Spokane is getting the hang of the NCAA Tournament circuit, thanks to the Spokane Arena, which many residents didn’t want at first. For the fourth time, Spokane and Washington State have teamed up to land an NCAA championship event, and for the second time, the city and the Pac-10 school from Pullman will host the first two rounds of the men’s basketball tournament. Spokane Arena and WSU staffers weren’t expecting the serendipitous news Thursday that Spokane will be a site for the 2007 tournament, according to an article by sports writer John Blanchette. But they certainly joined other boosters of the Inland Northwest in celebrating the announcement. “I just believe that somewhere in the NCAA, somebody appreciates the fact that when they come to Spokane, it’s the biggest thing going,” said Kevin Twohig, general manager of the Arena and executive director of the Spokane Public Facilities District, in trying to explain Spokane’s selection. “If you go to L.A., or another major market, you’re competing with the pros and other sports.” True. But there may be other factors involved in Spokane’s success in attracting the 2007 games and three other NCAA events: 1997 Women’s Volleyball Tournament semifinals and finals, 2001 Women’s Basketball West Regional and 2003 Men’s Basketball Tournament, rounds one and two. Not to mention the 2007 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Maybe Spokane is shedding its image as a poor country cousin to Seattle and establishing itself as a pleasant city to live, visit and stage significant events. The evidence is mounting that outsiders appreciate Spokane, possibly more than locals do. Last month, Spokane became one of the few U.S. cities to be awarded a second All-America City designation by the National Civic League. The award was given in recognition of Spokane’s dedication to downtown renovation, economic development and youth empowerment. In 1974-75, the only other time the city won the honor, Spokane was basking in the afterglow of Expo. The NCAA games, figure-skating championships, city honors and Gonzaga basketball have helped put Spokane on the map. A parallel can be made between Spokane’s recent fortunes and Gonzaga’s. A solid second-tier program, Gonzaga elbowed its way into a spot among the elites a few years ago when the Zags began making NCAA tournament runs. March Madness begat rabid fans and more students, which begat a new Bulldog basketball arena. In Spokane’s case, the Arena came first and then the games. Like the Zags, however, Spokane has proven it can suit up with the best to land major events. In NCAA terms, Spokane has become a competitive mid-major city.