Is Renton Memorial Stadium Too Big For Its Needs?

With 6,500 seats, Renton Memorial Stadium is the third-largest high school stadium in the Puget Sound region, in terms of capacity. Seattle Memorial Stadium is the largest with 11,925 seats, followed Everett Memorial Stadium with 9,000. None of the three facilities have seen a high school football game sell out in decades.

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With the near completion of the much-needed $7 million stadium renovation, district officials hope to welcome the community back in to the sports venue. can get a first-hand look at what improvements resulted from a 2008 voter-approved measure.  

“The voters voted to update this stadium (keeping it the same size) and it’s an exciting opportunity for us to attract professional teams,” said Superintendent Dr. Alice Heuschel during a recent football game.

District officials say Seattle Seahawks players used the stadium during the National Football League lockout for conditioning. There are no current talks with any sports teams to call the stadium home, but they are open to any who are.

The Seattle Sounders, than an A-League soccer team, called the stadium home in 1999. Attendance varied between 1,700 and 4,000 fans but many spent money in the downtown core (pre-Landing) before and after games.

Ralph Morton Executive Director of Seattle Sports Commission said the commission has not looked directly at the stadium for placement of an amateur team. He warned that many of the athletic teams in the area have permanent homes already, but may consider the stadium for a single event.

In the mid to late 90s, Renton Stadium was considered to be a prime location for the state high school track and field championships. However, due to the lack of space for the field events, and what it deemed a safe area for speculators, Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) chose to decline further use of the facility.

Executive Director of the WIAA Mike Colbrese says the stadium could be a third site for track and field, but arranging to have enough officials at the other two sites could be a logistical nightmare. Currently, each site needs 200 judges and staff to run the championships.

Renton Schools Athletic Director and Seamount League representative Brian Kaelin said being a representative on the West Central District gives him the opportunity to give input on decisions that impact the West Central District, but not to leverage the WIAA to move state events to Renton.

“We have and will continue to work with the WIAA, West Central District, and Seamount League to provide a venue for their events when it is feasible for us to do so,” said Kaelin.

Colbrese points out Renton Stadium would be great for possible boys and girls soccer championships. The stadium could also be used for the first and second round of any football championships, depending on the home team’s needs.

School District Spokesperson Randy Matheson said hosting district and state events is a huge and costly undertaking.

“Our Athletic Department is small compared to other districts and consists of one director and an admin assistant; his time is consumed with district-related responsibilities and his budget is set each year. Additional responsibilities and budget requests must be approved at the district level,” Matheson said in an email.

Last school year the stadium’s revenue was $96,000 from rental fees, paid by junior football teams, soccer clubs and other community groups. Many of those groups bring in little fan base and don’t charge for entrance. Additional money is raised though concession stand sales, which are operated by the school district’s health and nutrition service. Concession stands are open most of, but not every event at the stadium. The stadium has one full-time employee who oversees the entire operation, maintenance and other at the venue.