An amazing thing happens when kids play organized sports.
Their parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters tag along,filling the sidelines, offering encouragement and connectingfamilies.
They also look for places to shop and eat.
With that in mind, business leaders and athletic groups aretrying to mold the Spokane Valley into a mecca for youth sports.
'The impact of youth sports in our region is increasing, and ourvision has always been that we want to make Spokane the premierdestination for youth sports,' said Eric Sawyer, executive directorfor the Spokane Regional Sports Commission. 'That's happening. Weare already starting to see it unfold.'
The sports commission, the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce'stourism committee, and the Hotel/Motel Association are working onseveral projects to bring more events to the area, by targetingyoung athletes and their families.
Plantes Ferry is the first project aimed at shaping the chambercommittee's vision. The facility covers 75 acres and includes a 13-field soccer complex and two softball diamonds.
It was built by the Spokane Valley Junior Soccer Association andSpokane County and is near completion. Although all 13 fields areopen for play, $100,000 is needed to finish the concession stand.
In 2004, the soccer association will host the Far West RegionalSoccer Tournament at Plantes Ferry, with 250 youth teams from 13Western states converging on the Valley.
'It's the shining example of what we want to accomplish,' Sawyersaid.
Sawyer estimated that 15,000 to 20,000 visitors will be attractedto that tournament for about 10 days, spending between $9 millionand $10 million at local businesses.
'That wouldn't happen if it wasn't for Plantes Ferry,' Sawyersaid.
Members of the tourism committee and sports commission met withSpokane County commissioners last summer to prioritize projects,Sawyer said.
Plantes Ferry just scratched the surface of the demand, Sawyersaid. The next priority is addressing the need for more gym space.
Proposals to address that need include a $22 million competitiveaquatics center and a $15 million court complex.
Sports USA - a privately funded, nonprofit organization - signeda land agreement effective Oct. 1 on five acres north of Interstate90 near Barker Road to build the first phase of the court complex.
One drawback is that the agreement gives the group only 120 daysto raise enough money - about $2.5 million - to buy the land andbegin construction.
The plan includes a 43,550-square-foot facility with fivebasketball courts, 10 volleyball courts, a media room, conferencerooms, locker rooms, first aid and training rooms, and laundryfacilities.
The group's vision is to provide every youngster the opportunityto 'play, practice and participate under one roof.'
Originally, they planned for a 121,000-square-foot facility, tothe tune of $15 million.
They changed the plans after doing studies to determine the needsand wants of the athletic community, said Kert Carlson, principalfor Sports USA.
'There's huge demand for this in Spokane,' Carlson, said. 'Andthe community is going to get this thing back, eventually.'
The goal is to find 2,500 people to donate $1,000 each. Carlsonsaid if they aren't able to raise the money, they may have to walkaway. 'We'll cross that stumbling block when we get there,' he said.
The aquatics center also has hit some resistance.
The proposal for a 12,000-square-foot indoor facility isspearheaded by Jeff Eickerman, the parent of two competitiveswimmers. The facility, which Eickerman hopes can be built near theMirabeau Point community complex, would have an eight-lane, 50-meter competitive pool, a diving tank and therapeutic pool. Theonly facility like it is in Federal Way, and operates at a $350,000loss per year.
'Competition is a different animal,' Sawyer said. 'We need toaddress the issue of revenue, and determine if it's the best way tospend public money.'
The chamber committee hopes some of the funding for suchfacilities could come from the $94 million convention centerexpansion package approved in May.
'The new city is going to be looking for some civic pride andsome identity and I am guessing they are going to find it in youthsports,' Sawyer said. 'It's not just filling the hotels andrestaurants, it's the national attention and national exposure suchprojects bring to our market.'
