Presented by: Proposed Sports and Event Complex in Coeur d ...

meal functions and small-group sessions. In addition, an attached hotel property sufficient to
accommodate a large share of event attendees is also required to host most convention and
conference events.
As noted in the Comparable Facilities Analysis, many event venues incorporate a mix of large
event and breakout space. However, in markets similar in size to Coeur d’Alene, the multipurpose
facility is typically the primary spectator and flat floor event venue in its community.
Therefore, the ancillary flat floor space at these venues is used not only as support space for large
conferences and meetings, but also to host smaller meetings and events that utilize only the flat
floor space.
A multi-purpose venue operating in Coeur d’Alene would face a different competitive scenario.
The Coeur d’Alene Resort has already established itself as a popular destination for meetings,
conference and banquets of a size that can be accommodated by its existing space. Therefore,
the programming areas utilized as “breakout space” during large conferences at the new venue
would potentially compete with the Resort for smaller meetings, conference and banquets
throughout the year. This could have an adverse impact on the new facility’s event levels in
comparison to comparable facilities, which face less competition for those events.
Another challenge associated with capturing large meeting and conference events is the lack of a
headquarters hotel located adjacent to the proposed event venue. As previously stated, most
conventions and conferences require a full-service hotel to be attached to or located in the
immediate vicinity of the convention venue. While the Riverstone development includes hotel
space, there is not envisioned to be a large convention hotel attached to the proposed event
facility, which could preclude the facility from hosting certain events.
Finally, the ability of the facility to capture large meeting and conference events would require
significant marketing efforts on the part of the Visitor and Convention Bureau, the Chamber of
Commerce and/or other such entity. Because the Coeur d’Alene Resort largely conducts its own
sales operations, the Bureau is not highly active in selling Coeur d’Alene as a convention
destination. The development of a major convention facility that targets larger conventions and
conferences would need to coincide with expanded efforts to market the facility and the
community as a whole as a convention destination.
The second opportunity for a new multi-purpose event facility to capture untapped demand in
Coeur d’Alene is hosting large consumer and trade shows that cannot be accommodated by the
event facilities offered at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. The Fairgrounds’ event facilities are
spread throughout several buildings, and feature a relatively basic level of amenities. As noted
previously, the largest contiguous, year-round space offered at the Fairgrounds is the 9,600square
foot Building 1. Buildings 1, 2 and 3 are connected, but not contiguous, and provide a
total of 17,000 square feet of space.
Feasibility Analysis of a New Sports and Event Complex in Coeur d’Alene
Market Demand Analysis
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