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COVID-19

Eagles, Pattison’s North, Hub weigh financial uncertainty, options for customers amid restrictions

Shaun Pattison and his dog Duke clean the floor of Pattison's North Skate Rink on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012. The rink is one of many recreation business affected by coronavirus restrictions. (Tyler Tjomsland / The Spokesman-Review)

Roller rinks, ice rinks and trampoline parks have joined the long list of businesses that have closed since Washington Gov. Jay Inslee implemented an emergency order shutting down all sit-down service at bars and restaurants and all entertainment and recreational venues as of Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Since the entertainment and recreation business is predicated upon bringing groups of people together, the at least two-week ban on mass gatherings of groups of more than 50 especially affects those businesses.

“We could probably have worked around the under 50 part, but it’s pretty hard to work around the recreational facility part,” Eagles Ice Arena business manager Robin Bonanno said. “We plan to just close completely to the public and follow the mandate.”

Eagles is home to the Spokane Braves of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, the Spokane Junior Chiefs, the Spokane Oldtimers Hockey Association and Lilac City Figure Skating Club, as well as public skates and lessons.

Bars and restaurants will be allowed to provide takeout and delivery to help mitigate the shutdown, but entertainment and recreation businesses have no such fallback option.

“It would be nice if we had some way to do ‘takeout’ for skating, but we can’t,” Bonanno said. “There’s nothing we can really offer people outside the box. Unfortunately, we’re just shut down.”

Bonanno shared a letter that went out to Eagles’ regular customers announcing the closure with a promise to further deep clean the facilities.

“We’re not happy about it,” Bonanno said of the shutdown. “We’re concerned for our business. But obviously we’re going to follow what the governor has mandated. Hopefully, it’s quick and we get back to business.”

The Spokane Chiefs announced Monday their business office, including ticket office and team store at Spokane Arena, will be closed indefinitely in response to COVID-19 virus distancing efforts.

“The health and safety of our staff is of utmost importance to us,” said president Mark Miles in a news release. “With everything that is going on right now, we must prioritize the well-being of our employees and provide them the opportunity to be home with their families, limiting exposure from in-office meetings and interactions.”

The city Parks and Recreation department issued an updated statement Tuesday.

“Our focus remains on supporting the health and well-being of our customers, staff, partners and the community. We are following the recommendations of Governor Inslee, President Trump, and the Spokane Regional Health District, in alignment with Mayor Woodward’s administration, to help slow the spread of COVID-19.”

Riverfront Park attractions – including the Looff Carrousel and Sky Ride – are closed through March 31, according to the release.

Riverfront Park programs, events and activities are canceled through April 24.

City golf courses are temporarily closed while Parks and Rec sets and implements social distancing and sanitation measures established by the CDC and the Washington State Department of Health.

City of Spokane parks and natural areas remain open for public use, with the exception of Gaiser Conservatory at Manito Park.

Pattison’s North, a popular roller skating center near Whitworth University, had a message to its guests on its website – one that was popping up on many similar businesses.

“We are currently closed due to the statewide directive concerning COVID-19. Please check out our social media accounts for updates,” the message read.

“We’re pretty much in the same boat as everyone else,” Shaun Pattison said. “We certainly don’t want to endanger our customers in any way.

“We’re just trying to get our bills paid for the month,” he added. “We’re dealing with all this as it comes.”

The phone went straight to voicemail for Spokane Valley’s Flying Squirrel trampoline park. Its website simply stated, “Temporarily closed until further notice.”

The Hub Sports Center was supposed to be buzzing with activity over the next several weeks. It’s now quiet.

“For March – last weekend and the next two weekends – were probably our busiest weekends of the year, with three-day tournaments, first with the (state) middle school basketball and the last two with the (Pacific Northwest Qualifier) volleyball,” Hub executive director Phil Champlin said.

They’ve had to cancel YMCA basketball, club basketball and volleyball and walk-in pickleball – as well as afterschool and homeschool P.E. programs – in addition to the bigger events.

Champlin isn’t sure how to make the dates up.

“Some of these major events and tournaments are seasonal,” he said. “I know the middle school basketball tournament would like to reschedule. But that tournament had over 500 basketball teams that were scheduled for the convention center, Hub, the Warehouse and a couple of school districts – some of their facilities. So to coordinate all of those venues to be available at the same time at a future date will be a challenge.

“I’m open to it, I just don’t know how realistic that will be.”

Champlin added that being a nonprofit won’t shield the Hub from economic strain.

“Obviously the financial impact is great,” he said. “As a nonprofit, we love the opportunities the kids have to learn those life lessons we learn through play and participation. So we miss the opportunity to provide that for our community.”

Champlin is keeping an eye toward the future.

“We have other sports and events we start to bring people back inside once we get into May, June, July and August,” he said. “ We’d love to have a crystal ball, you know, this is what it’ll be like in two weeks, this is what it’ll be like in a month.”

Champlin admitted it’s going to be tough for them, and other similar facilities, to avoid looking at the bottom line while they are closed.

“It’s going to be a struggle for this next month, or however long this is going to be, to make sure we can continue on and do what we’re doing and what we provide for the community,” he said.