What Starfire Sports does

Starfire Sports is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise founded in 2003 by Chris Slatt, Steve Beck, and Mark Bickham, operating a 54-acre sports and education campus in Tukwila, Washington under a 40-year public-private concession agreement with King County and the City of Tukwila. The campus spans 12 outdoor soccer fields, two indoor AstroTurf fields, the 4,500-seat Starfire Stadium with DuraSpine PRO FieldTurf, and an 85,000 sq ft Athletic Center housing locker rooms, retail (Soccer West), food and beverage (Café Siena, Watershed FC), and athletic services (MVP Performance).

The organization delivers a comprehensive portfolio of programs for participants aged 18 months to 80 years, organized around three core verticals: youth and adult soccer (Stars, Rising Stars, All Stars, All Nations, indoor leagues, adult outdoor/indoor leagues, beginner training), tournaments and jamborees (35+ events annually including Starfire Cup, Labor Day Cup, Rainier Valley Classic, Celtic Cup, Xtreme Cup, Boo Fest, Candy Cane Challenge, Evergreen Challenge, Winter Warmer), and STEM education (STEM Academy classes and themed summer camps). The campus also hosts three professional franchises — Seattle Reign FC (administrative HQ and training facility since 2003), Seattle Seawolves (home venue since 2018, two-time MLR champions), and Tacoma Defiance (home stadium since 2021, MLS Next Pro).

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of recurring season registrations ($99-$306 per youth participant; $1,200-$1,400 per adult team), tournament team fees ($130-$975), facility rentals and birthday parties ($292.50-$350), summer camps ($160-$500), parking passes ($7.50-$45), memberships, corporate sponsorships, and donations. Registration is handled through the DASH (DaySmart Recreation) platform for programs and Event Connect for tournaments. The organization runs financial assistance programs enabling 1,600+ underserved youth annually and in March 2026 launched the Kickstart free after-school program with three partner Title I schools in South King County. Eric Olmstead serves as President; the nonprofit has no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no venture or private equity backing.

Name

Starfire Sports

Legal name

Starfire Sports

Website

https://starfiresports.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Starfire Sports is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 54-acre sports and education campus in Tukwila, WA, delivering youth and adult soccer leagues, STEM programs, 35+ annual tournaments, and professional team hosting for 65,000+ participants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Sports and Recreation Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ), Youth & Amateur Sports Tournaments (MPAGAMAF), Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA)

Keywords

• Youth soccer programs
• Adult soccer leagues
• STEM education
• Soccer tournaments
• Nonprofit sports complex

Headquarters

HQ city

Tukwila

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. League and Class Fees: Registration fees for youth soccer classes (Stars, Rising Stars), adult leagues (indoor, outdoor, 8v8), and specialty programs (flag football, STEM Academy). Fees range from $99-$306 per season for youth classes and $1,200-$1,400 per team for adult leagues.
2. Tournament Registration: Team fees for youth and adult tournaments ranging from $140-$975 depending on tournament prestige and age group. Major tournaments include Starfire Cup, Labor Day Cup, Rainier Valley Classic, Celtic Cup, Xtreme Cup.
3. Facility Rentals and Reservations: Revenue from field reservations, private room bookings for meetings and events, and birthday party packages ($292.50-$350).
4. Birthday Parties and Events: Party packages including indoor field time and room rental for 2 hours. Weekend pricing with parking: $350; without parking: $292.50.
5. Summer Camps: Multi-day camps combining sports and STEM activities with field trips. Camps include Space & Aviation ($500), Goalkeeper Camp ($400), Science Camp, Zoology Camp, Multisport Camp, and All Nations Soccer Camp.
6. Parking Fees: Daily parking passes ($7.50-$10), weekend passes ($15-$22.50), and annual memberships ($45). Revenue supports campus maintenance and youth financial assistance programs.
7. Memberships: Annual memberships and seasonal player passes that provide access to programs and parking benefits. Members park free for Starfire events and professional team matches.
8. Donations and Corporate Partnerships: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Starfire receives donations and corporate sponsorships that fund financial assistance programs enabling 1,600+ youth to participate annually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Starfire Sports operates a 54-acre nonprofit sports and education campus in Tukwila, Washington, offering youth and adult soccer leagues and classes, STEM education for grades Pre-K through 6, summer camps, and a portfolio of 10+ annual soccer tournaments. It rents the Starfire Stadium (4,500 capacity) and 85,000 sq ft Athletic Center for facility rentals, birthday parties, and professional team operations, while delivering community programs including financial assistance and the Kickstart after-school program for underserved youth.

Product overview

Starfire Sports is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise operating a 54-acre sports campus in Tukwila, Washington. The organization delivers a comprehensive portfolio of sports and educational programs centered around soccer, STEM, and youth development. Core offerings include Youth Soccer Academy Programs (Stars Classes for ages 18 months-6 years, Rising Stars Academy levels 1-3 for ages 6-12, All Stars Academy for ages 12-14, and Academy House Team), Youth Indoor Soccer Leagues (4v4 Mini League, U9-U19), Youth Flag Football League, and Youth Soccer Tournaments & Jamborees (featuring 10+ annual events including Spring Classic, Tukwila Cup, Starfire Cup, Rainier Valley Classic, Celtic Cup, Xtreme Cup, Labor Day Cup, Boo Fest, Candy Cane Challenge, and Evergreen Challenge). The STEM Academy provides Pre-K through 6th grade science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education with seasonal classes and themed summer camps. Adult programming spans indoor leagues, outdoor 8v8 leagues, coed outdoor leagues, Adult Beginner Training, 5v5 League, Winter Warmer Tournament, and Drop-In Soccer. The campus features 12 outdoor fields (grass and turf), Starfire Stadium (4,500-seat professional venue), and the 85,000 square foot Athletic Center with two indoor fields. Starfire also provides facilities for professional teams including Seattle Reign FC, Seattle Seawolves, and Tacoma Defiance, and operates community programs including the Kickstart After-School Program, Financial Assistance, and birthday party services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Starfire Soccer Academy: Youth soccer programs for ages 18 months to 12 years, featuring Stars Classes, 4v4 Mini League, Rising Stars Academy, Academy House Team, and All Stars Academy.
• Starfire STEM Academy
• Kickstart

Products and services

• Youth Soccer Academy Programs Comprehensive youth soccer development programs spanning ages 18 months to 14 years, including Stars Classes (18 months-6 years), Rising Stars Academy (6-12 years) with progressive levels (Rising Stars 1, 2, 3), All Stars Academy (12-14 years), Academy House Team, and 4v4 Mini League (4-11 years). Pricing ranges from $99 to $306 per 12-week season and membership is required.
• STEM Academy Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics educational programs for Pre-K through 6th grade, offering equitable STEM learning opportunities with project-based, student-directed curriculum. Includes seasonal after-school classes and summer camps with themes like Space & Aviation, Zoology, Science, and Multisport.
• Youth Flag Football League Co-ed flag football league for ages 7-12, featuring 8-week seasons with games on Sundays. Includes trained Starfire coaches, team jersey, flag belts, and field equipment provided. Registration opens August 3rd for fall season.
• Youth Indoor Soccer Leagues Fast-paced indoor soccer leagues for youth ages 4-19, including 4v4 Mini League (4-11 years) and U9-U19 recreational and select divisions. Promotes multiple touches on the ball, decision-making, and cardiovascular endurance with games on FieldTurf surfaces.
• Youth Soccer Tournaments & Jamborees Annual tournament series featuring 10+ events including Spring Classic, Tukwila Cup, Starfire Cup, Rainier Valley Classic, Celtic Cup, Xtreme Cup, Labor Day Cup, Boo Fest Jamboree, Candy Cane Challenge, and Evergreen Challenge. Serves recreational through premier-level teams ages U6-U19.
• Adult Soccer Leagues Adult soccer programming including indoor leagues (Coed B/C/D, Men's/Women's Open, O30, O40), outdoor 8v8 leagues, coed outdoor leagues (B/C/D divisions), and Adult Beginner 5v5 League. Serves men's, women's, and coed teams of all competition levels.
• Adult Beginner Training & Classes Soccer training programs for adult beginners who have never played or are returning to the sport. Includes Adult Beginner Soccer Training (9-12 week seasons) and Adult Beginner 5v5 League as intermediate step between training and competitive play.
• Winter Warmer Tournament Annual indoor holiday soccer tournament held December 26-30 featuring different divisions each night (Coed O30, Men's Rec/Competitive, Women's Open/O30, Coed B/C/D). Minimum 3 games guaranteed with semifinals and finals.
• Drop-In Soccer Pickup-style soccer games for casual play and exercise. Friday night indoor open play sessions with 28-player maximum, scoreboard timekeeping, and dedicated staff. No membership required.
• Soccer Birthday Parties Indoor field rental packages for birthday celebrations including 1-hour field time plus 2-hour party room access. Weekend packages include parking for up to 20 guests. Accommodates 30-40 guests with on-site restaurant (Watershed FC) catering options available.
• Starfire Stadium Professional-grade stadium with DuraSpine PRO FieldTurf surface, press box with WiFi and stadium audio, full scoreboard with video capabilities, and 4,500 spectator capacity. Home venue for Seattle Seawolves (Major League Rugby) and Tacoma Defiance (MLS Next Pro).
• Starfire Athletic Center 85,000 square foot indoor facility housing two AstroTurf fields with scoreboards, locker rooms, party/meeting rooms, arcade, and administrative offices. Home to Soccer West retail store, Café Siena, Watershed FC restaurant, and MVP Physical Therapy.
• Parking & Membership Services Parking passes and membership programs including daily passes ($7.50-$10), weekend passes ($15-$22.50), and annual passes ($45). Starfire members receive free parking for Starfire events and professional team matches.
• Professional Team Facilities Starfire serves as administrative headquarters and official training facility for Seattle Reign FC, home venue and training facility for Seattle Seawolves (Major League Rugby two-time champions), and home stadium for Tacoma Defiance (MLS Next Pro).
• Kickstart After-School Program Free after-school program combining academics with athletics for students from underserved communities. Partners with Title I schools to provide soccer training, academic enrichment, healthy snacks, STEM activities, mentorship, and transportation. Serves youth who would otherwise lack access to organized sports or extracurriculars.
• Financial Assistance Programs Need-based financial assistance for teams, individuals, and nonprofit organizations covering league fees, tournament fees, and program costs. Includes team sponsorship and individual assistance for youth ages 18 months to 18 years.
• Summer Camps Multi-activity summer camps for grades 1-6 combining sports, STEM, and creative activities. Themes include Space & Aviation Camp (with Museum of Flight field trip and drone coding), Goalkeeper Camp, All Nations Soccer Camp (World Cup style tournament), Mariners Baseball Camp, Zoology Camp (with Woodland Park Zoo), Multisport Camp (with Kraken Community Iceplex), and Science Camp (with Pacific Science Center).

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,600+ youth participants served annually through financial assistance programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Tacoma DefiancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Starfire Stadium serves as the home field for Tacoma Defiance of MLS Next Pro. The 2025 home campaign began March 14.
• Seattle SeawolvesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Starfire is the home venue for the two-time Major League Rugby champion Seattle Seawolves. The partnership brings professional rugby to the campus and supports community engagement.
• Seattle Reign FCflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Starfire Sports serves as the administrative headquarters and official home training facility for Seattle Reign FC. The professional women's soccer team's presence provides prestige and attracts visitors to the campus.
• Seattle Southside Regional Tourism AuthoritycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides complimentary concierge services for tournament participants including hotel coordination, restaurant recommendations, and area attraction guidance. Helps drive attendance from outside the Pacific Northwest.
• Federal Aviation AdministrationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Space & Aviation Camp, providing curriculum support and aviation education components for the summer camp program.
• Museum of FlightminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerField trip destination for Space & Aviation Camp. Campers visit the museum to learn about air and spacecraft as part of the STEM curriculum.
• Woodland Park ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Zoology Camp, providing animal education and hands-on learning experiences for campers.
• Pacific Science CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Science Camp, offering science exploration activities and educational content for the summer camp program.
• Seattle Mariners Training CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMariners youth coaches facilitate baseball camps at Starfire. Partnership includes co-branded Mariners Baseball Camp with registration through Mariners website.
• Kraken Community IceplexminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerField trip destination for Multisport Camp, offering hockey and ice sports experiences as part of the multi-sport curriculum.
• Fine DesignscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial tournament apparel provider for all Starfire tournaments including Rainier Valley Classic, Celtic Cup, Xtreme Cup, Labor Day Cup, and others. Provides on-site merchandise sales.
• Northwest Soccer OfficialscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHandles referee assignments for all Starfire and Starfire Managed tournaments. Provides trained officials for youth and adult matches.
• Watershed FCminorOthersSecond location of Watershed Pub & Kitchen, offering fresh, house-made food options at Starfire. Located within the Athletic Center.
• Café SienaminorOthersOn-site café delivering food and beverage options at Starfire for over 15 years. Located within the Athletic Center.
• MVP Performance (Physical Therapy)minorOthersProvides physical therapy, athletic training, and performance enhancement services for athletes of all levels on the Starfire campus.
• Soccer WestminorOthersPremier soccer retailer in the Northwest, outfitting local athletes since joining Starfire in 2004. Located within the Athletic Center.
• Title 1 Schools (South King County)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Title 1 schools and schools participating in Meals for Washington Students program to deliver the Kickstart After-School Program to underserved communities.
• King County / City of TukwilaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroundbreaking 40-year public-private partnership concession agreement established in 2003, with support from King County Executive Ron Sims and Tukwila Mayor Steve Mullet. Starfire assumed operating responsibility for Fort Dent Park athletic facilities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• IMG Academy: IMG Academy runs a large multi-sport training campus in Bradenton, FL, with youth academies, camps, and performance programming across multiple sports. It is comparable to Starfire in combining sports training, education, and year-round programming at a single integrated campus, though at a much larger and more residential scale.
• LA Galaxy Soccer Academy / LAFC Soccer Academy (and similar MLS-affiliated youth academies): MLS-affiliated youth soccer academies operate high-quality development pathways, tournaments, and select leagues, often hosted at professional-team facilities. Comparable to Starfire's select-level Rising Stars and All Stars Academy programs and its professional-team training/hosting relationships with Tacoma Defiance and Reign FC.

Direct peers

• The St. James: The St. James operates large-format multi-sport complexes in the Washington, D.C. and Chicago areas with indoor fields, performance training, and youth/adult programming. It is the closest direct analog to Starfire's model of combining indoor/outdoor fields, leagues, tournaments, and pro-style amenities under one campus.
• Players Sport & Social Group: Players Sport & Social Group is a multi-city adult social-sports league operator (soccer, kickball, flag football, etc.). Directly comparable to Starfire's adult soccer leagues, beginner training, and drop-in programming for adults seeking recreational team sports.
• i9 Sports: i9 Sports is a national youth sports league operator offering soccer, flag football, basketball, and other sports in a community-club format. Comparable to Starfire in operating youth leagues, camps, and multi-sport programming for ages 3–14 across many U.S. markets.
• ZogSports: ZogSports runs adult coed social sports leagues (soccer, basketball, volleyball) across major U.S. cities, with proceeds donated to charity. Comparable to Starfire's adult coed indoor and outdoor soccer leagues in format, demographic, and community-giving orientation.
• American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO): AYSO is a nationwide 501(c)(3) youth soccer organization delivering recreational and competitive programming for ages 4–18. Comparable to Starfire's youth soccer mission, focus on accessibility, and volunteer/community-based delivery model, though it operates as a federation of local regions rather than a single facility-based nonprofit.

Others

• US Club Soccer: US Club Soccer is a national organization supporting competitive youth soccer clubs and events, including the id2 Program and NPL/ECNL pathways. It is comparable to Starfire's competitive youth tournament and club-level programming as an ecosystem participant, though it functions as a sanctioning body rather than a facility operator.

Emerging players

• Challenger Sports: Challenger Sports is a youth soccer coaching and camp operator running British Soccer Camps, team training, and club programming across the U.S. Comparable to Starfire's youth soccer camps and coaching-driven development pathway, though delivered through partner clubs rather than a single facility.
• Soccer Shots: Soccer Shots is a franchised youth soccer introduction program for ages 2–8, delivered through partnerships with childcare centers, preschools, and community organizations. It overlaps with Starfire's early-age 'Stars' classes (18 months–6 years) and shares a mission of inclusive early-childhood soccer access.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StarfireSports
• Facebookfacebook.com/StarfireSports
• Instagraminstagram.com/starfiresports
• TikToktiktok.com/@starfiresports
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/starfire-sports

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Starfire Sports