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| Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena | |
|---|---|
| Name | Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena |
| Location | Spokane, Washington, United States |
| Opened | 1995 |
| Owner | Spokane Public Facilities District |
| Capacity | 12,000–13,000 |
Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Spokane, Washington, United States, serving as a regional venue for sports, concerts, and civic events. Located near Riverfront Park and the Spokane River, the arena hosts events drawing visitors from the Inland Northwest, the Pacific Northwest, and adjacent regions.
The arena opened in 1995 following initiatives led by the Spokane Public Facilities District, local elected officials, and civic leaders who sought to replace earlier facilities such as the Spokane Coliseum and to stimulate downtown redevelopment near Riverfront Park, Spokane Convention Center, Washington State, City of Spokane. Planning involved stakeholders including the Spokane County commission, regional business groups, and cultural organizations with ties to events like the Cowboy Poetry Gathering and regional fairs. Early tenants and users included franchises and organizations from leagues such as the Western Hockey League, the Arena Football League, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association for postseason tournaments, attracting touring productions associated with promoters like Live Nation and companies linked to the Broadway touring circuit.
The arena's design reflects late 20th-century arena architecture influenced by firms experienced with venues like Madison Square Garden renovations and facilities serving the National Hockey League and National Basketball Association markets. The bowl-style seating accommodates configurations for ice hockey, basketball, rodeo, and concert staging, with an ice plant, dasher boards compatible with American Hockey League standards, and rigging points used by Broadway touring shows and rock productions associated with artists who tour managed by firms such as AEG Presents. Back-of-house spaces support production trucks from companies linked to the United States tour circuit, and hospitality areas host events tied to institutions like the Spokane Arena Foundation and regional nonprofit partners.
The arena has hosted a mix of sports franchises, collegiate tournaments, and entertainment residencies including appearances by touring acts promoted by Bill Graham Presents-era networks, comedians known from The Tonight Show, and family shows affiliated with organizations like Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Sports tenants have included teams modeled on franchises from the Western Hockey League, indoor lacrosse outfits connected to the National Lacrosse League, and basketball teams participating in leagues related to the NCAA Division I postseason. The venue has also staged events tied to motorsport exhibitions associated with promoters who work with Monster Jam and trade shows connected to regional industry groups such as chambers of commerce and associations that partner with the Spokane Convention Center.
Since opening, the arena underwent phased upgrades to seating, audio-visual systems, and patron amenities, mirroring improvements seen at venues investing in LED boards and media systems used in facilities affiliated with ESPN broadcasts and regional television partners like KREM-TV and KXLY-TV. Technical upgrades have enabled compliance with touring production specifications used by artists with ties to labels represented by Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment, while improvements to concessions and hospitality align with vendor partnerships common to arenas working with companies such as Aramark and payment systems used by retail partners.
The facility is owned and overseen by the Spokane Public Facilities District, a municipal corporation created under Washington State statutes and governed by an appointed board that coordinates with entities including the City of Spokane council, Spokane County officials, and regional economic development agencies. Operational management collaborates with private booking agencies, local promoters, and regional partners including entities linked to the Spokane Arena Foundation, tourism bureaus that market events with state agencies like Visit Spokane, and safety agencies such as the Spokane Fire Department and Spokane Police Department for large-scale events.
Situated adjacent to major riverfront redevelopment projects near U.S. Route 2 and corridors connecting to the Interstate 90 interchange, the arena is served by public transit provided by Spokane Transit Authority and regional shuttle services used during conventions at the Spokane Convention Center. Parking and pedestrian access integrate with downtown walkways connecting to landmarks such as the Gonzaga University campus area and transit routes used by fans traveling from communities including Pullman, Washington, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and Moscow, Idaho. The venue's accessibility features comply with regulations modeled after federal standards applied at comparable facilities, coordinating with local disability advocacy groups and transportation planners.
The arena has hosted high-attendance concerts and sporting events that set local box-office records for touring productions promoted by agencies representing artists linked to Billboard chart successes, and it has been the site for postseason collegiate basketball contests sanctioned by the NCAA as well as national tournaments hosted by organizations associated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Memorable moments include performances by headline acts tied to major record labels, championship-clinching games for teams connected to the Western Hockey League, and civic events attended by regional political figures from Washington (state) and Idaho.
Category:Sports venues in Spokane County, Washington Category:Indoor arenas in Washington (state)