How Pasco’s multi-million soccer game plan will fuel the Tri-Cities economy
Tri-Cities athletes have been searching for more fields where they can play one of the region’s most popular sports — soccer.
A new $2 million soccer complex in east Pasco meets some of that growing demand in an under-served area.
The A Street Sports Complex at the intersection of A Street and Elm Street adds three new large grass fields.
It may also attract athletes from across Washington.
City officials say the complex could become a future hub for soccer tournaments. Pasco plans to invest another $7 million in fields and construction in the next five years.
Tri-Cities soccer culture
Competitive youth soccer helps drive the Tri-Cities economy. There were more than 160 Tri-Cities sports events, conventions and other group activities in 2024.
People visiting the Tri-Cities for sports and conventions spent nearly $36 million in the region last year, shows the Visit Tri-Cities annual report.
Visit Tri-Cities Vice President Hector Cruz told the Tri-City Herald that an estimated 65% of that spending came from sports tourism alone.
Soccer is one of the top sports in the Tri-Cities. That’s clear to Cruz and other officials because they see cities like Pasco developing more fields to meet the demand.
He’s also noticed more interest from event owners and sports organizations that are looking at the area to host tournaments.
Pasco is the hot spot for soccer in the Tri-Cities.
The Pasco Sporting Complex near Gesa Stadium and the HAPO Center is a city-owned facility with 15 large soccer fields and six softball fields on 45 acres.
Cruz said the complex is ideal for soccer tournaments, not only because of the number of fields, but also because it’s near hotels, retail areas and other businesses.
After games, players and their families can shop, eat at restaurants on Road 68, go to baseball games at Gesa Stadium or see a movie.
Soccer teams pack hotels during tournaments.
Cruz said that 1,500 visited the Pasco Sporting Complex on April 25-27 for the second weekend of the Washington Premier League’s Washington Cup, a state youth soccer tournament.
It was a sold-out weekend for most hotels.
Last year, Visit Tri-Cities collected $205,000 more in hotel-motel tax revenue than in 2023. The tourism marketing organization receives 50% of the area’s lodging tax.
It’s an exciting time for Northwest soccer players and fans. Seattle is one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Tri-Cities is expected to be a FIFA fan zone, which would bring in live entertainment, activities, giveaways and food during games.
A Street complex
The A Street Sports Complex will be open from April to October for youth and adult soccer, flag football, lacrosse, rugby, ultimate Frisbee and other sports.
The 8-acre sports complex is set up as three large fields that can be divided into two mini fields for 4v4 games, two 7v7 fields, one 9v9 and one 11v11 field.
There are outdoor lights to illuminate the largest field for night games and late practices.
The facility has parking, a drinking fountain and a portable toilet area.
The fields will be home turf for children and teens ages 4-14 who play on the Pasco YMCA’s competitive soccer teams.
Youth soccer games kicked off during the last weekend of April. The YMCA outdoor soccer season runs now through the end of August.
Pasco Recreation Services Manager Brent Kubalek said the complex is a closer option for neighborhood families who visit the YMCA, located inside the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center on 205 S. Wehe Ave. It is a two-minute drive from the center.
Adult soccer leagues also plan to use the fields starting this spring.
The fields are available to rent from the city. Rentals cost $12 an hour for Pasco residents and $15 per hour for others.
Kubalek said that almost all city parks in Pasco have open grass fields that can be used at no cost for sports practices. Park fields are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and do not have goals or nets installed.
Pasco also has two futsal courts at Kurtzman and Highland parks that opened in September. Futsal is a small-sided version of soccer.
It’s played indoors or outdoors on a hard, finished surface court that is slightly larger than a basketball court.
More fields to come
Pasco plans to keep expanding the A Street Sports Complex as money becomes available.
The next phases of construction are estimated to cost the city about $3.2 million in 2026-28 and $3.7 million in 2029-30.
The city would add up to seven more fields and build a larger parking lot, restroom and concessions building, two spaces for food trucks and a playground.
Since the project’s start in 2020, the complex was paid for by city’s parks development fund and a state grant.
New field lights were partially paid for with a national grant and money from Musco Sports Lighting.
