OLYMPIA, WA – Indoor soccer is officially returning to Olympia after a two-year hiatus as FC Olympia “Artesians” prepare to return to pro arena soccer competition with the freshly branded Oly Arena opening its doors in a new year-round home for indoor soccer in Thurston County.
Located at 7960 Center Street SW in Olympia, WA near the Olympia Regional Airport and SkyZone Trampoline Park; Oly Arena offers youth indoor soccer leagues and clinics, recreational Over 35 and 50 adult leagues and competitive high school and college-level programs and tournaments starting September 21.
An open house has been announced for Saturday and Sunday (September 19-20) 10:00AM to 7:00PM with pickup games, tours and fundraising initiatives highlighted.
THE ARENA ARTESIANS RETURN
One of the most anticipated parts of the Oly Arena opening is the return of Artesian arena soccer. Following the relationship ending with Evergreen State College in 2023 with the college not renewing the indoor soccer lease the Artesians will return this fall to the Western Indoor Soccer League (WISL) competing against clubs from around the Pacific Northwest including teams representing markets such as Portland, Bellingham and nationally acclaimed pro club the Tacoma Stars.
Arena soccer offers a dramatically different experience from the outdoor game. The smaller field, constant substitutions, quick transitions and proximity of spectators create a fast and entertaining atmosphere. Supporters are only feet from the action and the boards become part of the game, creating scoring opportunities and momentum swings that can happen within seconds. Some matches can have scores of 10-8 or 12-3 as many goals are scored historically at Artesian Arena matches.
Arena soccer provides high-level college, former college, semi-professional and elite adult players with another opportunity to compete locally during the fall and winter. Artesian Pro-Am tryouts have been announced for the men September 22 and 24th and the women in late October. Interested players currently competing at a high level are encouraged to register in advance through http://www.fcoly.com.
SINGLE-MATCH TICKETS & NEW FAN EXPERIENCE
The return of the Artesians also means the return of indoor soccer as a local entertainment experience. Single-match tickets and season tickets are available, giving supporters the flexibility to attend an individual game or follow the Artesians throughout the entire home campaign.
Oly Arena is being developed with an enhanced spectator experience in mind. Improved seating will put fans close to the field and help create the intimate, high-energy environment that makes arena soccer unique. The facility will also feature VIP viewing and additional feature experiences for supporters, sponsors, businesses, families and groups looking for a fanfare atmosphere.
Artesian home matches are intended to be more than simply games on a schedule. They will provide another night-out option in Olympia during the dark and rainy winter months in the PNW bringing together music, fun player introductions, family concessions, themed matches and beer garden.
If local organizations are looking to advertise and sponsor grassroots indoor soccer Oly Arena has a sponsorship deck at www.fcoly.com/oly-arena that features title partnership opportunities and sports marketing.
INDOOR SOCCER FOR ALL AGES
While Artesian matches will be among the facility’s signature events most of Oly Arena’s weekly schedule will be devoted to community programming. Indoor opportunities will stretch from introductory programs for children ages 3–5 all the way through Over-50 adult soccer, creating options for virtually every stage of a player’s soccer journey.
The youngest programs will focus on introducing children ages 3–6 with their parents on the field learning soccer through movement, balance, coordination, ball familiarity and fun. As players progress Oly Arena will offer youth development opportunities along with organized youth team leagues across multiple age groups (U9 to U15). The smaller indoor environment naturally creates more touches, faster decisions and constant involvement, making it an excellent complement to traditional outdoor club and recreational soccer.
Older players will have opportunities through high school-level and college-level programming, including competitive play, training opportunities, open play and special events.
MEN’S, WOMEN’S, CO-ED & AGE-SPECIFIC ADULT LEAGUES
Adult soccer will make up another major part of Oly Arena’s programming. Organized leagues will include Men’s Open, Women’s Open and Co-Ed divisions, providing options for competitive teams as well as groups simply looking for a consistent weekly soccer night.
Oly Arena will also offer age-specific opportunities, including Over-35 and Over-50 soccer. These divisions are intended to keep longtime players connected to the game while allowing them to compete against players in similar age ranges. Whether someone played competitively in college, has spent decades playing recreational soccer or simply wants to return to the sport, the goal is to provide an appropriate place to continue playing.
TEEN NIGHTS EVERY THIRD SATURDAY NIGHT
Oly Arena will also introduce Teen Nights every third Saturday throughout the fall and winter, creating a different type of indoor soccer experience for teams and groups. These Friday events are designed around soccer, music, fun, social interaction in a safe environment.
Youth and high school teams can use the nights as an opportunity to spend time together away from their normal training environment with groups of friends can turn them into a soccer-centered nights out. Small-sided games, challenges, friendly competition and other activities can make these evenings another way for the community to use Oly Arena beyond traditional league play.
REGISTER AT FCOLY.COM + ANNUAL INDOOR MEMBERSHIP PLAN
Annual indoor soccer memberships announced for all ages with daily access times and discounted clinics and artesian tickets. With so many different programs operating inside one facility, advance registration is an important part of Oly Arena’s operation. All players must be properly registered before entering the field for organized activities. This includes youth and adult leagues, pick-up soccer, camps, clinics, tryouts, special events and other scheduled programming.
Players participating on organized teams must be registered and properly associated with their team through the registration system and required waivers must be completed before participation. Pick-up and individual programs also require advance individual registration.
Current programs, schedules and registration information are available through http://www.fcoly.com/oly-arena.
COMMUNITY PROJECT FUELED BY NON PROFIT FUNDRAISER
Oly Arena is only possible through the work and support of the Oly Soccer Foundation, the parent nonprofit organization of FC Olympia helping develop the facility and expand year-round soccer opportunities for the Olympia area. Creating an indoor soccer facility requires significant investment and one of the project’s largest and most important components is the installation of the arena’s new turf which has proven to be the most costly item in the clubs 12-year history.
The non profit is encouraging individuals, families, businesses, former players and supporters of local sports to help contribute toward the new turf installation. That turf will ultimately support thousands of hours of community use, from children’s introductory programs and youth leagues to adult soccer, camps, clinics, high-level training and Artesian matches.
SPONSORSHIP & ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES
Oly Arena also creates a new year-round platform for local and regional businesses. Sponsorship opportunities are available throughout the facility, including advertising on the arena boards, facility signage, program partnerships, event sponsorships and Artesian match-day opportunities.
Because the arena will operate throughout the week, sponsors can receive repeated exposure to thousands of regional youth players, parents, adult teams, spectators, coaches and visiting teams rather than visibility at only a single event. Indoor soccer boards advertising is especially prominent in arena soccer because the boards surround the playing surface and remain visible throughout matches and other programming. Those interested are encouraged to contact play@fcoly.com.
WHO CREATED THIS SOCCER HUB FOR THURSTON COUNTY?
Oly Arena represents seasonal soccer continuity in the South Sound but derives from the dreamers at FC Olympia. A big thank you to GGCW Renovations LLC and Jason (Jay) Smith for the extensive installation of indoor boards, ceiling nets, goal frames, glass paneling and much needed warehouse improvements. Brad Hanson for audio, visual componentry, heavy equipment coordination, turf maintenance and fan experience operations.
Also a thank you to Manny Nicasio and his box truck company crew at United Crest Group LLC for pickup and delivery of all indoor field equipment. Brandon Cartwright and his media crew for generous film work and photography to create an exceptional venue startup campaign. Jaden Miller of SkyZone for assisting in the vision of indoor soccer coming back to the community in 2026. The foundation also thanks Ryan Perkins for his multi-year search for a viable warehouse including managing contracts, vendors and generating all startup funding for indoor soccer to return to Olympia, WA.
All members mentioned here comprise management of the FC Olympia organization and Oly Arena Soccer. All of these amazing characters work hard to make the Artesian soccer experience occur each year from USL to EPLWA to camps, clinics and indoor soccer again.
Support Oly Arena this fall and winter. For live updates follow on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok via FC Olympia and Oly Arena. Location, ticket and sponsorship info can be found at www.fcoly.com.