The Starfire Sports Soccer Complex near Seattle features 4 grass and 5 Field Turf fields, a 2000-seat stand, Built-in soccer 'head tennis' courts for practicing heading, and on the way 2 FULL SIZE soccer pitches---in an indoor training arena. The clubhouse area will feature offices as well as a restaurant/pub. Several soccer pros have already signed on to run classes. http://www.StarfireSports.com The Seattle Sounders of the A-League recently held their open try-outs at the complex, where they will train in 2004. Here are some pictures: http://soundercentral.com/2004season/Tryouts/2004_seattle_sounders_open_tryou.htm This will likely be the training home of Seattle's future MLS entry...
Wow looks great! I would really like to see Seattle rewarded with an MLS team. I think the community has shown a real strong willingness to support a new expansion team. The only thing that will worry me about Seattle is the fact the city has 3 top flight league teams (NFL, NBA, MLB) which may give an MLS team some strong competition. But then again, Seattle shows a very strong fan support by packing the house every night in every one of those teams. Not to mention, when MAN U played Celtic last summer it was a packed house at Seahawks stadium. Click Here to See Photos I like Oklahoma City, Rochester, and Seattle as the best candidates for MLS expansion because their communites and city officials already have shown a strong loyality through various commitments.
I suppose I should have done a winky instead of a smiley. Just guessing that a future MLS Seattle team (speculation) might want to train at the facility listed above...
The Sounders current ownership is looking for investors to join MLS in 2006 or 2007. They have signed a Seahawks Stadium lease through then. No news, though. We hear almost nothing about it in Seattle...which makes us think 'almost nothing' is getting done towards this end...
Just as a reminder...Fort Dent (above post) is the Sounders' practice facility. Here is their home stadium, Seahawks Stadium: http://www.seahawksstadium.com
Great facility This is just great facility. It makes me want to come out to Seattle just to see it. Now if we could just re-create this set up in another 15 - 20 cities around the country, this would help the growth of soccer. It seems like it would be an ideal setup (stadium wise) for a PDL or W-League team. On the web site it list the future indoor fields in feet not yards, so I think they are the typical indoor rink type fields.
Might be moving to WA in '06, so I'm all for a team there. Seems to have great support in the A-league and a good climate, I'm all for it. Sorry I will have just graduated grad school then and won't be able to pony up as an investor, but would if I could.
Re: Great facility Actually, the W-League Sounder Women will be playing 3 home games at the complex this season. The rest of their home matches will be at Seahawks Stadium as part of double-headers with Seattle Sounders Men A-League action. I'd love a PDL team to come here...AFTER Seattle moves up to MLS...
Starfire's website says its chairman was a former tech CEO. How rich is this guy? I'd be surprised if he could/would finance an MLS team alone, but perhaps he would be willing to be part of an investor group.
I actually had to Referee a couple of youth State Cup games out there and that place is Fing awesome. It is absolutely wonderful.
It's where we TRAIN, not hold league matches. Any MLS side have a 54-acre training facility with a separate 2,000 seat grandstand for on-lookers? SOUNDERS FC play here: www.seahawksstadium.com
I know. Columbus has a pretty nice facility at Obetz, but it doesn't have a mini-stadium. Is this a "official" practice facility for the Sounders, or just the place they chose for this year's preseason?
The facility was built by a separate group than the one that owns the Sounders. The Sounders are just signed on as tennants. However, they will be training there daily in 2004. It is their "official" training headquarters. A PCSL (Pacific Coast Soccer League) club called Hibs & Caley Saints will use the 2,000-seat stadium for their home matches in 2004. Links: Hibs & Caley (Seattle): http://www.saintssoccer.com/ Pacific Coast Soccer League: http://www.pcsl.bc.ca/index.htm