Look to Playfair for new facility
In 1950, the railroad yards on Trent Avenue were vital to Spokane’s economy, the fighter jets and commercial planes took turns landing at Geiger Field, the old ice arena on Maple Street served the hockey team well and the Armory on Third Avenue was home to high school basketball.
The city owned none of these properties. Does that mean we should still be using them? No, and the answer is the same for Albi Stadium.
So, what was the purpose of Vince Grippi’s May 13 article belittling the replacement of Albi Stadium with a modern complex at Playfair?
Was it to defend Albi Stadium?
Albi’s primary tenants are Eastern Washington University and GSL football and the Spokane Shadow soccer club.
Eastern wants to play all its home games on campus to provide the students and the football program with a college atmosphere. I am sure the GSL enjoys playing there, but a more compact stadium would generate better spectator enjoyment and enthusiasm. True, it is large enough to hold the crowds for soccer, but so is my living room!
As for the Seahawks, I don’t recall any requests to conduct a scrimmage at Albi. Couldn’t they scrimmage at the new facility without charging admission to cover improvements needed at Albi?
Or, maybe this is his idea for neighborhood development.
Expanding a sports complex in a neighborhood that doesn’t want it and denying it to a neighborhood that does want it for no reason other than Albi has a great history? That’s a show of dysfunctionalism that even the old City Council never reached.
Do you know how much paved parking lots, new dressing rooms, field turf, changing the sign on the concession stand and a third remodeling of the press box would cost? Would this expense generate new revenue? Not likely!
Sure, infrastructure improvements would be needed to handle a new neighborhood at the old Albi site, but putting that property back on the tax rolls would more than cover those costs. And, in case you have never noticed, the area provides a great view of the rimrock area west of the City and the evening sunsets.
The public turned down the airport, Riverfront Park, the Arena and the old Coliseum how many times? No city or Mead high school has an on-campus football field and it is unlikely the local school districts have the funds to build them. That means all their games are road games as far as fan support is concerned due to the vastness of Albi Stadium. A smaller football field would create a better atmosphere, more school spirit and cost less to operate.
With tournament quality softball fields, a track and field venue and a possible aquatics center, national events could be held there. That would allow moving the main softball complex off Franklin Park and soccer fields off other parks, creating more recreation space for the public.
Other classifications such as 3A, 2A, etc. could hold district and regional playoffs there for football, soccer, track, softball and possibly baseball. Maybe the Shadow could even rent it for soccer games.
The streets in the east-central area are capable of handling increased traffic and the location at the apex of I-90 and the North-South Freeway will aid Mead, Valley and Southside traffic flow plus make it easier for out-of-town guests to arrive.
Had Mr. Grippi checked with the business reporters, he would have found there have not been many offers for the property as an industrial site even though it has been available for several years.
Your reporter was very critical of such a complex being built next to a sewage treatment plant, but I believe Mayor West’s announcement suggested it would be a water reclamation facility.
This is an idea that has potential and deserves to get a fair appraisal.