Shock move to new facility

The Spokane Shock are getting new digs for the new year.

The popular arenafootball2 franchise has signed a lease to move its headquarters into the former Planet Ice building in the Spokane Valley, Shock majority owner Brady Nelson said. The team expects to purchase artificial turf to convert the former hockey rink into an indoor practice facility.

The move should be completed by Jan. 1, Nelson said. The building is owned by Erik Humble of MoCo Engineering and Fabrication, which occupies another section of the facility, Nelson said.

“We will have office space and conference-room space overlooking the field,” Nelson said. “So it’ll be pretty cool.”

The facility will house Nelson’s business, Regal Satellite and Regal Security, and Shock coaches and staff.

The Shock, who led af2 in attendance and won the ArenaCup in their augural season in 2006, will try to practice at the Spokane Arena as much as possible, Nelson said, but the Arena often is booked for other events.

The Shock practiced at the Arena, the Spokane Indoor Soccer Center, Albi Stadium and “once or twice” at an area high school last summer when the weather was warm, Nelson said.

“It’s nice to know if there is inclement weather and we can’t get in the Arena, that we’ve have a place and the most important thing is it will have the walls and pads,” Nelson said.

Nelson believes the facility will make the Shock more appealing to prospective players because it consolidates the team’s offices, practice field, meeting rooms, physical therapy and locker rooms at one site, a rarity in af2. The dance team likely will practice at the new site.

“I think it’ll be a big boost for our recruiting,” Nelson said.

Nelson hopes the football field becomes home to youth and adult flag football leagues and clinics featuring instruction from Shock players and coaches. Nelson anticipates portable bleachers with seating capacity of 200-300 for recreation league games.

“We’d love for our players to be coaches or refs, hold clinics, as much as they’re able to,” Nelson said. “It gives people an opportunity to come play on our field and it gets kids enrolled here and have coaching provided by the Shock. I think it will enhance our reputation in the community and give everyone an inside feeling of what we’re all about.

“We’re here for the long haul, not just a couple of seasons.”