TUKWILA – A city that is booming with hot retail and new construction is about to get a real kick – from soccer, that is.
The Seattle Sounders are moving to Starfire Sports and Entertainment Complex in Tukwila as its new home.
The team, which is in its final season as the United Soccer Leagues First Division Sounders in Seattle, had called Qwest Field home over the past five seasons.
Seattle is to get a Major League Soccer franchise, Sounders FC, in 2009, and it will play at Qwest.
Sounders forward Roger Levesque said it felt weird to practice at Qwest, knowing the team will play at Starfire.
“To practice at Qwest for media day, it brought back memories,” said Levesque, the sixth-year Sounder. “It [Qwest] has been a great venue for us. But we’re comfortable training at Starfire after the years of doing that.
“We’ve had a handful of games there [at Starfire], and they’ve gone well there, including winning the championship there last year.”
The flip side is playing away from downtown and some of the team’s most loyal fans.
“Qwest’s been a great venue for us and a top-class facility for soccer,” said Levesque, who, like all 11 starters who return from the title team, hope to make the jump to MLS in Seattle next March. “Playing there has done a lot for us, and we were excited to be so close to the city even though we didn’t put 50,000 in there.
“It’s always felt like home. Hopefully, Starfire has a similar feel to it.”
The Sounders opened their first three-match road swing at 1-1-1 with four points. The Timbers, who have outscored foes 5-1, enter a perfect 3-0 and lead the USL First Division with nine points.
The Sounders have gone 7-1-1 in five seasons of part-time play at Starfire.
Bart Wiley, USL Sounders general manager, said it is possible to play Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup games in the late rounds and USL playoffs at Qwest later this season.
The Sounders beat the Atlanta Silverbacks 4-0 for the 2007 USL First Division crown at Starfire, which seats about 4,800. Qwest holds about 67,000.
Wiley thinks practicing and playing at Starfire could provide more continuity and a smoother transition for those hoping to get on board with the MLS club.
Chris Henderson, Sounders FC technical director, is based at Starfire and can watch the USL team practice, Wiley said. Also based at the facility is Adrian Hanauer, USL Sounders managing partner and Sounders FC general manager.
“They’re all together there,” Wiley said. “This is one gigantic contract year for these players. This is an ending, but there’s bigger and better on the horizon. It will be a unique year.”
Coach Brian Schmetzer considers himself a candidate for Seattle’s MLS job next season and understands the twofold nature of 2008.
“It’s kind of like wearing two hats,” said Schmetzer. “We want to win a USL championship, and we want to find players for MLS.”
SOURCE:
Thanks for checking out the Tukwila Blog! Please subscribe to my RSS feed, or Register to Comment on Posts. Thanks for visiting!
