Starfire Sports Complex
EIN: 47-0887811 · Tax status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit
Overview
Starfire Sports is a multi-purpose sporting facility in Tukwila, Washington, on the banks of the Green River, immediately south of Seattle. Operated by the nonprofit Starfire Sports Corporation (EIN 47-0887811). The facility receives ~1.1 million visitors annually (HIGH, 2024) and is the dominant turf inventory in the south Sound corridor.
Ownership & Operations
Nonprofit-operated, public charity (501(c)(3)). Independent facility operator — not municipally owned and not affiliated with any single club tenant. The nonprofit also acts as a small grantmaker, distributing $491,584 in grants in 2023 (HIGH, 990) primarily to community youth-sports access programs.
Specifications
- 5 grass fields
- 8 lighted artificial turf fields
- 2 indoor soccer fields
- 2 flex-spaces
- Main stadium: 4,500 spectator capacity
- ~1.1 million visitors in 2024 (HIGH)
Tenant Clubs & Pro Users
- OL Reign / Seattle Reign (NWSL) — Training facility (primary tenant since Feb 2023)
- Seattle Seawolves (MLR) — Home venue (since 2018)
- Tacoma Defiance (MLS Next Pro) — Match venue
- Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) — US Open Cup matches
- Numerous youth soccer clubs for league play, tournaments, and ID camps
Economics
- 2022 total revenue: $5,010,291 (HIGH, 990)
- Executive compensation: $360,443 (2022 990)
- Other salaries & wages: $1,547,221 (2022 990)
- Headcount: 95 employees + 4 volunteers (2022 990)
- Grantmaking: $491,584 distributed (2023)
The 5-field-grass + 8-field-turf inventory positions Starfire as a high-utilization rental engine. With ~1.1M annual visitors, blended yield approximates $4.50/visitor — characteristic of a mature, community-anchored multi-tenant complex rather than a tournament-driven destination.
Condition & Lifecycle
8 turf fields imply a continuous turf-replacement obligation in the $4–8M cycle every 8–10 years (cross-link facility-ownership-models). With $5M annual revenue and modest grantmaking outflow, the facility appears to fund replacement reserves from operating cash plus periodic capital campaigns — typical for nonprofit complexes of this scale.
Strategic Notes
Major facility in the Pac NW market. Not a direct acquisition target (nonprofit, multi-tenant, no club affiliation), but relevant as the primary turf inventory in the south Seattle corridor. Any platform-acquired club operating in greater Seattle (e.g., eastside-fc, washington-premier-fc, crossfire-premier) will interact with Starfire as a rental venue, ID-camp host, or tournament site. Starfire’s pricing power on field rentals indirectly affects the operating cost of every Seattle-area club.
Open Questions
- Field-rental rate card (per-hour, prime/non-prime split) — not publicly posted
- Tournament hosting frequency and STP economics (cross-link stay-to-play)
- Capital campaign history; any debt outstanding
- 2023+ revenue trajectory (post-OL Reign tenant addition)