Family guide to winter spectator sports around Seattle
Junior hockey, played locally in Everett and Kent, is known for energetic, furious play and exuberant fans.
Seattle Thunderbirds
There may be a lull in the headline-grabbing professional sports, but there's still plenty of action in Seattle for the dedicated sports fan. Winter is a fun time to venture onto campus for college basketball, Husky gymnastics and the beginning of baseball and softball seasons. You could also visit your local high school's website to see about catching basketball games there. There's also junior hockey in Kent and Everett, professional rugby in Tukwila. And the stadium-filling sports will be back soon. The first Seattle Sounders game is on March 2.
Basketball
University of Washington Huskies (Men and Women)
Alaska Airlines Arena 3870 Montlake Blvd NEFirst-rate NCAA division 1 college basketball in an arena full of 10,000 or so college basketball fans. Ear protection advised for kids.
Seattle University Redhawks (Men and Women)
Redhawk Center 550 14th AveSeattle’s other NCAA Division 1 teams play the bulk of their home games in the 1,000-seat Redhawk Center this year (KeyArena, often the site of past Redhawks men’s games, is closed for renovations) so if you get seats, they’ll be good ones.
Seattle Pacific University Falcons (Men and Women)
Royal Brougham Pavilion 3414 3rd Ave W
Junior Hockey
Seattle Thunderbirds
Accesso ShoWare Center 625 W James St, Kent
Everett Silvertips
Angel of the Winds Arena 2000 Hewitt Ave, Everett
The teams consist of young elite hockey players aged 16 to 21. While there is a sizeable minority of Americans and a few Europeans, most are from Western Canada. Junior hockey is known for energetic, furious play and exuberant fans.
At Seattle Thunderbirds home games you have the option of sitting in a no-alcohol area.
Women’s Gymnastics
Alaska Airlines Arena at HEC Edmundson Pavilion 3870 Montlake Blvd NETake your aspiring tumblers to see collegiate athletes compete. The Huskies host four meets this winter: Oregon State on Saturday, Jan. 26, UCLA on Sunday, Feb. 10, Sacramento State and Iowa on Friday, March 8, and Southern Utah on Sunday, March 10.
Rugby
Starfire Sports
14800 Starfire Way, Tukwila
Best known in this country as a precursor to American football, this game has its own sweaty, grubby traditions. The Seawolves are a professional team, part of Major League Rugby.
Baseball
University of Washington
Husky Ballpark
Seattle University
Bannerwood Sports Park 1790 Richards Rd, Bellevue
Baseball in winter? That’s right, the first college games are in February. Bundle up.
Softball
University of Washington
Husky Softball Stadium 3800 Montlake Blvd NE
Seattle University
Logan Softball Field 901 12th AveAnother sport identified with summer that begins before the vernal equinox, women’s softball kicks off with a tournament at the University of Washington starting on March 8. Both Seattle University and the University of Washington participate.
Sounders FC
Century Link Field, 800 Occidental Ave S Starfire Sports, 14800 Starfire Way, TukwilaSeattle Sounders 2019 home opener is on March 2. Sounders crowds are fun to be part of. They have earned a reputation for creating some of the most raucous home games in Major League Soccer. Between the brass band, the big supporters clubs with their flags and banners, and the stadium special effects, it's a party atmosphere, with nifty accessories. Ear protection might be a good idea. Some of the cheers use words that you might not want your six-year-old to use in regular conversation, but it’s usually not easy to pick out exactly what people are saying and singing.
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