New Sports Complex Considered Fairgrounds Facility Could Help Fund Convention Center Expansion

A vast sports complex at the Interstate Fairgrounds may be included in a financial package used to expand the Spokane Convention Center.

The Spokane Regional Court Complex, which could include 16 basketball courts in a 100,000-square-foot building, is being considered as part of the “county component” of the convention center funding proposal.

The Facilities 2000 Working Group, which assembles members of the organizations that would be affected by the convention center project, has been looking for county facilities to include in the project.

Because the convention center funding proposal requires a county-wide vote, expansion supporters believe one or more Spokane Valley projects must be included in the funding package to ensure Valley votes.

The Working Group had been looking for a specific project at the fairgrounds. At Wednesday’s meeting, the Court Complex was introduced as a possibility that could be located at the fairgrounds and used as exhibition space during the fair.

While it’s unclear how many dollars will be available for the Valley projects, a figure of $20 million has been used in the past. The current convention center expansion proposal carries an estimated $85 million price tag.

The Court Complex would cost from $10 million to $12 million, said Eric Sawyer of the Greater Spokane Sports Association, which devised the concept.

The Mirabeau Point community center would also be a likely recipient of Valley dollars. That project needs about $7 million.

“With $20 million, and Mirabeau needing $7 million, this could work,” said Ron Anderson, who represents the Spokane Hotel-Motel Association.

The Court Complex would help fill a huge need for basketball and volleyball courts in the region, Sawyer said.

“If you build a centralized facility, it takes the pressure off of neighborhood gyms,” he said. The Court Complex could also host regional amateur tournaments, which would bring new dollars into the community, Sawyer said.

Also on Wednesday, the Working Group explored ways of trimming cost from the convention center expansion plan devised by LMN Architects of Seattle.

One idea gaining support would be reducing the 800 spaces of parking that would sit atop the expansion, particularly given the financial struggles of the nearby River Park Square parking garage, which is supported by the city.

“To me, funding a vacant River Park Square and adding 800 spaces doesn’t make sense,” said Mike Edwards, president of the Downtown Spokane Partnership.

The group also discussed other areas to cut costs.

LMN partner Judsen Marquardt recommended making the whole project smaller rather than trying to save on its parts.

“It’s far more prudent to look at reducing the program rather than sticking with everything in the picture and saying, instead of 100 cents on the dollar to pay for it, here’s 70 cents,” Marquardt said.