One Spokane Stadium

Opened in 1950, Joe Albi Stadium in Northwest Spokane had served as the city's main outdoor stadium for soccer, football, and other large events.{{cite web |last1=Marie Mullin |first1=Larkin |title=Joe Albi Stadium: Local Teams Find A Home to Play |url=https://spokanehistorical.org/items/show/494 |website=Spokane Historical |publisher=Eastern Washington University |access-date=June 29, 2023}} Compared to the new Downtown Spokane Stadium, Joe Albi was a much larger stadium with a capacity of 25,000-plus spectators.{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Virginia |title=Stadium replacement is in early development stages |url=https://www.spokanejournal.com/local-news/stadium-replacement-is-in-early-development-stages/ |access-date=June 29, 2023 |work=Spokane Journal of Business |date=March 25, 2021}}

By the first decade of the 2000s, the stadium's age began to show and cause issues for tenants. In 2006, the artificial turf was deemed unsafe, which ultimately led to the Spokane Shadow ending their time as tenants. The Spokane and Mead school districts agreed to pay $1 million to replace the turf.{{cite news |last1=Camden |first1=Jim |title=Spokane, Shadow end Albi deal |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2006/may/31/spokane-shadow-end-albi-deal/ |access-date=June 29, 2023 |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=May 31, 2006}}

Joe Albi continued to deteriorate over the following years, and by 2017 Spokane Public Schools began exploring options to replace the then 67-year-old stadium. Options floated included demolishing and rebuilding a smaller stadium at the Joe Albi site or building a new stadium downtown.{{cite news |last1=Edelen |first1=Amy |title=Spokane Public Schools could downsize, replace Joe Albi Stadium |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/dec/08/spokane-public-schools-could-downsize-replace-joe-/ |access-date=June 29, 2023 |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=December 8, 2017}} In 2018, the school district's proposals were put to an advisory vote with two separate but related questions posed to voters within District 81 boundaries. One was on a $495 million bond for the school district, $31 million of which would be allocated for the stadium project. The other was on the preferred location of the stadium: the Joe Albi site or downtown. Voters passed the bond proposal, but preferred the Albi site by a 2-to-1 margin.{{cite news |last1=Allen |first1=Jim |title=Voters, by 2-to-1 margin, say build new outdoor stadium on Albi site |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/nov/06/voters-by-2-to-1-margin-say-build-new-outdoor-stad/ |access-date=June 29, 2023 |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=November 6, 2018}}

In early 2021, a new proposal to revive the downtown stadium plan was brought forward by the Downtown Spokane Partnership, an organization composed of downtown Spokane business interests. Mark Richard, president of the Downtown Spokane Partnership, along with a representative from the United Soccer League (USL), made a pitch to Spokane Public Schools asking the district to reconsider their plans to build a new stadium at the Joe Albi Site.{{cite news |last1=Criscione |first1=Wilson |title=The proposal to build a downtown Spokane stadium is back. Has the pitch improved since three years ago? |url=https://www.inlander.com/news/the-proposal-to-build-a-downtown-spokane-stadium-is-back-has-the-pitch-improved-since-three-years-ago-21317893 |access-date=June 29, 2023 |work=The Inlander |date=March 18, 2021}} The new proposal included a promise from USL to bring a professional team to Spokane and to pledge $2 million to the construction. It was also claimed that the central location would be better for parents and students attending high school games. The location adjacent to the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena and the then under-construction indoor track and field venue The Podium would help create a proper sports and event district in the city center.

Spokane Public Schools voted on the new proposal in May 2021 and approved it by a 4–1 margin. This vote took place after the Spokane Public Facilities District, the agency which manages the adjacent Spokane Arena and the Podium as well as the Spokane Convention Center and First Interstate Center for the Arts across the Spokane River, agreed to meet a set of parameters put forward by the school district. These parameters included parking issues and congestion concerns, as well as ensuring that Spokane Public Schools would retain complete ownership rights over the new stadium.{{cite news |last1=Criscione |first1=Wilson |title=Spokane Public Schools approves proposal to build downtown stadium |url=https://www.inlander.com/news/spokane-public-schools-approves-proposal-to-build-downtown-stadium-21495859 |work=The Inlander |date=May 13, 2021}}

{{stack|File:SPSStadiumGroundbreaking.jpg in the background.]]}}

Groundbreaking on the stadium took place on November 30, 2021.{{cite news |last1=Allen |first1=Jim |title=Downtown Spokane stadium groundbreaking set for Tuesday |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/nov/24/downtown-spokane-stadium-groundbreaking-set-for-tu/ |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=November 24, 2021}} On May 11, 2023, a topping ceremony took place as the final beam was set in place for the stadium structure. At the time of the topping ceremony, stadium officials expected the stadium would be open for events by the final week of September 2023.{{cite news |last1=Tannenbaum |first1=Guy |title=Final beam placed in Topping Ceremony for Downtown Spokane Stadium |url=https://www.khq.com/news/final-beam-placed-in-topping-ceremony-for-downtown-spokane-stadium/video_17961852-f035-11ed-b0b5-177b41b4e233.html |access-date=June 29, 2023 |work=KHQ-TV |date=May 11, 2023}}

On July 12, 2023, the Spokane Public Schools board of directors voted to approve the name of the stadium as ONE Spokane Stadium. The capitalization of the word "one" in the name is meant to reflect unity among the schools and entities which will use the stadium.{{cite news |last1=Perry |first1=Elena |title='ONE Spokane': Downtown sports stadium name approved by school officials Wednesday |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/jul/13/one-spokane-downtown-sports-stadium-name-approved-/ |access-date=July 13, 2023 |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=July 13, 2023}} A previous named proposed as part of a Kalispel Tribe of Indians sponsorship, "North Bank Stadium", was rejected by the board after the Spokane Tribe raised objections over a lack of consultation for the facility, which is built on their ancestral lands.{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=Kip |last2=Cabeza |first2=Garrett |date=April 13, 2023 |title=Spokane Public Schools delays decision on final name for new downtown sports stadium amid tribal concerns |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/apr/13/spokane-public-schools-delays-decision-on-final-na/ |work=The Spokesman-Review |accessdate=July 20, 2023}}

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on September 26, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Nichols |first=Dave |date=September 7, 2023 |title='Finally': ONE Spokane Stadium to open for high school sports, pro soccer, concerts in downtown |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/sep/07/finally-one-spokane-stadium-to-open-for-high-schoo/ |access-date=September 7, 2023 |website=The Spokesman-Review}}

File:Velocity Home Opener.jpg

The stadium is located north of The Podium, separated by Joe Albi Way, previously a section of W Dean Ave. Joe Albi Plaza was created on the southwest corner of the property near the Spokane Civic Theater, and the original statue of Joe Albi was moved to the plaza from the demolished Joe Albi Stadium.{{Cite web |last=Deis |first=Derek |date=September 27, 2023 |title=Joe Albi's legacy still standing at new One Spokane stadium |url=https://www.kxly.com/sports/joe-albis-legacy-still-standing-at-new-one-spokane-stadium/article_caaf978e-5d71-11ee-be47-674239972a7c.html |access-date=October 2, 2023 |website=KXLY |language=en}} There are 17 entry gates along the west, south, and east sides of the facility, with 5,000 permanent seats: 2,491 plastic and 2,509 metal bench.{{Cite web |last=Nichols |first=Dave |date=October 2, 2023 |title=ONE Spokane Stadium User's Guide |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/oct/02/one-spokane-stadium-users-guide/ |access-date=October 2, 2023 |website=Spokesman Review}} For other events using the field, such as concerts, the facility can accommodate up to 15,000.

The playing field is {{convert|98930|sqft|-1}} of artificial turf in a traditional north-south alignment, with the grandstand and press box along the west sideline. While the stadium hosts Spokane Public Schools football and soccer games with both sport lines painted on the field, the field can be repainted for soccer only to abide by USL and FIFA field of play regulations.{{Cite web |last=FIFA |title=5.3 Pitch Dimensions and Surrounding Areas |url=https://publications.fifa.com/en/football-stadiums-guidelines/technical-guideline/stadium-guidelines/pitch-dimensions-and-surrounding-areas/ |access-date=October 2, 2023 |website=FIFA Publications |language=en}} In the northeast corner is a 20.5 foot by 36 foot Daktronics digital display with 660,960 pixels. An additional 2.5 foot by 246 foot field-level ribbon display is expected to be installed in March 2024.{{Cite web |last=USL Spokane |date=February 29, 2024 |title=Visual Experience at ONE Spokane Stadium Features Top-Notch Technology from Daktronics |url=https://www.spokanevelocityfc.com/news/2024/02/29/3108/ |access-date=March 1, 2024 |website=Spokane Velocity |language=en-US}}

The approximate elevation of the playing field is {{convert|1900|ft|round=5}} above sea level, making the field the highest elevated field in the USL Super League.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-22 |title=What NWSL stadium is at the highest elevation? |url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/what-nwsl-stadium-is-at-the-highest-elevation-39247751 |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=OneFootball |language=en}}

The facility is shared by Spokane Public Schools high schools and the United Soccer League.

Spokane Public Schools uses the venue for football and soccer games for its five traditional high schools:

• Ferris
• Lewis and Clark
• North Central
• Rogers
• Shadle Park

The United Soccer League (USL) and franchise owner, Aequus Sports, LLC (led by Ryan and Katie Harnetiaux), announced three teams:{{Cite news |title=New soccer club owners in Spokane announce addition of professional women's team |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/oct/07/new-soccer-club-owners-in-spokane-announce-additio/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=The Spokesman-Review}}{{Cite web |title=USL Super League |url=https://www.uslspokane.com/pages/usl-super-league |access-date=May 16, 2023 |website=USL Spokane |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Traub |first=Matt |date=May 16, 2023 |title=USL Super League Announces Initial Markets |url=https://www.sportstravelmagazine.com/usl-super-league-announces-initial-markets/ |access-date=May 17, 2023 |website=SportsTravel |language=en-US}}

• Spokane Zephyr FC, a USL Super League women's soccer team
• Spokane Velocity FC, a USL League One men's soccer team
• Spokane Zephyr FC, a USL W League women's soccer team

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.spokaneschools.org/NewStadium Official website]

{{USL League One venues}}

{{USL Super League venues}}

Category:Sports in Spokane, Washington

Category:Sports venues in Spokane, Washington

Category:Sports venues completed in 2023

Category:Spokane Public Facilities District

Category:2023 establishments in Washington (state)

Category:Soccer venues in Washington (state)

Category:High school football venues in the United States

Category:American football venues in Washington (state)

Category:Spokane Velocity