Two years ago, Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena marketing and management came up with a unique concept — a bucket list of entertainers and events to pursue.
General Manager Matt Gibson and Marketing Manager Becca Watters were just listening to the community and the entire arena marketing area.
“It really started with an article that ran in the Inlander, a local arts and entertainment magazine,” Watters said. “In that article, the magazine had asked the community to name the top 10 things they would like to see in Spokane. The second item on that list was directed at the arena. That second item was to bring Pearl Jam to Spokane. Matt and I sat down and decided to figure out how we could make that happen.”
Their efforts paid off with a concert by Pearl Jam in November 2013, marking the first time Pearl Jam had been in Spokane in 20 years. “Pearl Jam is based in Seattle, which is just four hours away from us,” Watters said. “So, they don’t come over this way very often.”
After that success, the creative duo began to wonder what other acts people in the area wanted to see and if they could pull off another Pearl Jam.
“We created an online format where people could list the top acts they would like to see at the arena,” Watters said. “We had over 10,000 responses that resulted in our 2014 Bucket List. It was a great list of acts that people wanted to see.”
Gibson added: “Everyone is looking for less risk. So, if we do a little research, at least promoters and agents will know that we have taken the time to do a little work.”
The 2014 Bucket List includes: Luke Bryan, who ranked #2 on the Bucket List and performed on May, 15, 2015; Eagles, ranked #13 on the list and performed May 29, 2015; Eric Church, #19, played on Jan. 29, 2015; Motley Crue, #25, Nov. 22, 2014; Elton John, #30, Sept. 17, 2014; Def Leppard, #31 and set for Sept. 30, 2015; Tim McGraw, #32, set for Sept. 3; Miranda Lambert, #33, Feb. 12, 2015, and Blake Shelton, #34, Sept. 18, 2014.
The 2015 Bucket List bookings so far includes: Slipknot, #19, set for Oct. 20, 2015, and Five Finger Death Punch, #31, set for Sept. 13, 2015.
BEYOND THE BUCKET LIST
Kevin Twohig, CEO of the Public Facilities District, added: “This is still a relationships business. This is still absolutely true. Our promoters, agents and managers — we go to them. We try to participate. Our market area is ranked 75th in the nation, which isn’t a large market, so we not only believe in this, we believe we need to do this.”
In 2011, the arena was opening a new lounge area called the Jameson, an Irish themed establishment. Gibson was attending a Billboard meeting and began to think: “Let’s have some stainless steel flasks made up to give away to spotlight our new bar.”
They did, putting the building’s logo on each flask along with the name of the food location.
“The only complaint I heard about the flasks was why we didn’t fill them up,” he said.
With the success of the flasks, Gibson moved on to glasses that he gave out at the International Entertainment Buyers Association meeting the next year.
“We decided we wanted to send out the message about our different configurations and what all we could handle here,” Watters said. “So we had a Pilsner for our full house, a large glass for one-half house and a shot glass for the performing arts center.”
Two years ago, the marketing department put together a list of 70 to 80 clients and/or potential clients. They created unique gift items and have sent them out several times a year. Some of these have included apples plucked from the trees near Spokane and a caramel sauce made by the arena’s chef.
“There is one thing that is a constant in marketing and that is food and beverage always works,” Gibson said.
Last year, at the beginning of baseball season, Gibson decided they should send out baseballs. The baseballs, with the building’s logo, were sent out accompanied by Cracker Jacks and popcorn.
“Some days later, I got a phone call from John Branigan’s office (William Morris Entertainment Endeavor),” Gibson said. “I had a message to call his office. So, I did and the person answering the phone said ‘yes, Mr. Gibson, Mr. Branigan wants to speak to you.’ Of course, I was thinking what in the world had I done wrong? When he came on the phone, he asked if I would send him some more baseballs; that everyone kept coming into his office and taking his.
“We had 12 left and I just boxed them up and sent them to him,” he said. “These gifts definitely grease the skids.”