 The stadium's playing field pictured in 2009 | |
 | |
| Former names | Fort Dent Park Starfire Sporting Complex Starfire Sports Complex |
|---|---|
| Location | 6840 Fort Dent Way Tukwila, Washington, U.S. |
| Owner | Starfire Sports |
| Operator | Starfire Sports |
| Capacity | 4,500 (main stadium) |
| Surface | 5 grass fields 7 outdoor FieldTurf fields (inc. stadium) 2 indoor FieldTurf fields |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | June 20, 2003 |
| Opened | April 23, 2005 |
| Construction cost | $10 millionUSD |
| Architect | HOK Sport |
| Tenants | |
| |
Starfire Sports is amulti-purpose stadium and sporting facility inTukwila, Washington, United States. It is located on the banks of theGreen River, just south ofSeattle. The stadium is operated by thenonprofit corporation Starfire Sports and is home to several soccer and rugby teams. At the time of its opening, CEO Chris Slatt claimed it was "the largest synthetic-turf soccer complex in the U.S."[1]
From 2008 to 2024,Seattle Sounders FC ofMajor League Soccer has had offices and training facilities at the complex, whose main stadium hosted the Sounders'second-division incarnation in 2008 and has since staged the team'sLamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches. The Sounders' affiliate team, theTacoma Defiance, played at Starfire from 2015 to 2017 and has returned for select games starting in 2022. The Sounders vacated the Starfire complex in favor of a new facility atLongacres in nearbyRenton, Washington, which opened in 2024.[2][3]
Starting in February 2023, Seattle-basedSeattle Reign FC of theNational Women's Soccer League will use the Starfire complex for training facilities as the complex's primary tenant, having previously played home games there fortheir 2013 season.[4][5]
The Seattle franchise ofMajor League Rugby, theSeattle Seawolves, began play at Starfire Sports in spring 2018.[6]
The site was formerlyFort DentPark, operated byKing County. In addition to the existing grass soccer fields, the park included acricket pitch and softball fields in the areas now occupied by artificial-surface soccer fields.[7][8] Severe budget cuts in 2002 led the county to schedule the closing of this park, among others, at the end of the year; however, parks located within municipal boundaries were offered to those cities.[9] That offer sparked the formation of Starfire Sports by Slatt, Steve Beck, and Mark Bickham, who negotiated a 40-year lease with Tukwila to allow them to build and operate the complex.[1] This would relieve the city of an estimated $500,000 in annual maintenance costs which would likely have caused it to refuse the county’s offer had Starfire not stepped in.[7] Starfire plans to cover operating and maintenance costs through user fees and advertising banners and hopes to retire the $10 million construction costs over the course of several years.[10]
New construction included four lighted outdoor soccer fields withFieldTurf, including the stadium with its 2000-seat grandstand, along with the indoor facility.
Beginning in summer 2004, EnglishPremier League powerhouseManchester United offered training at Starfire as part of their Soccer Schools program. This came to an end in December 2007.[11] In the late 2000s, the complex was proposed as the site of a larger 28,000-seat venue that would host aMajor League Soccer expansion team.[12] Starfire was instead chosen as the training grounds for the expansion team awarded toSeattle Sounders FC.
The city of Tukwila still maintains a wooded part of the 54-acre (220,000 m2) site as a public park.[13] An expansion was unanimously approved by city leaders in a public hearing at the beginning of 2008 for the offices and training facilities of Seattle Sounders FC.[8] The team's practice fields replaced four existing softball fields on the campus.[2]
Starfire features fields for indoor and outdoorsoccer, and occasionallyrugby union games, as well as a 4,500-seat soccer stadium. In 2004, the stadium field became only the eighth American artificial-surface pitch to earn "recommended" status byFIFA and was thereby sanctioned for international play.[14]
The complex has an indoor facility which has twoindoor soccerFieldTurf fields. It also hosts administrative offices, a Mad Pizza restaurant, and a game room for children.
The expansion undertaken by the complex in 2008 also included new fields along with a workout and fitness area for the Sounders FC, as well as offices for the coaching and technical staff. To retain its community-based programs and accessibility, these areas and the fields have some public access.[8] The team opened part of its training sessions to the public and allowed fans to greet players on walks between the training facility and practice fields.[2] During theCopa América Centenario in 2016, temporary windscreens and privacy barriers were installed for visiting national teams, includingArgentina.[2]
The complex's main stadium, which seats 4,500 spectators, has been used by several professional soccer teams and for other sports. Among them were theUSL incarnation of theSeattle Sounders,Seattle Reign FC of theNWSL,Seattle Sounders Women of theW-League,[15] As of 2023[update], it hostsSeattle Sounders FC ofMajor League Soccer forUS Open Cup matches,Tacoma Defiance ofMLS Next Pro, and theSeattle Seawolves ofMajor League Rugby. It was also the home ofHibernian and Caledonian F.C. andFK Pacific of thePacific Coast Soccer League.[citation needed] Additionally, the complex hosts the annualAll Nations Cup, played by local teams representing their nationalities.[16]
Starfire hosted the2023 USL League Two Final betweenBallard FC andLionsbridge FC, which was played on August 5, 2023, in front of 3,416 spectators. Ballard FC won 2–1.[17]
| Date | Teams | Competition | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2, 2019 | United States  25–32 Uruguay | 2019 Americas Rugby Championship | ― |
| March 8, 2019 | United States 30–25 Canada | 2019 Americas Rugby Championship | ― |
47°28′11″N122°14′54″W / 47.46972°N 122.24833°W /47.46972; -122.24833