Seattle MLS Practice Facility Thread

[sounderfan]

http://www.StarfireSports.com

Starfire is the current home practice venue for the A-League Seattle Sounders, but would work perfectly as an MLS practice facility.

The complex has 8 field turf pitches, a stadium where fans can view practice (seats 2,000) is very close to SeaTac airport, and will soon include indoor areas, and a club with restaurant and pub.

http://soundercentral.com/2004season/Tryouts/2004tryouts-k.jpg

http://soundercentral.com/museum/Liga%20Hispana%202004/Liga_Hispana_004.jpg

[sounderfan]

Other Starfire links:

http://soundercentral.com/2004season/Tryouts/2004_seattle_sounders_open_tryou.htm

http://soundercentral.com/museum/Liga%20Hispana%202004/sounders_la_liga_2004.htm

[Geoduck]

Marysville - NASCAR employing MLS's tactic of promising youth soccer fields to obtain corporate welfare

Speedway proposal with site photograph (http://www.heraldbusinessjournal.com/archive/sep04/nascar-sep04.htm)
Pro-NASCAR guest editorial (http://www.heraldbusinessjournal.com/archive/sep04/nascarpro-sep04.htm)
The public also prefers seeing this 600 acres developed under a master plan with improved environment features and year-round recreational facilities than any other development option. In addition to a state-of-the-art speedway, our vision is for an RV and camping area, soccer and ball fields — an area that will look mostly green.

Fife - youth soccer association proceeding without the Sounders

The proposed Pacific National Soccer Park (http://www.pacnat.com/)
A Sounders stadium in Fife? Pro soccer team looking at 80 acres for training facility, stadium and soccer fields. Tacoma News Tribune, August 9, 2000 (http://www.geocities.com/francesfo/fifestad.html)
Sounders' exec says club headed for better times - 2002-07-01 - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle) (http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2002/07/01/story8.html?t=printable)
Youth soccer still a go - Tacoma News Tribune, Sept. 12, 2004 (http://old.tribnet.com/news/local/story/5540961p-5475683c.html)
The question of building a new soccer complex also fractured the relationship between youth soccer and the Sounders.

Last year, the youth soccer association bolted from a plan to build a new soccer complex, called the Washington Soccer House, with the Sounders. The organization now plans to build its own complex on 37 acres near Fife.

"Every time we'd meet it just seemed like the project got bigger and bigger. It started with 5,000 seats and grew to 20,000 seats and the price tag grew from $5 million to $8 million to $20 million, but nothing was ever happening," Copple said.

Seattle (Magnuson Park) - stadium with nearby practice fields and indoor facility?

Magnuson Park sports fields (http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/magnuson/projectssportsfields.htm)
Local T&F governing body's meeting minutes for September 2004 (small Word doc) (http://www.pntf.org/PNTF0409.doc)
Intriguing proposal to redevelop an aircraft hangar into a velodrome (How about a full-field indoor practice facility instead?) (http://www.meinnovations.com/Track/MagnusonParkRecFacility.htm)

[sounderfan]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2001985065_starfire22.html

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2004/07/21/2001984682.jpg

[Bill Schmidt]

I just hope they "promote" the Sounders somehow, keeping all the people involved, but I suppose we'll be lucky if an MLS team just keeps the name.

[Geoduck]

PacNat slideshow presentation (http://www.cityoffife.org/media/PNSP2.htm)

Soccer park project gets $290,000 boost (11/23/04) (http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/cfapps/internet/news.cfm?node_id=25563&media=PC)
Pacific National Soccer Park, the state-of-the-art joint venture of multiple soccer entities in Washington state, has received its first infusion of funds for the project scheduled to break ground during the first half of 2006.

Tacoma-Pierce County Junior Soccer Association; Board of Directors Meeting; December 9, 2004 (http://www.tpcjsa.org/minutes/04_novdec.doc) (Word doc)
We continue to make rapid progress on Pacific National Soccer Park, we now have the master plan process underway and will again come up on major decisions regarding this facility in the months to come.
...
A. PACIFIC NATIONAL SOCCER PARK: The master plan contract was signed and delivered on 12/7/04 to Cascade Collaborative Design. DED is starting preparations for the first Public Charette, which is tentatively scheduled for Monday, January 24th at the Fife Community Center. The exact time has not been determined. We are currently working on the budget numbers and how we will phase the project with our partners, WSYSA, the City of Fife, and Pierce County.

WSYSA Executive Board of Directors Meeting Minutes - July 9, 1999 (http://www.wsysa.com/records/documents/990709EXBODMINUTES_1.pdf) (PDF) - Sounders' attempted collaboration with the slow-moving PacNat complex actually went back to 1999 (!)
Neil Farnsworth (Sounders) is interested in working with WSYSA to develop an office and grass field stadium (5000 seat) complex in the south end in which we would be co-owners of the building complex. Ron is having preliminary discussions. Sounders plan on continuing on being an “A” League team even if and when an MLS Team comes to Seattle.

[Geoduck]

http://www.cityoffife.org/Depts/Parks_Dept/parks/pacnat.htm

Pacific National Soccer Park
Want to learn more about PACNAT Soccer Park? Attend this meeting!

On behalf of the Tacoma-Pierce County soccer community, we are pleased to announce an exciting process for the development of Pacific National Soccer Park in Fife, Washington.

We would therefore like to invite and encourage your participation to develop a shared vision for our community. This upcoming meeting is designed to help improve the community’s understanding of the project and the process. It is an opportunity to be involved from the early stages in a wonderful new recreation opportunity that is coming to our area. The park is an innovative partnership between local governments and non-profit organizations, designed to address the needs of both groups in a cost-effective manner. The park will connect a regional trail system, include a relaxing natural habitat area, and will provide soccer fields to be used by a wide range of soccer enthusiasts. We would like to show you what we have in mind and get your reactions. This information will be used in the development of a final design for the park.

From environmental, recreational and economic perspectives, the park will be a wonderful addition to the Fife area and Pierce County. We are seeking your input because we want to make sure this is a project for which the whole area can be proud.
JANUARY 24, 2005 • 7:00 PM
FIFE COMMUNITY CENTER
2111 – 54th Avenue East
Fife, Washington 98424
(253) 922-0900

We can’t do this without you as local decision makers, residents, volunteers, business owners and community leaders. We look forward to your insight, experience, ideas, perspective, commitment and leadership. The success of this effort clearly depends on your involvement and support.

Q: What can I expect to happen at this meeting?

A: At this meeting, we hope to answer or explore the following questions ...

1. Who is working on the park?
2. What does each of the partners need to have in the park?
3. How is the park being funded?
4. What are the steps for development of the park?
5. What is the timing of the park project?
6. Can you help us?

Are you aware of any special circumstances that may be a challenge for the park?
Are you aware of any existing studies or plans we should know about?
Who should we be talking to?

We are excited about this process and look forward to seeing you on January 24th at this important and informative meeting,

Tacoma Pierce County Junior Soccer Association
Washington State Youth Soccer Association
City of Fife
Pierce County
Varsity Communications, Inc.
Cascade Design Collaborative
www.pacnat.com

If you have questions contact Melinda Haynes at 206-367-2420 x 1223 or melinda@varsitycommunications.com