KXLY
May 4, 2021 11:14 AM Melissa Luck
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SPOKANE, Wash. After months of public meetings, outreach and debate, the Spokane Public Schools Board of Directors is expected to decide Wednesday night if it will move forward with a plan to build a new stadium in downtown Spokane.
Funding for a facility to replace Joe Albi Stadium was approved by voters in 2018. At the time, the city and school board asked for an advisory vote on where to build the stadium: downtown or the current Joe Albi site in northwest Spokane. Voters chose the Albi site, but the vote was not binding.
The school district was going ahead with plans for a stadium at the Albi site, which will also include a new middle school, and demolition on the old stadium was set to begin this spring. Then, the Downtown Spokane Partnership resurfaced a plan to build the stadium downtown on Boone Avenue, right next to the Spokane Arena.
KXLY
May 3, 2021 7:08 PM Esther Bower
SPOKANE, Wash. Many Washington counties are struggling to meet the state’s metrics to remain in Phase 3. Spokane is one of the counties on the verge of getting moved back to Phase 2 which will affect nearly every aspect of people’s lives.
If the county is rolled back, retail, dining, fitness centers and all indoor gatherings will go back to 25% capacity. Outdoor gatherings will also be limited to 200 guests. Youth Sport facilities will also have to cancel tournaments. It’s a sad reality for Jared Tikker who runs The Warehouse.
“We’re heartbroken about it because there was a sense of optimism amongst the kids that play in these tournaments that after 12 months they finally got something back that they loved,” Tikker said.
Mayor Woodward, others ask Gov. Inslee to keep Spokane in Phase 3 of reopening
The Downtown Spokane Partnership board expressed concerns about the detrimental effects to businesses if the county moves back to Phase 2 of reopening. Author: Megan Carroll Updated: 8:49 PM PDT April 30, 2021
SPOKANE, Wash. Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward and other local leaders are urging Washington Governor Jay Inslee to keep the county in Phase 3 of the state s reopening plan ahead of an announcement next week.
In a press release on Friday, leaders from the Downtown Spokane Partnership (DSP) said the nonprofit s board voted on Wednesday to support Woodward in a request to Inslee that he refrain from moving Spokane County back to Phase 2 of the Healthy Washington plan and allow the county time to execute an aggressive vaccination campaign.
KXLY
April 30, 2021 12:19 PM Erin Robinson
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Downtown Spokane Partnership
SPOKANE, Wash. The Spokane Public Facilities District voted Friday to enter into an agreement with Spokane Public Schools to build a new downtown sports stadium.
The deal has not been finalized and now heads to the school board for consideration.
The proposal for the new downtown stadium was most recently brought forward by the Downtown Spokane Partnership in March. A few years ago, Spokane voters decided they wanted their money to be put toward a rebuild at the district’s current stadium, Joe Albi, instead of a new stadium. The DSP proposal suggests the school district use $31 million in pre-approved funds toward a new downtown location.
KXLY
April 21, 2021 4:15 PM Elenee Dao
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SPOKANE, Wash. Soon, the proposed downtown stadium could get the next push it needs to be a reality. The Spokane Public School Board will discuss the stadium proposal and possibly make a decision Wednesday night.
This comes after nearly two months of people expressing their desires to bring it downtown, and drawing lots of opposition, too.
The discussion tonight will be the first time we actually hear thoughts from board members about bringing the stadium downtown, or for building at the current Joe Albi site.
In the last month, the board has been gathering opinions and figuring out what to do on this controversial proposed stadium.