Northern Quest Resort & Casino inks partnership with BECU to rename outdoor amphitheater

Concertgoers will soon see a new name at Northern Quest Resort & Casino’s outdoor amphitheater.

Northern Quest inked a five-year agreement with Tukwila-based BECU to rename its outdoor concert venue to BECU Live at Northern Quest Resort & Casino.

Under the agreement, BECU will provide financial literacy curriculum to Kalispel Tribe members and Northern Quest employees, which include on-site seminars, webinars, self-paced courses and a financial health check.

“(The partnership) will further our team members’ ability to have real-life contacts with our corporate partners to best utilize their resources, and an additional portion is connecting members of the tribe with opportunities to maximize their financial acumen,” said Matt Almond, senior director of strategic partnerships at Northern Quest.

Almond said discussions with BECU about the partnership began in February.

Northern Quest’s outdoor summer concert series and the opportunity to provide financial education to the Kalispel Tribe drove BECU’s interest in the partnership, Lee Harris, BECU’s director of affinity partnerships said in a statement.

“As a member-owned credit union, BECU is focused on the financial health of our members and communities, and we are excited to extend these efforts by offering financial literacy to the members of the Kalispel Tribe, as well as the employees of Northern Quest,” Harris said. “Our sponsorship of the entertainment series aligns with our commitment to support the events and activities that our members care about, while also driving awareness about the credit union.”

BECU members will receive special benefits at the amphitheater as well as early access to tickets and hotel discounts at Northern Quest.

BECU has steadily expanded its operations in Spokane with three financial centers and a home loan center. The credit union, which is the largest in the state, has more than 50 branches and holds about $20 billion in assets. It serves more than 12,700 members in Spokane.

The Kalispel Tribe and BECU have similar values with an emphasis on community, said Nick Pierre, general manager at Northern Quest.

“The tribe is all about community. We want to be a community partner in any way we can. We feel BECU is the same way,” Pierre said. “It’s exciting we have two amazing companies that are about partnering and strengthening that community bond, and it will give our players and members a great experience.”

Northern Quest did not disclose financial terms of the agreement.

Pepsi will remain a sponsor for Northern Quest’s outdoor summer concert series, which drew more than 58,000 people to 13 concerts last year.

Northern Quest added six additional concerts and a Fourth of July celebration this year, which carries the possibility to attract about 100,000 people, Almond said.

“This is going to be a record-setting summer for us in regards to people in the venue,” Almond said.

Some of BECU’s signage was unveiled Thursday at a Brett Eldredge concert, with additional signage on the property to follow in the coming weeks.

Northern Quest opened its amphitheater in 2011, and it has since expanded to more than 5,000 seats. The area includes more than 11,000 square feet of space with a 60-by-40-foot stage.

The Kalispel Tribe’s partnership with BECU follows the opening of a $14 million luxury RV resort at Northern Quest and an expansion project last year that added a retail store, movie and dinner theater, arcade and entertainment center for children, and a 216-unit apartment complex.

The Kalispel Tribe plans to further develop 300 acres of land it owns in Airway Heights through addition of more retail, family-friendly entertainment and housing units.

The Kalispel Tribe employs more than 2,300 people in Spokane and Pend Oreille counties.