Tom Barros (pictured with Wenatche City Councilman Don Gurnard), owner of Town Auto Group, said "...it feels great to do such a good thing for the community."

    According to Linda Haglund, Town Toyota signed a five-year commitment for the naming rights of the 4,300-seat facility adjacent to Walla Walla Point Park.  "It's a private contract right now...you'll have to wait until it's public to find out," was Haglund's response to a question from the crowd gathered about how much was paid for the naming rights.

    The arena is still slated for substantial completion by the contract deadline of September 17th.  Global Entertainment, the management firm of the arena, is working on a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for the first week of October.

    Sonic will be the first to come on-line.  The drive-in is scheduled to open around August 25th, according to Area Manager Matt Thesenvitz.  Sonic is currently hiring staff for its restaurant at the corner of Walnut and North Wenatchee Avenue.

    Jack in the Box is expected to finish construction of its new restaurant at Chelan and 5th by the end of September.

 

 

    Another big cog in the wheel of Wenatchee commerce is the hotel planned just across the street from Sonic, Spring Hill Suites by Marriott.

    Sterling Hospitality, the Spokane company which owns Wenatchee's Holiday Inn Express, announced its plans for the Spring Hill construction in late June.  According to company officials, they hope to break ground and begin construction this fall and be up and running by June of 2009.

    At an unveiling of the company's plans, the four-story hotel will feature 109-rooms, beginning at a price of around $100.  Below is an artist's rendering of the hotel which will reach out to "business travelers."  Total cost of the project is approximately $13-million.
    In addition to the Spring Hill Suites planned for Wenatchee, another 99-room hotel is in the works for East Wenatchee, at the foot of 3rd Street near Costco and Town Toyota.  Building permits are currently being sought by Gill Diamond Hospitality and owner Ganta Singh, who currently own and operate Cedars Inn, Best Western Chieftain Inn, Comfort Inn and Value Inn.

    The public is welcome to attend and watch a video tour and view brochures and photos of the arena.  The open houses will be from 3-6pm and will occur on:

 

August 15 - Campbell's Resort at Lake Chelan

August 21st - Best Western Icicle Inn in Leavenworth

August 27th - Town Toyota Arena office in Wenatchee

September 17th - Quincy Senior Center

 

    The Wenatchee Wild, the Arena's hockey team, will begin play October 17th.  The indoor soccer team, the Wenatchee FiRE, will also start play in October.  Spokespeople for Global Entertainment say they expect to have a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony in the first week of October.

    Club Seats are going fast, which include season tickets to the hockey, soccer and first-right-of refusal for all other events.  Contact the sales office at Global Entertainment for your seat at (509) 667-7VIP.