Spokane Sports

What Spokane Sports does

Spokane Sports is a private non-profit sports commission founded in 1989, headquartered in Spokane, Washington, that organizes, bids on, and hosts sporting events to generate economic impact for the Spokane region. The organization serves as the primary destination marketing and event management entity for sports in the Inland Northwest, working with national and international rights holders, event organizers, and sanctioning bodies to bring regional, national, and international competitions to Spokane venues.

The company's core asset is a portfolio of five championship-grade venues located within 20 minutes of downtown Spokane: The Podium Powered by STCU (a 135,000 sq ft indoor facility with a 200m hydraulic banked track, 3,000 permanent bleacher seats, and configurable space for up to 16 volleyball courts or 9 basketball courts), Numerica Veterans Arena (12,000-seat multi-purpose arena with a 2024 LED Ribbon Board installation), Spokane Convention Center (300,000 sq ft of event space with 120,000 sq ft of flexible exhibit halls), One Spokane Stadium (a multi-use stadium with 5,000-15,000 capacity), and The Course Spokane Valley (a 46-acre purpose-built cross country complex). The organization also runs event programs including Indoor Track & Field events, the Switchback Series cross country races, and community programs such as the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame and the Spokane Youth Sports Awards.

Spokane Sports generates revenue through event hosting fees, corporate sponsorships, and naming-rights partnerships (including STCU, Spokane Tribe of Indians, and Numerica Credit Union). The organization operates with 1-10 employees and outsources much of event execution. According to its own impact reporting, it hosts 73 events per year, draws 169,000+ traveling athletes and fans, generates $7.8M in state and local taxes, and supports 549 jobs, with a broader regional economic impact of approximately $87M. The organization is governed by a board of directors drawn from local universities, healthcare systems, hospitality companies, and major employers in the Spokane region.

Name

Spokane Sports

Legal name

Spokane Sports Commission

Website

https://spokanesports.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Spokane Sports is a private non-profit sports commission that attracts and hosts sporting events at five regional venues to drive economic impact for the Spokane, Washington region. It serves rights holders, corporate sponsors, and traveling athletes and fans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Event Management

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113), Spectator Sports (71121), Other Spectator Sports (711219)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nordic & Cross-Country Centers (XC Skiing, Biathlon, Snowshoe Trails) (THAAAJAE), Sports Community Relations & Grassroots Program Management (MPAKAKAJ)

Keywords

• Sports commission services
• Event management services
• Sports venue operations
• Athletic event hosting
• Sports tourism development

Headquarters

HQ city

Spokane

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Event Hosting and Management: Spokane Sports generates revenue by attracting and hosting sports events at regional venues, driving economic impact through traveling athletes and fans. The organization partners with sponsors and local businesses to fund operations.
2. Sponsorships and Partnerships: The organization receives sponsorship revenue from corporate partners including naming rights (STCU for The Podium, Spokane Tribe of Indians for Convention Center, Numerica for Veterans Arena) and event sponsors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Spokane Sports (legal name: Spokane Sports Commission) is a regional non-profit sports commission that organizes, bids on, and hosts sporting events to drive economic impact for the Spokane, Washington region. It manages a portfolio of five premier venues (The Podium, Numerica Veterans Arena, Spokane Convention Center, One Spokane Stadium, and The Course Spokane Valley), runs event programs including indoor track & field and the Switchback Series cross country races, and operates community programs such as the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame and Spokane Youth Sports Awards.

Product overview

Spokane Sports is a sports destination organization that operates a portfolio of five premier venues and manages multiple event programs. Its venue portfolio includes The Podium Powered by STCU (a world-class indoor track facility), Numerica Veterans Arena (12,000-seat multi-purpose arena), Spokane Convention Center (300,000 sq ft event space), One Spokane Stadium (multi-use soccer stadium), and The Course Spokane Valley (purpose-built cross country complex). The organization delivers event programs including Indoor Track & Field events at The Podium and the Switchback Series cross country races at The Course Spokane Valley, along with community initiatives such as the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame and Spokane Youth Sports Awards. The venues and event programs work together to drive economic impact through sports tourism and community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame: A committee of Spokane Sports that honors top athletes, coaches, and sports figures in the Spokane region every two years

Products and services

• The Podium Powered by STCU A 135,000 sq ft world-class indoor sports venue featuring a 200m hydraulic banked track, 3,000 permanent bleacher seats, a 75,000 sq ft competition floor, and multi-sport capability supporting up to 16 volleyball courts, 9 basketball courts, or 21 wrestling mats. Used by rights holders and event organizers for elite track & field competitions.
• Numerica Veterans Arena A 12,000-seat multi-purpose arena spanning 32,000 sq ft, equipped with state-of-the-art audio and video capabilities and a 350° LED Ribbon Board installed in 2024, located adjacent to One Spokane Stadium and The Podium. Hosts sporting events, concerts, and entertainment for event rights holders and promoters.
• Spokane Convention Center presented by the Spokane Tribe of Indians A downtown venue overlooking the Spokane River offering 300,000 sq ft of sports space, including 120,000 sq ft of flexible Exhibit Halls, 40 breakout rooms, and direct skywalk access to nearby hotels. Used for large-scale sporting events and conventions by rights holders and event organizers.
• One Spokane Stadium A multi-use stadium with grandstands seating 5,000 (total capacity 10,000-15,000 for large events), featuring locker rooms, media boxes, concessions, and gathering spaces, serving as home to professional soccer teams and other sporting events.
• The Course Spokane Valley A 46-acre purpose-built cross country venue bordering the Spokane River, designed to NCAA and USATF specifications with customizable course routes from 1 mile to 10k, 70m starting line width, and on-site parking. Hosts cross country competitions for rights holders and race organizers.
• Indoor Track & Field Events A comprehensive indoor track and field event season hosted at The Podium, featuring world-class competition facilities designed for elite athlete and fan experiences. Delivered for event organizers and rights holders running indoor track meets.
• Switchback Series (Cross Country) The premier cross country racing series held at The Course Spokane Valley, offering elite competition for dedicated runners with championship-quality course design and spectator-friendly layouts. Marketed to race organizers, running clubs, and dedicated runners.
• Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame A biennial induction ceremony honoring top athletes, coaches, and sports figures in the Spokane region, with memorabilia viewable year-round at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. Serves the local sports community and regional audience.
• Spokane Youth Sports Awards Annual recognition program partnering with SWX to honor outstanding high school student-athletes for achievements in athletics, academics, leadership, and community involvement. Delivered in partnership with ICCU as presenting sponsor.

Quantifiable outcome

• 73 events hosted per year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and regional.

• STCU (Spokane Teachers Credit Union)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSTCU is the naming sponsor for The Podium Powered by STCU, Spokane's world-class indoor track and field facility. This partnership provides STCU with prominent brand visibility at major sporting events.
• Spokane Tribe of IndianscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Spokane Tribe of Indians is the presenting sponsor of the Spokane Convention Center, providing naming rights that associate the tribe with major regional sporting events hosted at the venue.
• Numerica Credit UnioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNumerica Credit Union is the naming sponsor of the Numerica Veterans Arena, one of Spokane's premier sports venues with 12,000 seats for sports and entertainment.
• ICCU (Idaho Central Credit Union)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerICCU serves as the Presenting Sponsor for the annual Spokane Youth Sports Awards, recognizing outstanding student-athletes in the region.
• SWXmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSWX partners with Spokane Sports for the annual Spokane Youth Sports Awards, providing media coverage and promotion for the event recognizing outstanding student-athletes.
• Avista CorpmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAvista Corp is an event partner for the Spokane Youth Sports Awards, supporting the recognition of local student-athletes.
• SYSA (Spokane Youth Soccer Association)regionalGTM or Marketing PartnerSYSA is an event partner for Spokane Youth Sports Awards, collaborating on youth athlete recognition programs.
• Board of Directors PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard includes representatives from Kalispel Development Company, Spokane Public Facilities District, Gonzaga University, CHAS Health, Avista Corp, The Davenport Autograph Collection, NAI Black, Whitworth University, ALSC Architects, Best Western Peppertree Inns, Great Northwest Athletic Conference, Ruby Hospitality, GL8 Hospitality, Numerica Credit Union, Cowles Real Estate, and Eastern Washington University.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Nashville Sports Council: Sports commission that promotes, bids on, and hosts events in the Nashville region. Comparable in scope, event mix, and economic-impact measurement to Spokane Sports.
• Greater Cleveland Sports Commission: Mid-size-market sports commission generating economic impact through NCAA and amateur event hosting. Closely comparable in venue portfolio strategy and event-bidding approach.
• Atlanta Sports Council: Regional sports council under the Metro Atlanta Chamber that bids for and hosts major sporting events. Comparable non-profit commission structure and event-hosting business model.
• Charlotte Sports Foundation: Sports commission hosting college and amateur championships in the Charlotte region. Direct comparable in event hosting, sponsorship sales, and economic-impact reporting.
• Louisville Sports Commission: Non-profit sports commission that attracts NCAA and national championships to drive economic impact. Highly analogous operating model, geography (single mid-size metro), and venue/event strategy to Spokane Sports.
• Greater Houston Sports & Entertainment Corporation: Regional sports commission that bids for, hosts, and operates major amateur and professional sporting events. Directly comparable in mission, sponsorship model, and economic-impact focus to Spokane Sports.

Others

• USATF (USA Track & Field): National governing body for track and field that allocates championship events to venues like The Podium. Functions as a key client/partner of Spokane Sports' indoor track and field business.
• NCAA: National governing body that awards championship hosting rights to cities and commissions. Spokane Sports' 10 consecutive years of NCAA basketball hosting makes NCAA a primary counterparty and ecosystem benchmark.
• Sports ETA (Events & Tourism Association): Industry association for sports commissions and destination marketing organizations. Comparable as the peer ecosystem in which Spokane Sports operates and benchmarks.

Regional players

• Visit Spokane: Regional destination marketing organization for Spokane that drives tourism, including sports tourism. Adjacent role in attracting visitors and complements Spokane Sports' event-hosting efforts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SpokaneSports
• Facebookfacebook.com/spokanesports
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spokanesports
• Instagraminstagram.com/spokanesports

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Spokane Sports