DUNKING, EXPO-STYLE

from Spokane Hoopfest Official Event Guide 2023

ALWAYS BACK FOR MORE

Past, present and basketball all come together at Northern Quest Center Court

The Pavilion in Riverfront Park was a gift from the United States government to honor Spokane for being selected to host the 1974 World’s Fair — Expo ’74. Its original purpose was to house the U.S. exhibition at the World’s Fair, so it’s only fitting that now it’s home to Northern Quest Center Court in Hooptown, USA.

When the city renovated the Pavilion in 2019, 45 years after the World’s Fair, the plans were drawn up with Hoopfest in mind.

“It is a crown jewel of Hoopfest,” says Riley Stockton, executive director of Hoopfest, of Northern Quest Center Court. “Last year was our first year under the Spokane Pavilion, and I don’t think it could have gone better. It is just the perfect place for Hoopfest to be in the center of Spokane.”

Not only is the iconic structure a visually stunning backdrop for the high-level basketball that is played inside of it, but it’s true to the center court name. As Hoopfest has grown, the event has expanded beyond the downtown core and onto the burgeoning north bank. That puts the Pavilion smack dab in the center of Hoopfest.

Much like how Northern Quest is the epicenter of entertainment in the Inland Northwest, Northern Quest Center Court will once again be the epicenter of basketball at Hoopfest.

“You’re going to have the elite bracket games throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday, but you’ll also have activities like the Numerica Cash Dash, the MultiCare Slam Dunk Contest, not to mention other activations to get people excited about Hoopfest,” says Stockton.

With one year under their belt at the Pavilion, the people behind the scenes at Northern Quest and Hoopfest aren’t making any big changes to Center Court this year, just minor tweaks to improve the experience for players and spectators.

That said, the relationship between Hoopfest and Northern Quest is much older than the one year they’ve been together under the Pavilion.

“Northern Quest has been a long-term partnership for Hoopfest,” says Stockton. “They’ve been our app and team tracker sponsor for a while now. They’re still doing that, and we’re super excited to have them back.”

Beyond the activities that will draw spectators to the roughly 4,000-seat Pavilion, Northern Quest Center Court’s location on a grassy, tree-lined island surrounded by flowing water makes it an ideal spot to kick back and beat the midafternoon heat.