The Podium Powered by STCU is a 135,000-square-foot (12,500 m2) indoor multi-use sports facility located in Spokane, Washington, United States.
The southern façade as seen in July 2021 | |
The Podium Powered by STCU Location in the United States The Podium Powered by STCU Location in Washington | |
| Address | 511 West Dean Avenue Spokane, Washington |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 47°39′56″N 117°25′11″W / 47.6656°N 117.4198°W |
| Elevation | 1,907 ft (581 m) |
| Public transit | Spokane Transit Authority buses |
| Owner | Spokane Public Facilities District |
| Operator | Spokane Public Facilities District |
| Capacity | 4,237 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | December 11, 2019[1] |
| Opened | December 2021[2] |
| 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 downtown Spokane immediately north of Riverfront Park, just east of the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena and directly south of One Spokane Stadium.
History
editPlanning
editIn an effort to expand Spokane's footprint in the sports tourism industry, proposals to build a sportsplex in the city began in the early 2000s. A development plan was later formed in 2014 with the goal of building an indoor multi-sport complex.[3] A report issued by Gonzaga University around this time[when?] estimated that a sportsplex could bring an additional $33 million of tourism spending into the region annually.[4]
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.[5]
In September 2015, three local construction companies submitted proposals to compete for the contract to construct the sportsplex,[6] which was procured under a design–build contract method. The contract was not awarded until 2018, in part due to uncertainty in the project's program and funding.[citation needed]
Schedule and funding
editIn August 2018, the project's design and construction was awarded to the design-build team of Lydig Construction and Integrus Architecture.[7]
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 in bonds sold by Spokane County and subsequently loaned to the PFD, $5 million from the City of Spokane, and a land donation by the Spokane Parks and Recreation Department.[7] The balance of the project's initial $42 million cost would be funded by an existing tax[8] as well as funds from the PFD's reserves.[9]
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, the Spokane County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved to sell an additional $10 million in bonds that would be repaid by the PFD by 2043.[10]
Design and programming
editInitial 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 was unclear; the facility would need multiple rinks to attract tournaments and other activities.[11]
Although the project was not part of Riverfront Park's simultaneous redevelopment project, the architectural and site design of The Podium integrates with the park's newer features. A switchback trail from the building's entrance descends down the building's 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.[12]
Construction
editDemolition work to clear the site began in early 2019,[13] and the official groundbreaking ceremony was held on December 11, 2019.[citation needed]
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.[14]
Construction of The Podium continued in 2020 through the COVID-19 pandemic, with social distancing and other COVID safety measures in place. It was deemed an essential construction project and allowed to continue due to the facility's potential role in the community as a future mass care facility,[15] as well as contractual commitments to booked events.
Naming
editThroughout 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 (4.6 m) basalt rock outcropping that overlooks Riverfront Park and downtown Spokane.[16] In June 2022, Spokane Teachers Credit Union sponsored the venue with a ten-year naming contract, which renamed the venue to The Podium Powered by STCU.[17]
Attention
editIn February 2021, SportsTravel magazine declared The Podium as one of sixteen "New Sports Venues to Watch in 2021".[18]
In October 2022, SportsTravel announced The Podium as the 'Best New or Renovated Venue" of 2022 in the United States.[19]
Facilities
editThe 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 six-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.[20]
Major events
edit- 2022 USA Track & Field (USATF) Indoor Championships, held February 25–26, 2022.[21]
- 2022 USA Karate National Championships, held June 30 – July 3, 2022.[22]
- 2023 USA Wrestling Women's National Championships, to be held April 14–16, 2023.[23][24]
- 2023 USA Team Handball US Open and Junior National Championships, to be held May 11–14, 2023.[25]
- 2023 USA Judo Senior National Championships, to be held May 20–21, 2023.[25]
- 2023 USA Badminton Junior National Champtionchips, to be held June 25 – July 2, 2023.[25]
- 2023 Badminton World Federation World Junior Championships, to be held September 24 – October 8, 2023.[26][27][28]
- 2024 USA Wrestling Women's National Championships, to be held April 12–14, 2024.[23][24]
- 2024 USA Team Handball US Open and Junior National Championships, to be held May 9–12, 2024.[25]
- 2025 USA Wrestling Women's National Championships, to be held April 11–13, 2025.[23][24]
College athletics
edit- 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.[29]
References
edit- ^ Hill, Kip (December 11, 2019). "Sportsplex to host 2022 national track championships, supporters announce at groundbreaking". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ "Inaugural track and field season at 'The Podium' will include collegiate championships, first meet Dec. 11". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ "Spokane Sportsplex is closer to becoming reality". Spokane Journal of Business. March 1, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ Hooker, Elisabeth (April 2015). "Sportsplex". Downtown Spokane Partnership. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ Deshais, Nicholas (October 23, 2015). "Plans aired for $35 million sports complex near Arena". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ "Contractors compete for $27 million Sportsplex project". Spokane Journal of Business. September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ a b Peone, Stephanie (August 16, 2018). "Lydig, Integrus awarded Sportsplex project". Spokane Journal of Business. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ Graham, Taylor (January 15, 2019). "City council approves funding for Spokane Sportsplex". KXLY. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ Criscione, Wilson (January 24, 2019). "What's the deal with the Sportsplex going into downtown Spokane — and who's paying for it?". The Inlander. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ White, Rebecca (October 9, 2019). "Sportsplex to cost $10 million more than initial estimate due to rising construction costs". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ Walters, Daniel (August 15, 2019). "The Spokane Public Facilities District keeps vaulting over obstacles while running toward the dream of a Sportsplex. Will it be worth it?". The Inlander. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ Hill, Kip (October 2, 2020). "'The Podium' construction continues during pandemic in downtown Spokane". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ Deshais, Nicholas (June 1, 2019). "Buildings' demolition to make way for downtown Sportsplex". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ Shanks, Adam (October 29, 2019). "City set to close and change roads to make room for new Sportsplex along north bank". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ "Minutes - Spokane Public Facilities District Board of Directors, March 25, 2020" (PDF). Spokane Public Facilities District. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ Hill, Kip (August 30, 2020). "'The Podium' is new name of indoor sports complex under construction downtown". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ "Spokane Public Facilities District, STCU ink sponsorship deal to rename The Podium". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ^ Traub, Matt (February 18, 2021). "New Sports Venues to Watch in 2021". SportsTravel. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- ^ Traub, Matt (October 26, 2022). "2022 SportsTravel Award Winners Announced". SportsTravel. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- ^ "The Podium USA". The Podium USA. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- ^ "2022 USATF Indoor Championships Set For Spokane". USA Track & Field (Press release). February 13, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ Traub, Matt (June 22, 2021). "Spokane to Host 2022 USA Karate National Championships". SportsTravel. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ a b c Abbott, Gary (November 22, 2022). "SPOKANE, WASH. SELECTED TO HOST THE USA WRESTLING WOMEN'S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS". Team USA. Archived from the original on November 22, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Spokane to host women's freestyle wrestling National Championships | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Events". The Podium USA. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
- ^ "Spokane, USA, to Host BWF World Junior Championships 2023". bwfbadminton.com. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- ^ "Spokane To Host 2023 Badminton World Federation World Junior Championships - USA Badminton". March 27, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- ^ "Spokane hosting world junior badminton championship this fall | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- ^ "Indoor Championships Moves To Spokane & The Podium". Great Northwest Athletic Conference (Press release). April 30, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2021.