As Spokane prepared for Expo ‘74, the geography of downtown changed dramatically. An angry snarl of train tracks gave way to open space. The Spokane River emerged from behind its steel prison.

The world’s fair was urban renewal in disguise. And the physical changes laid the foundation for a new city, one that is still emerging. This “new” Spokane capitalizes on its physical beauty – a roaring river rushes through an urban center. And it prides itself on the ability to organize huge sporting events and greet with extreme hospitality the visitors who come to town for those events.

The U.S. Figure Skating Championships are here. Welcome skaters, spectators, all. If Expo ‘74 hadn’t happened nearly 33 years ago, the championships might not be here today. Spokane’s vibrant downtown and magnificent Riverfront Park figured in its selection for these championships. And the fact that everything is so close together helped, too. The blueprint of an open, accessible downtown, drawn up by economic development interests in the 1960s, was conspicuously advanced during Expo ‘74.

On the surface, the geography hasn’t altered much in preparation for the skating championships. But it did hurry along major structural changes. For instance, when Toby Steward and Barb Beddor announced they had landed the championships for Spokane, the Convention Center expansion had been approved by voters but not yet built.

As discussions grew heated about the location for the Convention Center expansion, those involved kept the skating championships in mind. The matter had to be resolved in time. It was.

Spokane International Airport faced a deadline, too. The goal was for the terminal to be spruced up in time for the championships. It is.

Expo ‘74 grew out of the dreams and hard work of city leaders who worried about Spokane’s ability to end reliance on old-economy industry. Spokane needed to make the transition from a lumber-railroad-mining town to a city ready for the 21st century.

Spokane was so provincial back then that the restaurants that opened during Expo ‘74, such as the St. Regis Café and Strobels, seemed as exotic – and expensive – as something you’d find in San Francisco or New York City. The meat-and-potatoes town awakened its palette.

Spokane’s challenge is to diversify its economy and attract highly educated people, along with the jobs that will allow them to take root here and prosper. Many of those folks are looking for a city with urban sophistication and rural-style recreation and sensibilities.

The past rap on Spokane has been its lack of night life. Everything closes down by 6 p.m. The championships might help change this perception. Several restaurants have moved to town in recent years. Some will remain open into the early morning hours to accommodate the skating crowd. This might seem like small potatoes, but one sure sign of a thriving, sophisticated city is bustling streets late at night and places to bustle into for food and drink.

Spokane is changing fast. Over the course of the next week, residents will be able to more clearly see these changes through the eyes of visitors. The bet for the future is that they’ll like what they see.