Spokane Public Facilities District
The Spokane Public Facilities District (SPFD) is the organization in Spokane, Washington that manages the Spokane Arena, Spokane Convention Center and the INB Performing Arts Center. It was created in 1989 by the Washington State Legislature to create a plan to replace the old Spokane Coliseum. The Coliseum was eventually replaced by the Spokane Arena. The SPFD recently completed a 100,000 sq ft (9,300 m2) expansion of the Convention Center by building the Exhibit Halls.
After several attempts to replace the Spokane Coliseum, the Spokane Public Facilities District was created in 1989 by the Washington State Legislature by virtue of RCW 36.100. The Legislature appropriated $500,000 to the District to commence operations.
The District is a municipal corporation. It is an independent taxing authority and a taxing district as defined in the state Constitution. The boundaries are coextensive with the boundaries of Spokane County. As defined by the Legislature, the SPFD was authorized to "acquire, construct, own and operate sports and entertainment facilities with contiguous parking facilities."
The District manages and maintains the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, Spokane Convention Center and INB Performing Arts Center.
In the spring of 1990, the District Board published a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for an economic feasibility/market analysis. Laventhol & Horwath (now Price Waterhouse) was hired to help determine the type, size and location of a new facility to replace the Coliseum. David Petersen of L & H conducted over 40 interviews with local area elected officials, user groups, citizens and promoters as part of this study. Nine sites were evaluated for possible location of a new facility.
The Board subsequently voted unanimously to accept the recommendations of the Laventhol & Horwath study, as follows:
A ballot proposition was placed on the County general election ballot in November 1990 with two issues: (1) a property tax bond issue of $38 million to finance construction; and (2) a measure to validate the District, which would allow it to impose a two percent hotel/motel room tax on properties of 40 or more units. The second measure passed while the first failed to get the super majority needed for approval.
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