena is slated to open Sept. 15, but a ribbon cutting and open house is planned for earlier that month.

The old Coliseum is in the midst of losing its insides, Twohig said. Workers are removing everything possible in the building to cut down on dust during demolition.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo