Author's Blog

January 6, 2009

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Northwest Stadiums - Day 7 Avista Stadium

Spokane isn’t quite what I expected.  My experience with Eastern Washington has been the dryer vicinities of Yakima, Ellensburg, and Moses Lake, and the wheat fields east of Moses Lake.  While I know coming off the Columbia Plateau, you enter more forested areas as you head into Coeur D’Alene, but I did not expect Spokane itself to be as green as it is.

Avista Stadium also had a few surprises.  For one, the food.  It was good.  Not the best I’ve had, but a great barbeque, one of the better standard hotdogs, and a generous sized beer for only $5.00.  Granted, the beer selection was a little weak, but included was British Columbian brew that could appeal to those you prefer premium suds.

Built in 1958, the stadium was also newer than expected.  Part of that was because of new cement put in this year that, as one person in the Indians front office put it, will add another 50 years to the life of the stadium.  Funding for the new cement was made possible in part by funding from the State of Washington, which within the last couple of years approved for improvement to Washington’s professional sports venues.  Because of this grant, a number of improvements (but not new stadiums) are expected at all of Washington’s ballparks over the next couple years.

The game was a fireworks game, so it was one of those few sellouts in minor league baseball.  I usually don’t stay for fireworks, but as I had my wife and daughter with me, we decided to take it in.  It was a good show, perhaps the best I have seen in the minor leagues, and I noticed that a number of Indians stayed to watch the show.  I later learned from other fans that this was better than past fireworks shows, but I still give team and their sponsors credit for actually putting something together work sticking around for.

The game itself was also exciting.  Of course, the Indians have far and away the best record in the Northwest League, not 33-12, a .733 winning percentage.  The team also seems to have scored a winner seeking a partnership with the Spokane tribes of Indians, which held design their newest logo.  No Cleveland Indians, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Braves controversy here.  The local tribe is proud to have a team name after them, and a wall in the concession area tells the story of these Native Americans.

Perhaps the biggest negative was the inter inning entertainment, which left a little to be desired in terms of originality or fan participation.  Nevertheless, one senses this is a well run organization.  A good team, a decent stadium, and good food really make for a great time out at the ballpark.

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