Gonzaga Stadium

Spokane, WA, USA

Outdoor venue use for boxing in Spokane, WA, USA during the summer, from 1935 to 1945, until it was replaced by Ferris Field. Located at Gonzaga University, it likely served their sports teams, although Gonzaga's football team discontinued play during World War II due to dwindling enrollment.

Its exact seating capacity is unknown, but it was able to hold at least 18,500 for football games. It also was able to put on baseball games.

The largest known attendance at Gonzaga Stadium was held on August 14, 1943, when Henry Armstrong defeated Joey Silva in front of 10,000 fans, with a gate of $16,372. It is believed that the attendance was to that date the all-time record for a bout held in Spokane, surpassing even Jack Dempsey's appearance in an exhibition after his retirement.

Tiger Jack Fox fought at Gonzaga Stadium numerous times, and drew very well there. His bouts with Fred Lenhart and Bobby Zander probably drew the largest crowds.

Sources

• Newspaper research of the Spokesman-Review, Spokane Chronicle, Spokane Press, and Portland Oregonian

Additional Reading

• A look back at sports in Spokane: [1]