Considering forests cover 52 percent of its land area, it’s no surprise Washington has been nicknamed The Evergreen State. In fact, one of the state colleges is named Evergreen State University in Olympia.
Millions of trees aren’t all the state has to offer though, as Washington is also renowned for its mountains, 50,000 miles of rivers and streams, 8,000 lakes and 3,200 miles of shoreline. No matter where you take your tournament in Washington, you’ll be welcomed by fresh air and inspiring vistas, not to mention hundreds of wineries and craft breweries.
Olympia, the capital of Washington, possesses a prime location on the southern tip of Puget Sound and is an ideal locale for boating, fishing, hiking and biking events. Olympia is home to the Lacey-Thurston County Regional Athletic Complex, a 100-acre outdoor sports venue featuring six regulation-sized soccer, football and rugby fields, five softball, baseball fields and two miles of walking trails that offer spectacular views of Mount Rainier. This facility features synthetic fields and offers year-round play.
Snohomish County faces Puget Sound, while the eastern part is mountainous and offers spectacular sightlines of the Cascade Mountains. Top facilities include Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, 25 miles north of Seattle. This multi-purpose arena has hosted Skate America (2008 and 2018) and the Pacific Rim Gymnastics (2012 and 2016). On the shores of Lake Tye in Monroe is a 64-acre park that features two baseball and softball fields, a soccer field, an outdoor basketball court and two tennis courts. It has hosted the USA Triathlon Youth & Junior Elite National Qualifier and Nauqitue WWA Wakeboard National Championships.
Seattle Southside is surrounded by beaches, parks and gardens and is considered the green gateway to Seattle and Tacoma. It is also home to Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, on the banks of the Green River. One of the largest synthetic-turf soccer complexes in the nation, Starfire is home to numerous local soccer and rugby teams, including the Seattle Sounders FC 2 soccer team and the Seattle Seawolves rugby union team. 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.
Tri Cities (Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland) reside at the confluence of the Yakima, Snake and Columbia Rivers on the eastern side of the state. As one of the country’s most fertile wine regions, this arid high desert plateau has sun shine over 300 days a year making it one of the most weather-friendly areas of the country to take a tournament. Numerous field complexes dot the landscape.
The Pasco Sporting Complex in Pasco and the Southridge Sports & Events Complex in Kennewick are just two of the amazing field complexes where you can take in any number of events including softball, baseball, soccer and lacrosse.
You’ll find even more opportunities spread throughout the state from Seattle to Yakima. The diversity of Washington’s sports offerings share the common bond of nature’s beauty. From Spokane to Bellingham, Wenatchee to Vancouver, you’ll revel in the culture and fresh take on life the people of Washington have to offer your tournament participants and spectators.
