Letter: Link proposal would change the game for entertainment prospects and tourism

I have lived in the Tri-Cities all of my life. For as long as I can remember, the Tri-Cities has perpetuated this stigma of “not having anything to do” and the insecurity of being lesser than neighboring Spokane, Portland and Seattle. I’m increasingly disheartened that this stigma now includes even Yakima!

The Link proposition that seeks to bring a 2,300-seat premier Broadway theater to Kennewick, as well as a 110,000-square-foot entertainment space, would change the game for Tri-Cities entertainment prospects and tourism. Today, the Tri-Cities is losing national entertainment and events to surrounding cities like Spokane, Seattle and, believe it or not, Yakima.

This is not intended to be a slam against Yakima, but a charge against the Tri-Cities to continue to grow and progress. Yakima can attract and play host to national touring theater, and the Tri-Cities can’t.

That’s not an acceptable reality for a metropolis of 250,000 people. I’m tired of the Tri-Cities complaining about what it doesn’t have, and what it isn’t, without naysayers taking action to fix it! The Link would shift this conversation and elevate us, bringing in tourism and economic development.

Let’s stop talking about what we’re not, and invest in becoming more.

This story was originally published May 22, 2016 at 2:53 AM with the headline "Letter: Link proposal would change the game for entertainment prospects and tourism."