Tukwila to host 1,400 of the NW’s top youth lacrosse players at this weekend’s Space Needle Shootout

TUKWILA, Wash. – Over 1,400 youth, middle and high school-aged lacrosse players including many of the top NCAA prospects in the Northwest will converge on Tukwila this weekend for the 10th annual Space Needle Shootout. Taking place at the Starfire Sports Complex on Fri., Dec. 6 – Sun., Dec. 8 the annual event presented by WALAX.com has grown with the sport to become the region’s largest lacrosse tournament with 72 individual teams from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia taking part.

“The Tukwila community is thrilled to host over 1,400 of the Northwest’s top youth lacrosse players and their families at this weekend’s Space Needle Shootout,” said Tukwila Councilmember Kate Kruller. "Youth sports and activities play a vital role in bringing our community together in healthy ways. This is also great way to both showcase our greens spaces for sports and experience our vibrant urban center that has everything visiting families need for a weekend stay."

Along with play at the youth (U-12), and middle school (U-14) levels, the tournament attracts players from many of the top high school lacrosse teams in the region at the U-16 and U-18 levels along with representatives from a number of colleges and college recruiting events.

Among those in attendance this weekend will be University of Denver Men’s Lacrosse Coach Bill Tierney who will be conducting youth and high school coaching education clinics at the event. One of collegiate lacrosse’s legendary coaches, in 28 years on the field Tierney has compiled a .740 winning percentage and his teams have made six

NCAA Championships, eight NCAA championship final appearances, 12 NCAA Final Four appearances and 19 quarterfinal appearances.

For the first time, the Space Needle Shootout has attracted the attention of the prestigious Nike Blue Chip Lacrosse Camp in Baltimore and its founder Jake Reed. Space Needle Shootout players at the high school level will be evaluated for potential invitation to the annual “Jake Reed”, attended by 95 percent of the NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse coaches and regarded as the premier and most sought after collegiate recruiting camp in the U.S.

“The Space Needle Shootout has become the Northwest’s premier fall lacrosse showcase, “said Space Needle Shootout Tournament Director Dejon Hush. “We’re thrilled to host clubs from throughout the Northwest and to provide an opportunity for our best players to be considered to attend the “Jake Reed’.”

Tournament play gets underway Friday at 5 p.m. and continues until 9 p.m. Games on Saturday take place from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., while Sunday’s competition also gets underway at 9 a.m. with the U-16 and U-18 championship games taking place at 1 p.m. and the U-12 and U-14 title games getting underway at 2 p.m.

Admission throughout the weekend is free.

10th Annual Space Needle Shootout Lacrosse Tournament

What: 10th annual Space Needle Shootout Lacrosse Tournament

When: Fri. (5 p.m. – 9 p.m.), Sat. (9 a.m. – 8 p.m.), Sun. (9 a.m. – 2 p.m.)

Where: Starfire Sports Complex, 14800 Starfire Way, Tukwila, WA 98188

Who: 1,400 youth, middle and high school lacrosse players representing 72 individual teams from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia

If You Go: Admission is free. Parking at Starfire is $5. Temperatures are cool, bring a blanket.

About the Space Needle Shootout

The annual Space Needle Shootout presented by WALAX.com is the Northwest’s largest and most prestigious youth lacrosse tournament. Attracting over 1,400 players and 72 teams from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia, the Space Needle Shootout takes place the first weekend of December in Tukwila, Wash. For more information visit WALAX.com.

About Tukwila, Washington

The City of Tukwila is home to over 19,000 residents representing a broad range of ethnic diversity. In 2009 the New York Times reported that the Tukwila School District was the most diverse district in the nation. Tukwila’s warm community spirit is reflected everywhere, especially in its celebrations such as the Fourth of July or Backyard Wildlife Fair. Since its founding in 1908, Tukwila has also grown into a bustling business engine

that is central to the Puget Sound economy. The City hosts over 2,200 businesses with 42,000 employees in a wide variety of sectors such as retail, aircraft components, health care, food manufacturing, datacenters, and information services. Tukwila is proud to be home to the Museum of Flight, Starfire Sports Complex, the Seattle Sounders FC, and Westfield Southcenter, the largest mall in the Pacific Northwest.

About Starfire Sports and Starfire Sports Stadium

Starfire Sports is the premiere soccer, lacrosse and field sports athletic campus in the nation located just south of Seattle in Tukwila, Washington. Built in 2004 and operated as a non-profit community sports resource, Starfire is home to the Seattle Sounders FC MLS team and the Seattle Sounders Women soccer team and annually hosts select games in the 4,500 capacity Starfire Stadium. Over one million competitors, spectators and community groups visit the facility annually and its community outreach program provides financial assistance and athletic opportunities to some 3,700 underserved youth in the Tukwila and South Seattle communities each year. To learn more about Starfire Sports please visit www.StarfireSports.com or visit us on facebook.