Spokane Sports Are Having a Moment: The Course, The Podium & the growing sports scene in the Region

Spokane has always been a sports town. What is new? Is how many people outside the region are starting to notice!  With a purpose-built cross country course in Spokane Valley, a nationally recognized indoor track downtown and a new stadium bringing professional soccer to the city, the Lilac City is building a reputation as a place where big events happen. Here is what is new, and what has been here all along.

The Course Spokane Valley: A Home for Cross Country

The newest addition is The Course Spokane Valley, the region's first dedicated cross country facility. It sits on roughly 60 acres at Flora Park along the Spokane River and was designed with championship racing in mind, with routes that can be configured from short loops up to 10K.

• Debut: the venue hosted its first meet in fall 2025, the West Coast Conference Cross Country Championships.
• What is coming: Gonzaga and Spokane Sports were selected to host the NCAA West Regional Cross Country Championships there in November 2027.
• More than college racing: the course was planned for runners of all ages and for cyclocross as well, which means more weekends with visiting teams, families and fans in town.

The Podium: Indoor Track on a National Stage

Downtown, The Podium opened in 2021 as a 135,000-square-foot indoor sports venue on the north bank of the Spokane River. It has hosted the USA Track and Field Indoor Championships and brings in track meets and other tournaments throughout the year.

ONE Spokane Stadium and Pro Soccer

A short walk away, ONE Spokane Stadium is home to Spokane's USL soccer clubS, Spokane Velocity, along with high school football and community events. Together with the Spokane Arena next door, it has turned the north bank into a true sports district.

What Has Been Here All Along

• Gonzaga basketball - the Zags are a national name, and game nights at the McCarthey Athletic Center are a Spokane rite of passage.
• Hoopfest - every June, downtown streets become hundreds of courts for the largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament anywhere.
• Bloomsday - the 12K road race that has brought tens of thousands of runners and walkers to Spokane each May since 1977.
• Spokane Indians baseball - summer nights at Avista Stadium with the Colorado Rockies' High-A affiliate.
• Spokane Chiefs hockey - Western Hockey League action at the Spokane Arena.
• Eastern Washington University - Eagles football on the red turf at Roos Field in Cheney.
• NCAA tournament games - the Spokane Arena has been a regular host for March Madness.

Why It Matters If You Live Here

More events mean more than something to watch on a Saturday. Young athletes get to compete on the same courses and tracks as college champions, and visiting teams and families discover what the rest of us already know about living here. It all adds energy to the neighborhoods around these venues, from downtown and Kendall Yards to Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake.

Want to Live Close to the Action?

Whether you want to be near a Zags game or have a cross country course down the road, The Fowler Group can help you find the right spot. Contact Ryan and Danielle to talk about neighborhoods across Spokane and Coeur d'Alene.