2023 Washington Sports Planning Guide

WELCOME TO WASHINGTON!

WHEN IT COMES TO NATURAL BEAUTY, few states can match Washington’s array of mountains, forests, and crystal-clear lakes. When it comes to sports fervor, Washington is also virtually unmatched as its fanbase for both professional and amateur sports are among the loudest and most passionate in the nation.

Pair those two things together and you have the perfect state to host your next sporting event.

From professionals to amateurs, Washington is an inclusive state that proudly offers sports for everyone. Washington hospitality goes beyond the sporting venues: Our luxury hotels, awardwinning restaurants and range of leisure activities make for an ideal experience for both locals and visitors attending your event.

Washington’s impressive sports history spans from the legendary Olympics rowing team of 1936 to its modern teams that compete and thrive in football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and soccer. This past decade alone, the state of Washington has seen a Super Bowl champion in the National Football League (Seattle Seahawks) and two titles in the Women’s National Basketball Association (Seattle Storm). Excitement with sports is in the air with the MLB All-Star coming in 2023 and the FIFA World Cup coming in 2026.

Lovers of outdoor activities will also cherish a visit to Washington, as we are home to three national parks, 140 state parks and a multitude of hiking and biking trails amid a picturesque backdrop that will dazzle any lover of the great outdoors.

The people of Washington will be your loyal fans, sponsors, promoters, and hosts. Dedication – It’s how we do things in the State of Washington.

Tammy Dunn Executive Director Snohomish County Sports Commission

Some of the best paddling can be found in Washington.

Washington’s natural beauty rivals any in the country.

Photo courtesy of Stepframe Interactive Media

Sincerely,

OUTDOOR OR INDOOR, WASHINGTON IS THE PLACE TO PLAY

No matter which sport you bring to the table, Washington has the right venue for your event

By Christopher D. Silbernagel

No matter your preferred place to play, Washington has you covered. Indoor facilities across the state have history in hosting some of the best tournaments and events, and with good reason, for the quality they present and the amazing hospitality planners and guests will receive. Outdoors, recreational spots galore with hiking options abundant assist in making outdoor events like kayaking and boating all the more enjoyable.

SEATTLE SOUTHSIDE

The newly renovated BMX track at North SeaTac Park is an exceptional spot for major USA BMX and local racing, as well as other events. The national-level track has produced multiple national and world champions, including Jill Kintner, who won the bronze in Women’s BMX at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

“The beauty of BMX is that you are in control of your own speed, whether you’re new to the sport or a seasoned

professional,” said Cydney Marks-Nicholes, sports business development manager at Explore Seattle Southside. “SeaTac BMX is open to all skill levels and aims to grow community engagement, youth participation, and inspire the next generation of BMX riders.”

Originally built in 1981, the track was moved within the park in 2002 to its current location, with free access during non-racing events to experience a safe and carefully crafted environment.

“There are free day passes, loaner bikes and helmets, and if you get ‘bit by the bug,’ you can buy a yearly membership with USA BMX and have unlimited access,” Marks-Nicholes added.

YAKIMA VALLEY

Sozo Sports Complex offers excellent outdoor and indoor sports action, with the new Sozo Arena, a 90,000-square-foot indoor facility built for up to eight basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts and four futsal courts, being a particular standout. The complex also has 13 multipurpose

outdoor fields for soccer, football, lacrosse and more. Pickleball courts are also available at Sozo for daily rental or memberships and the on-site shop makes for easy pick-up games or spare necessities.

Yakima Valley SunDome at the State Fair Park and Event Center is another excellent option for indoor sports, with its history of hosting premier events like WIAA State Championships. The SunDome can hold up to 8,000 spectators for tournaments, depending on the sport.

SNOHOMISH COUNTY

Darrington Mountain Biking offers a plethora of options for cycling athletes and enthusiasts. Located about an hour north of Everett, trails on North Mountain provide breathtaking views of Whitehorse Mountain and the Stillaguamish Valley. Some of the network of trails are still under construction but, once completed, it will be the largest legal mountain biking network in the country.

Darrington’s gravel forest roads provide year-round family friendly fun for all levels. Take a steep, grinding road or a relaxing ride through tall trees to scenic vistas, along rivers and more. The historic Whitehorse Trail provides a 27-mile route with beautiful views along the river, crossing several bridges, with nice vistas and historical sites.

“Washington State has the most beautiful outdoor sports for recreation and competition. Choose from lakes and rivers to trails and golf courses to host your outdoor competition,” states Tammy Dunn, executive director at Snohomish County

Sports Commission. “If you love the outdoors, Washington State is the place to be.”

Snohomish County also offers Kayak Point Disc Golf Resort—one of the best places to play disc golf in the country. Along with two courses, lessons, retreats and group events and a Pro Shop, the resort has two additional courses on the way. Both current courses offer 18 holes.

TRI-CITIES

The Tri-Cities has incredible watersports and recreation spots available, particularly around the confluence of the Columbia River, Snake River and Yakima River. This part of the Tri-Cities offers spectacular views to go along with watersports like boating, kayaking, paddleboarding and more. The Columbia River is also host to the HAPO Columbia Cup, which in 2022 celebrated 56 times Unlimited Hydroplanes have raced on the river’s 2.5-mile course.

Archery is also a big part of the Tri-Cities, with Colyak Bowhunters, affiliated with the Washington State Archery Association, maintaining an archery range located at the W.E. Johnson Park in Richland. Moses Lake provides a quality BMX track at Larsen Recreation Center. The high-quality track is used for bicycle motocross events of all levels and is operated by the non-profit organization Moses Lake BMX. Horn Rapids Athletic Complex in Richland and Fort Walla Walla Park also have excellent tracks with history of hosting top events.

When in Washington, be sure to visit a Tri-Cities Dust Devils game.

Photo courtesy of Visit Tri-Cities

Snohomish County, WA

EXPLORE SNOHOMISH COUNTY’S DIVERSE LANDSCAPE AND HISTORY TO FIND THE PERFECT FACILITY FOR YOUR UPCOMING TOURNAMENT

Scan to discover more of what Snohomish County Sports Commission offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

Located just north of Seattle, Snohomish County is directly connected to Interstate 5. Paine Field Everett Airport, just 10 miles from downtown Everett and 7 miles from Lynnwood, has commercial air service with Alaska Airlines. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is just 45 miles south of Snohomish County.

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Angel Of The Winds Arena

Basketball, cheerleading, dance, endurocross, figure skating, gymnastics, hockey, martial arts, volleyball

This 10,000-seat multipurpose arena features two NHL-ice sheets that can be converted into a 57,000-square-foot space for hosting trade shows and special events. The Edward D. Hansen Conference Center is equipped with three 900-square-foot meeting rooms and an 11,000-square-foot ballroom that can be arranged into a number of different

configurations. The Angel Of The Winds Arena is home to the Everett Silvertips, a Western Hockey League team. Past events include 2018 Skate America, 2020 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Qualifier, and 2022 SLS Seattle.

Meadowdale Athletic Complex Baseball, football, lacrosse, soccer, softball, Ultimate Frisbee

Meadowdale Athletic Complex plays home to many Adult Softball, Youth Baseball and Fastpitch tournaments throughout the year. The athletic complex is one of the locations

Angel Of The Winds Arena

for multiple Perfect Game Northwest baseball tournaments in 2022. The complex features three lighted adult/youth softball/baseball fields and two lighted multipurpose turf fields which are lined for soccer, lacrosse and fastpitch/baseball, the facility is equipped with concession stands, a .67-mile walking trail, basketball court, play structure, picnic facilities, pond, restrooms and parking.

Walt Price Fitness Center at Everett Community College Basketball, gymnastics, martial arts, volleyball

This 49,000-square-foot fitness center offers a gym with a basketball court and retractable bleacher seating for up to 2,250 spectators, four team locker rooms, two coaches meeting rooms, concession area and a multipurpose room. The college has over 1,600 parking spaces available. The venue has hosted the NWAC Men & Women Basketball Championships and have hosted multiple USA Gymnastics Washington State Championships and Regional Championships.

Kayak Disc Golf Resort Disc golf, meetings

Kayak Disc Golf Resort is a former golf course and now is designed for disc golf. The resort offers three courses, a pitch & putt course, and a practice area. The disc golf courses vary in difficulty level. Play on old golf fairways, through the woods or around the clubhouse with natural obstacles. A disc golf pro shop and restaurant. The disc golf resort hosts PDGAsanctioned tournaments.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ Visit Funko Headquarters in downtown Everett, one of the leading innovators of licensed pop culture products with vinyl figures, action figures, plush toys, apparel and more.

▶ Enjoy an afternoon shopping at Seattle Premium Outlets in Tulalip, where an upscale collection of more than 130 designer names awaits.

▶ Spend a day at High Trek Adventures Hook up to the rope course and finish by zipping down the zipline, try the miniature golf course, or play laser tag with your teammates.

SNOHOMISH COUNTY SPORTS COMMISSION

Tammy Dunn Executive Director 425-309-2744 tammy@snocosports.org www.snocosports.org

▶ Stroll along the streets of Historic Downtown Snohomish. Walk along the Snohomish River, enjoy a cup of coffee and muffin or have lunch at one of the unique restaurants, or explore the various boutique and antique shops.

Walt Price Fitness Center

Meadowdale Athletic Complex

Lake Tye Park

Yakima Valley, WA

WASHINGTON’S WINE COUNTRY HAS YIELDED AN INCREDIBLE CROP OF TOURNAMENT-READY SPORTS FACILITIES AND EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YAKIMA VALLEY

The Yakima Valley is mainly accessible from north and south via Interstate 82. If you’re flying in, Alaska Airlines offers connecting flights from Seattle/ Tacoma to the Yakima Air Terminal. The Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco, 86 miles away, is the next closest to offer domestic flights.

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Yakima Valley SunDome Multipurpose

Located on the grounds of State Fair Park and Event Center, the SunDome annually hosts WIAA State Championships in volleyball, basketball, and dance & drill. This multipurpose indoor facility is an ideal venue for tournament planners, where 8,000 spectators can attend tournaments, events, and conferences. Recently renovated, the SunDome now is outfitted with state-of-theart video scoreboards, LED lighting, and new permanent seats.

Sozo Sports Complex

Soccer, futsal, multipurpose indoor and outdoor, basketball, lacrosse, running, football

The Sozo Sports Complex saw its sixth year of development in 2022, when it continued to make progress on the Sozo Arena, a 90,000-square-foot indoor facility that will hold up to four futsal courts, eight basketball courts or 16 volleyball courts. The complex is home to 13 multipurpose outdoor fields as well, making it a powerhouse for any competition throughout the Pacific

Yakima Valley SunDome

Scan to discover more of what the Yakima Valley Sports Commission offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

Northwest. Sozo hosted tourneys and events in several sports this year including soccer, football, lacrosse, pickleball, basketball and running, as well as major festivals.

Gateway Sports Complex Baseball, softball

With a professional staff dedicated to taking care of your tournament needs, the Gateway Sports Complex has you covered. This state-of-the-art complex features eight softball fields, each with first-class Musco lighting, professional infield mix, electronic scoreboards and more. A PA system reverberates through the park, which also has a basketball court, volleyball court, two picnic shelters, a skate park, three playgrounds, a multipurpose field, and coach/umpire rooms.

The complex is the host site for several WIAA State Softball Championships each year.

Carlon Park Girls Fastpitch Complex Baseball, softball

This newly remodeled complex features four girls’ tournament-quality fastpitch fields with permanent 200-foot fences and stateof-the-art lighting systems on each field. The complex hosted the 2022 WIAA 2A State Softball Championships and numerous USA Softball of Washington tourneys.

Yakima Tennis Club Tennis

This well-maintained and visually striking tennis club is a hotspot for tournament action, seeing competition from the collegiate, high school and adult levels on an annual basis. The facility maintains 13 outdoor courts, eight indoor courts (at a separate facility), a renovated swimming pool with a children’s play area, a clubhouse with locker rooms, a catered snack bar and a pro shop. The club hosted several USTA tennis tournaments in 2022, as well as the WIAA State Tennis Championships.

Apple Tree Golf Course Golf

Carved from the natural rolling terrain of 100-year-old apple orchards, Apple Tree is one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier golf destinations. Over 6,900 yards of championship course features a variety of scenic challenges, including its signature 17th apple green.

YAKIMA VALLEY SPORTS COMMISSION

Rich Austin, Director of Sports Development 509-594-2742 rich@yakimasports.org YakimaSports.org

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ More than 40 organic commercial crops are grown throughout the Yakima Valley, so a trip to leaf through some of the valley’s farms and produce is sure to be a hit.

▶ The Yakima Valley’s celebrated arts scene is on display with tasting rooms, museums, local galleries and more found throughout the valley.

▶ Bring the whole family to cool off at the Rotary YMCA Aquatic Center.

Sozo Sports Complex

Yakima Tennis Club

Apple Tree Golf Course

Seattle Southside

FABULOUS SPORTS COMPLEXES, FAMILY-FRIENDLY PARKS AND COLLEGE-LEVEL GYMNASIUMS INVITE PLANNERS AND TEAMS TO ENJOY UNFORGETTABLE SPORTING EVENTS

Scan to discover more of what Explore Seattle Southside offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“Seattle Southside helped us tremendously so that we didn’t have to go around and find 150 rooms for all of our families. It was really helpful just to have a one stop shop.”

— Jaime Montoya, NWSC Academy Registrar

From world-class sports facilities to thrill-filled activities, Seattle Southside provides traveling sports teams the chance to explore the best of the Pacific Northwest. Not only is Seattle Southside a beautiful locale that will appeal to anyone, it has plenty to do for family members of all ages.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶

At The Museum of Flight, visitors can hop in the pilot’s seat and see what it’s like to soar through the sky through surreal and exciting flight simulator rides.

▶

iFLY Indoor Skydiving makes the dream of flight a reality with indoor skydiving in a vertical wind tunnel. iFLY is safe for kids, challenging for adults, exciting for teens, and realistic for skydivers.

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Starfire Sports Soccer, rugby

One of the largest synthetic-turf soccer complexes in the nation, Starfire Sports is the home of numerous soccer and rugby teams, including the practice field of the Seattle Sounders FC and home to Major League Ruby team, Seattle Seawolves.

Featuring five grass fields, two indoor FieldTurf fields and seven outdoor FieldTurf fields, the complex’s main stadium also has a capacity of 4,500 spectators.

City of Des Moines Basketball, volleyball, tennis, cross country, fishing, water sports

With a plethora of walking and running trails, beach access and a marina offering wet and dry moorage for 840 recreational vessels, Des Moines Beach Park has outdoor and indoor space ideal for smaller youth sports teams and events. Listed on the Register

of Historic Places, Des Moines Field House is an ideal location for basketball tournaments, featuring a gym with 4,000 square feet and a capacity of 225 guests.

North SeaTac Park

Softball, baseball, basketball, BMX racing, disc golf

With 160 acres and three different baseball and softball fields available for rent from March to October, North SeaTac Park also features an outdoor basketball court, walking and running trails, a BMX track and a disc golf course.

EXPLORE SEATTLE SOUTHSIDE

Cydney Marks-Nicholes Cydney@SeattleSouthside.com 206-686-7261 seattlesouthside.com

Starfire Sports

North SeaTac Park

Visit Tri-Cities, WA

FUN IN THE SUN IS THE WAY OF LIFE IN THIS GROWING METROPOLITAN AREA IN SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON

Scan to discover more of what Visit Tri-Cities offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“The Tri-Cities is a very hospitable and welcoming community. The facility and lodging staffs are easy to work with and everyone rallies around the tournament to make it a successful event.”

— Steve Jensen, National Softball Association of WA

Centrally located within the Pacific Northwest, the TriCities of Kennewick, Pasco and Richland are connected through Interstate 182 from east to west. By air, the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco offers direct flights from Seattle, as well as destinations like Minneapolis, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Phoenix/Mesa.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

▶ The Columbia River snakes through the region, enabling visitors to take it in via boat, kayak or paddleboard.

▶

Hand-carved in 1910, the Gesa Carousel of Dreams is a treasured work of quality art in Kennewick.

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Columbia Playfield Softball

Located in the heart of Richland, Columbia Playfield stretches across nearly 29 acres with 5 softball fields. A recent upgrade has provided new fixtures to the park, giving it updated LED lights and aluminum bleachers with fabric covers. The complex is home to annual youth and collegiate-level tournaments.

Pasco Sporting Complex Baseball, softball

This complex, located in Pasco, hosts baseball and softball tournaments and contains six softball fields, two sand volleyball courts, a playground area, a water play area and a concession building with restrooms. Adjoining to the complex is Gesa Stadium, home field of the Tri-City Dust Devils professional baseball team, and one of the finest youth soccer facilities in the Northwest, the Tri-Cities Youth Soccer Association Soccer

Complex, which includes 15 full-sized soccer fields on 45 acres.

Southridge Sports and Events Complex

Baseball, softball, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, futsal,

pole vaulting

This 52-acre multisports development in Kennewick offers a variety of sporting, recreation and event amenities to enjoy. It offers baseball and softball fields, an indoor sports pavilion, multiuse fields and the Gesa Carousel of Dreams, a world-class piece of art the whole family can touch and ride. The complex houses the Numerica Pavilion, the only indoor sports pavilion in the region.

VISIT TRI-CITIES

800-254-5824 Sales@VisitTRI-CITIES.com www.VisitTRI-CITIES.com

Pasco Sporting Complex

Columbia Playfield