Goal! State grant helps light up sports complex and economy

Like they say in the movies … Lights … Camera … Lights … Action … and more lights and even more lights and … I’m not trying to keep you in the dark by several references to lights. (see what we did there) It’s just a cheap writer’s ploy to bring your attention to highlighting a situation that is taking place at SOZO Sports Park in Yakima! Have you been there? Otherwise, you should check out the public / private partnership that is redefining Yakima’s place on the State Sports Map. Speaking of maps, you’ll find the resort at 2210 S 38th Ave. And now it will be easier to find with all those lights!

Let there be lights

Today, Thursday, December 15, 2021, at 5:00 p.m., 14th District State Senator Curtis King will turn on the new field lights at the SOZO Sports Complex in central Washington.

The new stadium lighting will improve nighttime visibility outside with four new 50-foot stadium light poles and 14 bulbs per field, resulting in four lighted turf fields. Improvements to lawns create an increase in practices and games, especially during the winter months. A SOZO press release attributes the senator’s efforts to facilitate funding of $ 450,000 in state trade grants for the lighting project and nearly $ 1,000,000 in total for improvements to the SOZO complex.

SOZO designed to be an economic driver

SOZO spokespersons say, “With lighted pitches and upgrades, it creates the opportunity to host a multitude of Pacific Northwest tournaments and events, generating substantial revenue increases to further fund SOZO’s youth programs … activities in all sports. ”

SOZO offers premium opportunities

Yakima City Council initially invested several million dollars in the design of SOZO to provide recreation and sports activities for local users, as well as high-quality facilities to attract tournaments and tourism dollars from across the Northwest.

Presented as “the first indoor / outdoor sports complex in the Northwest”, SOZO includes 15 fields; 4 lawns, plus an indoor facility of 13,500 square feet, encompassing all sports; soccer, football, lacrosse, golf and more.

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