June 6, 2023 | Duwamish, Museum of Flight, Seawolves

A Piece of Tukwila History

Our history begins first with acknowledging that the City of Tukwila is located on the ancestral lands of the Coast Salish people. We acknowledge their continuing connections to the land, waters, and culture. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present, and emerging.

It’s easy to appreciate the many wonderful experiences our city offers today. But learning about how Tukwila came to be makes those experiences even more rewarding. Join us as we travel down memory lane and take a look back at what propelled Tukwila to the amazing city it is today. 

Tukwila is a hub of culture, commerce, and all-around great times. People from all over Washington visit our wonderful city to experience sights, sounds, and activities they can’t find anywhere else. Behind those experiences is a rich history of a little city south of Seattle making waves along the banks of the Duwamish and Green Rivers.

Like all cities in the area, Tukwila was first and foremost Tribal land. The Coast Salish people were the original peoples who made their homes here. Shaded under lush forests along the banks of the Black, Green, and Duwamish Rivers, they eventually settled on the name Tukwila, which is Chinook jargon for the Duwamish word for hazelnut. A reference to the hazelnut trees that grew in the area.

European pioneers arrived in the Tukwila and surrounding Seattle area thousands of years after the Coast Salish people. A common name seen around the city today, Joseph Foster was the most well-known among the first European settlers. His namesake is strewn across Tukwila, including Foster High School and the much-loved Foster Links Golf Course. 

As industry ramped up across the country, Tukwila’s location at the confluence of three major rivers (now two) put it right at the center of the action. Dozens of riverboats carrying valuable resources like coal traversed these waters daily, boosting the local economy and shaping the future of our city. Prosperity struck again when a newly electrified America introduced electric rail lines to our area. Soon enough, starting in 1902, people could peruse the region aboard electric trains on the Seattle-Tacoma Interurban Railway. A route that is now a 14-mile multiuse bike path linking Tukwila, Kent, Auburn, and other South Seattle regions. 

Tukwila was officially incorporated as a city in 1908, just a few years before Boeing airfield was built—one of the city’s most defining features throughout the twentieth century. A new exciting era was swiftly ushered in on the wings of developments in transportation. This propelled the city in a direction that created more jobs and welcomed more people from all kinds of backgrounds to the Tukwila area. The city’s residents spent the next few decades balancing enhanced industrialization with commercial business creation.

Tukwila is still making history every day. Home to the Seattle Seawolves, our city is making waves in the world of professional sports thanks to incredible opportunities made possible by Starfire Sports Complex. We also have a bustling culinary scene with unique restaurants and food halls like Spice Bridge making foodies from all over rave about this best-kept secret. 

Time may evolve how our city looks, but one thing remains constant across generations: a deep appreciation and celebration of diversity, friendship, and opportunity. All are welcome here in Tukwila. We hope to see you around soon! 

March 24, 2023 | Dining, News, Seawolves

Seawolves Star Experiences Tukwila

Our good friend and Seattle Seawolves legend, Eric Duechle recently tried his hand at packing as many Tukwila-themed experiences as he could into a single day. He got pretty far. But honestly, it only scratched the surface of what our amazing city has to offer. 

Follow along, as Eric attempts the #TukwilaInADayChallenge.

First up, Green Tukwila Day at the Duwamish Hill Preserve. On a beautiful blue-sky November day, Eric joined a group of volunteers to help spruce up this local treasure. A place of deep cultural significance, Duwamish Hill Preserve has been stewarded by Indigenous communities that have called this area home since time immemorial. Expounding upon this fact was Ken Workman, Tribal Council Member and descendant of Chief Seattle.

Next on the schedule was Mayweather Boxing + Fitness. Eric met up with Jen and Miracle to jump into the ring and get a closer look at how Tukwila trains. The studio offers four different styles of classes throughout the week formulated with the perfect combination of boxing, strength, and cardio conditioning.

Rounding out the day was a stop at one of Tukwila’s most popular bar and grills, Billy Baroo’s. Surrounded by friends and bipedal whale mascots, Eric toasted to a day full of wonderful new experiences. 

How do you think Eric did? Could you fit more Tukwila experiences into your day? Give your best shot, and don’t forget to let us know how it goes on social media. 

Best of luck!

February 9, 2023 | Seawolves

The Seawolves Teach Us Rugby 101

If you couldn’t tell from the bazillion posts about The Seawolves, we’re kind of obsessed. So much so that we took to the field with our friends over at Explore Seattle Southside to get an up close and personal look at this incredible sport. Read up on the experience and get amped for the start of the 2023 season. 

“You’re not afraid of heights are you?” 

Not exactly the type of reassurance I was looking for after just volunteering myself to be vaulted fifteen feet in the air by two giant strangers who tackle other giant strangers for a living. That didn’t matter though. Before I could think it through, they grabbed my legs, lifted me up, and signaled for another giant stranger to throw a rugby ball towards my face. Reacting more on reflex than skill, I instinctively reached out and caught the ball just before impact. Overjoyed that I avoided catastrophe.

“Nice catch, ” the coach congratulated me as I landed back on my own two feet. 

“But you forgot to pass it to the nine.” 

Communication is everything in rugby. Kees Lensing, lead performance analyst for the Seattle Seawolves, will be the first to tell you that. He takes no restraint in reminding everyone of this essential aspect of the game he loves. Originally from Namibia, Kees has traveled the world as a professional rugby player and coach. He appeared in two world cup events and was captain of the Namibia national team for a number of seasons. Nowadays, Kees is helping lead the Seawolves to Major League Rugby championships while also helping educate the general American public on this exciting game. 

As part of their initiative to grow attendance and local interest in the game, Kees, along with Seawolves head coach Allen Clarke, invited folks from Explore Seattle Southside and Experience Tukwila to come learn the ins and outs of rugby and share it with our audiences. A chance to play rugby with professional rugby players? It was a no-brainer. 

On an unusually sunny and warm morning, we met out on the Starfire pitch, most of us without a clue of what to expect next. After introductions and a brief overview of rugby basics, the whistle blew and we set off back and forth across the grass going through a variety of warm-up drills. Talking about rugby is one thing, but to truly understand what the game is about, you need to dive in head first. 

The coach tossed us a few rugby balls and told us to partner up.

I linked up with one of the Seawolves players and got a crash course in spin passing. What looks like a pretty simple motion from afar is actually much more technical than I expected. When you pass in rugby you have to essentially lob the ball to your teammates, but it has to be either a diagonal pass or a backward pass; forward passes are not allowed. After struggling to get a proper spin on the ball while tossing to my right, we switched sides and that’s when it all started to click. Tossing a rugby ball feels very foreign, especially for someone who grew up in a state where football reigns supreme. It’s almost twice the size of a football and less angular, almost like tossing some kind of hollow gourd. Once you get the hang of it and nail that perfect spiral it’s surprisingly fun, and I would have been totally satisfied just tossing the ball back and forth for the remainder of the morning. But that wasn’t the plan. 

The whistle blew again and now came our ultimate test—a real rugby match. Well, not exactly a real rugby match, more like a truncated version of rugby without the tackling and organized play structure. But it was the perfect way to get a feel for the flow of the game. In rugby, it’s all about constant movement. Playing this simplified version of rugby is meant to encourage new players to always be on the move, to feel the rhythm of tossing, catching, and running. As we scrambled back and forth across the pitch, I quickly gained an appreciation for the no-overhand throwing rule. Lobbing the ball to teammates requires you to be much more creative with your passing. You have to find clever ways to thread the needle between the sea of players.

After the final score, or as they call it in rugby, the final “try,” it was time to gather round and learn a little more about what actual rugby gameplay involves. So let’s walk through some of the highlights and learn a little rugby 101 terminology:

Scrum

First up was the “scrum.” Kees called on a few Seawolves players and within moments they were locked together arm in arm in a mass of muscle. You’ve probably seen the sight before, two walls of players pushing against each other with incredible force. A scrum is one of the defining characteristics of rugby. Similar to a faceoff, once the two groups are pressed against each other, another player rolls the ball underneath the web of bodies. A player called a “hooker” then uses his feet to grab the ball like a hook and kick it back toward the rest of his team. According to Kees, at any one time during a scrum, the hooker is experiencing upwards of 2,000 lbs of force per square inch on their upper body. With all that force focused on one person, it’s imperative that the other players are there to support. That’s what the majority of the players in the scrum are there for. It takes a horde of people just to protect the hooker as they fight for possession. For obvious reasons, we were not asked to participate. 

Breakdown

Next up was the “breakdown.” A breakdown occurs immediately after a player is tackled and requires rapid-fire reflexes from both teams. The player who is tackled must remain on the ground with the ball and the player who tackled must roll to the side out of the way. Then it’s up to other players from both teams not involved in the initial tackle to rush toward the down player and attempt to get the ball. The down player attempts to contort their body in such a way that protects the ball from the defensive players while providing an opening for their teammates to grab it. But the offensive players can’t simply run to the downed player from any direction, they must enter through a tiny invisible area called the “gate” which is defined by the position of the downed player’s body. Offensive players enter through this small area and quickly set up a wall on the downed player, protecting the ball from the opposition and allowing for another player to snatch it up and return to play. If the defensive players get to the downed player first, then they can grab the ball, resulting in a turnover. Confused yet? It’s honestly much more intuitive than it sounds. But apparently, there are even more rules/details about the breakdown that Kees wouldn’t get into because of the complexity. All in all, though, it’s a really impressive display of strategy and muscle.

Lineout 

Lastly was the “lineout.” The lineout is a way of returning the ball into play after it has gone into touch, or what we usually understand as “out of bounds.” This involves a player simply passing the ball into play. One of the most popular methods to receive the ball is to lift a player high into the air out of reach from the defending team. Once again, Kees wrangled a group of Seawolves players to show us how it was done. After running through the routine a few times, Kees asked for volunteers. Realizing that I might not ever get this opportunity again, I raised my hand and took the chance. The Seawolves players lifted me up and tossed the ball. It sounds stupidly simple, but it was actually a pretty disorienting experience. It wasn’t so much a lift into the air as it was a push into the air, almost like a cheerleader jumping up and being held by their feet. Add in a rugby ball spiraling towards your face, plus a group of strangers watching you from below, and it quickly becomes a high-stress moment. What you’re supposed to do after catching the ball is toss it out to an open player. But I simply held onto the ball and celebrated the fact that I both caught the pass and didn’t topple over in the process. After explaining the expectations again, Kees let me go for a second attempt, this time completing a proper pass to the outside player. Go me! 

After finishing up the demonstrations, Kees and the rest of the staff took a moment to explain the many benefits of rugby for communities. “No matter what happens out on this field, I have never left it feeling sad,” Kees explained. Beyond the many fitness benefits of playing the high-intensity sport, rugby also provides a strong sense of connection and camaraderie for players—a key characteristic which Kees sees as necessary personal armor against mental health issues. He, along with the rest of the staff, hope to see the sport grow in not just Seattle, but the entire country, to help provide kids with a hobby that can lead to lifetime friendships as well as provide endless high-action entertainment for sports fans. 

The 2023 MLR season is just around the corner and the Seawolves are poised for another dominant year out on the pitch. Don’t miss out on viewing this exciting game before it inevitably blows up across the country. That way you can say you liked rugby before it was cool.

 

All images courtesy of Explore Seattle Southside.

June 15, 2022 | Seawolves

The Seawolves Championship Hunt Begins With A Stunner

Guest blogger, David Drown details the experience attending the Seawolves’ Western Conference Semifinal—his first ever rugby match.

My first time going to a Seattle Seawolves match was a lot like my first time going to a Seattle Sounders match: both were playoff matches and both were unforgettable. But what set the Seawolves apart was its intimacy. The ability for a stadium a fraction of the size of most pro arenas to produce such a vibrant atmosphere left me questioning the value we place on our big box entertainment venues. 

Don’t get me wrong, watching a professional sport alongside 30,000+ screaming fans in an architectural superstructure is an incomparable experience. But as stadiums grow in size and amenities, the actual sport itself often becomes lost amidst the fanfare. All kinds of distractions seep in, forcing your attention toward everything but the game. What I experienced this past Sunday in Tukwila felt like the antithesis to that. Watching the Seawolves in the Western Conference Semifinal at Starfire Stadium felt like a return to the purity of sport, a practice in athletic mindfulness that reoriented the fan-athlete relationship and reminded me of why we even show up in the first place.

The threat of rain loomed overhead as my partner and I made our way to the front gate of Starfire, a common backdrop for many Seattle sporting events. Teenagers tossed a rugby ball back and forth in the parking lot, weaving their way in and out of the sea of couples, families, and groups of friends funneling toward the stadium. I studied their movements in detail, hoping to get a crash course in the general flow of rugby before watching my first ever match. 

Before I knew it, we were inside the stadium. But something about that distinction didn’t feel right. Unlike most sports venues, there wasn’t a clear boundary between inside and out. The grounds felt open and fluid, almost indistinguishable from the surrounding neighborhood. This feeling extended to the Starfire staff themselves, with ticket sellers, concessions operators, and merch vendors all operating like a tight community—like they knew each other well beyond their occupations. After exploring the merch tents, we grabbed ourselves a couple of drinks and a giant pretzel for pennies on the dollar and headed for our seats.

The thundering roar of fireworks announced the introduction of the Seawolves. Fans stood and cheered wildly, many still pinching themselves, happy to be back in the postseason. John, a season ticket holder from West Seattle and Seawolves fan since day one, explained that “last season was a tough one… [but] it’s good to see all the fans out tonight.” What sets Seawolves games apart for John is the camaraderie, even “the way [opposing] fans are welcomed” here at Starfire. There isn’t the fan aggression you might encounter at some other professional sporting events. “There’s something special here,” John says.

The match began with a flurry of action. Their opponent, the San Diego Legion, took an early lead, making a try just a few minutes into the first half. Even as a new fan my heart sunk, worried that this could spell the beginning of a long and painful night. But the Seawolves answered back and then kept answering back. Soon they were ahead with what felt like a comfortable lead heading into halftime. I hesitated to get too excited though. Superstitious tendencies from my days religiously following my favorite hockey team bubbled to the surface. Just 40 minutes into my time at Starfire and I felt a connection with the sea of green and blue filling the stands, and I hesitated to say anything that might jinx the game.

At the start of the second half, we made our way down behind the endzone to get closer to the action. The Seawolves maintained their momentum, charging back and forth down the pitch with ease. A young fan next to me piped up, “Come on dad!”, as the horde of giant players tumbled toward us. It marked a surreal moment when the lives of the professional athletes transcended the pitch. Not something usually experienced in giant sports stadiums, I suddenly looked around and realized that many of the people near me had direct connections with the players; some even family; some even “dad.”

What just 50 minutes before looked like a mess of players frantically running about knocking into one another quickly crystallized into an organized sway of forces. The flow of the game has a way of revealing itself even if you have no knowledge of strategy. The groups of players move about the pitch like flocks of starlings, their murmurations crafting complex shapes and patterns that ask the viewer to let go of rigid expectation. “Rugby is a continuous play sport,” describes Brent, a Seawolves fan and wheelchair rugby player, “those types of sports [just] take longer to gain traction.” But like most Seawolves fans, Brent is optimistic that the Seattle area is becoming more open to this often underappreciated game.

It became clear well into the second half that this was a night for celebration. As we hit the 80 minute mark the game ended just as it began, with a thunderous display of fireworks. The final score, Seawolves 43 – Legion 19. Standing along the perimeter of the pitch transfixed by the lights and sounds, my partner and I were caught off guard when the gate suddenly opened and fans rushed out onto the grass to congratulate the players. This sort of interaction was so foreign to us. Fans are fans and athletes are athletes, we thought. But Starfire seemed unconcerned with that distinction which pervades so much of pro sports.

After we made our way back through the parking lot, I worked my way through memories from the night. I tried parsing out the moments, segmenting the groups of fans, sectioning off chunks of time in an attempt to more easily understand the night. But this felt counter to what I had just experienced. It quickly became evident to me that what separated watching a Seawolves match from other pro sporting events was its very lack of separateness at all levels. From the openness of the stadium to the interaction between players and fans, there was no clear beginning or end to the Seawolves experience. The Seawolves are a team within a family, within a community; there is no division; there are no distractions. This is sport at its essence.

With this huge first round win, the Seawolves head to Houston to take on the SaberCats in the Western Conference Final on Saturday, June 18th at 4pm. Head over to Billy Baroo’s in Tukwila for the official watch party where the Seawolves community will come out in full force—including Rucky, the beloved team mascot—to cheer on the hometown heroes.

May 13, 2022 | Seawolves

The Seawolves Make History at Starfire

Guest blogger Claire Schmitt details her experience attending a Seawolves Major League Rugby match. 

Sunday, May 8th, matchday. After a quick 25-minute drive south on I-5 from North Seattle and a whopping $6 for parking, we’re at the front gate of Starfire Sports in Tukwila. There’s a sense of familiarity and intimacy about the stadium. People of all ethnicities and ages walk around repping their Seawolves green and blue. It’s the epitome of a family-friendly spot; kids with soccer balls keep themselves entertained on the surrounding fields by taking shots into goals while the adults gather nearby to chat and grab refreshments before the match starts. It smells like well-manicured grass and summer days at the park. I’m in love already.

I leave my friends temporarily at the Chick’N Fix food truck, head past the concession stand and swag booth, get my bag checked, ticket scanned, hand stamped, and enter the stadium. The team is running warm-up drills on the pitch. As I stand at the perimeter field fence, the players are so close I could casually chat with them about what they ate for breakfast if I wanted to. Head Coach Allen Clarke walks up to some folks also standing near me and shakes their hands. I’ve never been to a major league sports event like this before—there’s almost no separation between the players and their fans. The whole atmosphere is refreshing. It feels personal, as if it’s the norm for the team to interact with the community at this level.

People keep steadily coming in and make their way to their seats. I head upstairs to grab myself a beer ($7 for stadium beer? I’ll take it!). When I get up there I see two women dressed head to toe in Seawolves gear. They look legit and one girl is eating a soft pretzel so I decide to approach. Their names are Mikaela Mattes and Kate Crabtree, it turns out they host the PNW Showdown Podcast. Mikaela and Kate cover a wide variety of Seattle sports but tell me rugby is special. 

“There’s a high level of respect in this game,” Kate says. “It’s relatively new in the U.S., but people here are really willing to explain all the rules of the game and what’s going on so it feels very welcoming and friendly,” she explains.

Mikaela chimes in,”Yeah, it’s like its own little pod here…” They exchange a look at each other as they realize the Seawolves pun she just unintendedly made. “Ooh, that’s a good one. We should use that,” Kate tells Mikaela and we all laugh. They tip me off about an exciting distinction for tonight’s game. Referee Kat Roche, the first female lead referee in MLR history, is back at Starfire. 

The match starts and my crew barely has enough time to get settled in our seats before the Seawolves make their first try (rugby’s version of a football touchdown or a soccer goal). The place goes wild. Green fireworks explode into the air. The Seawolves are leading the match within the first minute, not a bad way to start. 

The Dallas Jackals attempt to make it a real game when they score a try of their own at minute 8. For a split second you start to think, can we pull off this win? The Seawolves respond at minute 12, as if to answer my question directly, yes. #TogetherWeHunt. And together, they make it happen. They score another try and AJ Alatimu makes the conversion.

These guys are huge and when their bodies collide the sound it creates upon impact is loud enough to make every single person in the stands wince slightly. I’m half in horror at the fact none of them are wearing pads and half think it’s the best thing I’ve ever seen. The Seawolves dominate the pitch (aka the field). It seems like every time they get possession of the ball they systematically manage to drive their way towards the try zone.

Minute 19:40 – Seawolves score a try and conversion. Fireworks go off. Fans erupt.
Minute 31:52 – Seawolves score a try. Fireworks go off. Fans erupt.
Minute 34:16 – Seawolves score a try and conversion. Fireworks go off. Fans erupt.

It’s the end of the first half and it isn’t looking good for the other team. Rucky the Seawolf, the team’s beloved Orca mascot, is making their way around waving and saying hello to all the families celebrating Mother’s Day. There’s a Mother and son duo sitting in front of me looking enthralled. I lean over and ask the kid where he got the Dippin’ Dots he’s eating. He’s missing a tooth when he turns around and smiles at me. He shyly tells me, “the concession stand at the entrance.” I ask him how old he is, “eleven.” It’s their first Seawolves game, the mom tells me. We politely chat about the beautiful weather and I let them get back to watching the game. 

A whistle blows and the second half begins, but it’s already clear this will be a blowout. The Seawolves are relentless and won’t let up. Around the 60-minute mark, the Seawolves have scored so much that Starfire has run out of fireworks for celebration. 

Jim Stewart Allen or “Broccoli Guy”, a local legend and 2nd-grade substitute teacher turned social media influencer, has been dancing all game at the try line. I can’t resist an opportunity to meet him in person and take a selfie. Jim says the Seawolves have been extending him the personal invite for their games but he started attending during the 2021 season. “Starfire is unique because you get to be so close to the players and the game. I find that Seawolves games create an environment for more fan engagement which is really fun to be around,” he says. And I feel it too. 

When the scoreboard hits 80 minutes, the Seawolves stadium erupts in one last outburst of cheers and “Sweet Caroline” starts playing, setting the celebratory mood as folks file down the aisles towards the pitch and exit. We start to gather our belongings, but something strange is happening. No one is really leaving. The Seawolves and Jackals players are gathering together, shaking hands, taking photos, and in some cases even hugging one another. Weren’t you guys just trying to tear each other’s faces off? 

Players from both teams are approaching the fence to greet the fans and thank them for coming out to the game. Even Referee Kat Roche comes over! I shake her hand, congratulate her on the game, give player JP Smith a high-five, and take a photo with Seawolf (and 2x Tam USA Rugby Olympian!) Martin Iosefo. It’s a celebration, but not just for the winners or even one team. It’s a celebration for the sport of rugby.

The final score turns out to be an MLR record-setting outcome of 74-7, the most points and tries ever scored by a single team and the largest margin of victory at 67 points. But all records aside, to me, the fan experience is about whether or not I see myself as being a part of the Seawolves community. After this amazing night, the answer is clear. So to you, dear reader, I share the secret of the Seawolves. You’ll thank me later.

 

Visit https://seawolves.rugby to learn more about the Seattle Seawolves and find tickets to upcoming matches.