The Podium is a 135,000-square-foot (12,500 m²) indoor multi-use sports facility located in Spokane, Washington, United States. .

The Podium

The Podium's southern façade as seen in July 2021, looking up from Riverfront Park's Howard Street Promenade.
Address	511 West Dean Ave, Spokane, WA 99201 Spokane, Washington United States
Coordinates	47.66557°N 117.4198°W / 47.66557; -117.4198
Elevation	1,907 ft (581 m)
Owner	Spokane Public Facilities District
Operator	Spokane Public Facilities District
Capacity	4,000 (seated)
Construction
Broke ground	December 11, 2019[1]
Opened	Fall 2021 (scheduled)
Construction cost	$53 million
Architect	Integrus Architecture Davis Architects
Builder	Lydig Construction
Tenants
GNAC Indoor Track & Field Championships (2022-present)
Website
https://www.thepodiumusa.com/

It is located in the North Bank area of Riverfront Park, across the street from the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.

History

Planning

In an effort to expand Spokane's footprint in the sports tourism industry, visions for a bringing a sportsplex to the city began in the early 2000s, however it wasn't until around 2014 that those visions began to translate into a development plan.[2] A report issued by Gonzaga University around this time estimated that a sportsplex could bring an additional $33 million of tourism spending into the region annually.[3]

The Spokane Public Facilities District (SPFD), which was tentatively identified as the agency that would own and operate the sportsplex, then paid for a study to investigate the feasibility of such a venue in Spokane. A draft of the study, performed by Florida-based Sports Facility Advisory, was released in October 2015 and confirmed the economic viability of the project. The study projected the project to generate more than $101 million in economic impact in its first five years of operation.[4]

Meanwhile, in September 2015, three local construction companies submitted proposals to compete for the contract to construct the sportsplex,[5] which was procured under a progressive design-build delivery method, however, the contract wouldn't be awarded until 2018, in part due to uncertainty in the project's program and funding.

Schedule and Funding

In August 2018, the project's design and construction was awarded to the design-build team of Lydig Construction and Integrus Architecture.[6]

A revised schedule was released, identifying construction to begin in 2019, with an anticipated completion date in 2021. Final funding for the project consisted of $25 million bonds sold by Spokane County and subsequently loaned to the PFD, $5 million from the City of Spokane, and a land donation by the City of Spokane Parks & Recreation Department.[6] The balance of the project's initial $42 million cost would be funded by an existing tax[7] as well as funds from the PFD's reserves.[8]

By late 2019, due to escalation in labor and construction material costs, the price of the project increased by about $10 million, up to $53 million. To address the shortfall, Spokane County commissioners unanimously approved to sell an additional $10 million in bonds, to be repaid by the PFD by 2043.[9]

Design and programming

Initial plans called for an NHL-size ice skating rink, however the rink was eventually removed from the final design as the economic viability of adding just a single rink to the facility didn't pan out; the facility would need multiple rinks to attract tournaments and other activities.[10]

Although the project was not part of Riverfront Park's simultaneous redevelopment development project, the architectural and site design of The Podium integrates with major components of the redevelopment. A switchback trail from the building's entrance descends down the building's perch atop its basalt outcropping, connecting directly with Riverfront Park's new Howard Street promenade and regional playground. The building's south terrace also overlooks the skyline of Downtown Spokane and the park's US Pavilion.[11]

Construction

Demolition work to clear the site began in late Spring 2019,[12] and the official groundbreaking ceremony was held on December 11, 2019.

The construction of The Podium also had impacts on local streets. The large size of the building necessitated the permanent closure and modification of Cataldo Avenue and Dean Avenue. Cataldo was closed in fall 2019 to make room for the building, while Dean Avenue would be improved to better facilitate pedestrians, public transit, and drop-off zones accessing The Podium. Initial plans called for Cataldo to be closed in its entirety between Howard and Washington Streets, but a 166-foot segment of Cataldo Avenue was maintained and converted into a cul-de-sac for local business access.[13]

Construction of The Podium continued in 2020 through the COVID-19 pandemic, with social distancing and other COVID safety measures in place, as it was deemed an essential construction project. Rationale included the facility's potential role in the community as a future mass care facility,[14] as well as contractual commitments to booked events.

Naming

Throughout its planning and initial construction stages, the facility was referred to as the Spokane Regional Sportsplex, or simply the Spokane Sportsplex. In August 2020, an official name for the facility, still under construction, was announced as "The Podium," inspired by the medal ceremony at sporting events as well as the facility's positioning atop a 15-foot-tall basalt rock outcropping that overlooks Riverfront Park and downtown Spokane.[15]

Facilities

The Podium features 135,000 sq ft (12,500 m²) of total floor area, of which 75,000 sq ft (7,000 m²) is dedicated competition space. The main competition space includes a 6-lane, 200-meter hydraulically banked indoor track, and can also accommodate 16 volleyball courts, 9 basketball courts, 21 wrestling mats, and other multi-sport layouts.

Major Events

• 2022 USA Track & Field (USATF) Indoor Championships, held February 25 - February 26, 2022.[16]
• 2022 USA Karate National Championships, held June 30 - July 3, 2022.[17]
• 2023 USA Team Handball US Open and Junior National Championships, to be held May 11 - May 14, 2023.[18]
• 2024 USA Team Handball US Open and Junior National Championships, to be held May 9 - May 12, 2024.[18]

College athletics

• The Great Northwest Athletic Conference, which competes at the NCAA Division II intermediate level, will hold its annual Indoor Track and Field Championships at The Podium from 2022 onward, through at least 2024.[19]

References

External links

• The Podium
• Spokane Sports - The Podium