Spokane in 2015 Worldcon Bid
Welcome to the official bid website for the Cascadia region in 2015. After much searching we have found what we believe will be the perfect site in the Pacific Northwest to host a Worldcon; Spokane, Washington.
Location
We know many fans will support a Worldcon that is in a location where they would like to vacation, and not to brag, but Spokane is the second largest city in Washington and the largest between Seattle and Minneapolis. Spokane offers the kinds of attractions and amenities you would expect from a city the size of Seattle but without all the rain and traffic. In fact, the average number of sunny days in Spokane is 260. Known for its untamed beauty and fantastic outdoor activities just minutes away, it is no wonder Spokane’s motto is: “Near nature, near perfect.”
The city of Spokane is very walkable. There are beautiful green spaces and short city blocks (averaging 280 feet) the walk from the hotels and convention center to shopping and dining will not be hard on the average Fen. There are many unique restaurants, art galleries, tasting rooms and shops open all weekend throughout the nearby area. This downtown doesn’t close up when the 9-5 businesses do.
Facilities
This is where it gets positively exciting! The Spokane Convention Center and the nearby hotels will be a perfect Worldcon venue. The facilities sit along the banks of the beautiful Spokane river with stunning views of the 100 acre Riverfront Park. The hotels are varied with some that are very unique, they are comfortable and welcoming and all within an easy walk of the convention center. Each of the facilities we are speaking with want to be our main hotel and are willing to allow our parties in their suites and rooms. The hotels are connected by beautiful walkways through the park or the sky tunnel that bypasses the need to walk on the street level.
Completed in June of 2006, the Exhibit Hall features 100,160 square feet of prime meeting space. With final renovations completed to the facility in May 2007, the Spokane Convention Center now offers over 320,000 square feet of user friendly meeting space. The facility provides 23 state of the art meeting/breakout rooms, a 25,310 square foot fully finished ballroom and a Jr ballroom that is 13,730 square feet. For outdoor events or receptions the Convention Center offers the roof deck, which provides a panoramic view of the river and Riverfront Park for up to 500 attendees.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Spokane has an International airport, daily Amtrak service and bus service and they are right on one of the nation’s major interstate highways.