07/24/2026
🍻 The Sports Center closes its doors, but owners say they hope it's only temporary.
On Tuesday, July 21, 2026, The Sports Center officially closed its doors, leaving many in Yakima wondering what happened and whether this is the end of an iconic local business.
📞 Over the past day, I reached out to several people involved to better understand the closure.
Former manager Erin told me she is incredibly grateful for the opportunity ownership gave her to help shape The Sports Center into what it became.
"I will be forever grateful that the ownership gave me the opportunity to fulfill my vision of what The Sports Center could be, and I am very proud of what we built."
Erin said the decision to close was a personal decision by the ownership, adding that she has nothing but respect and understanding for that decision. She also thanked her staff and the many customers who supported the bar throughout the years, calling it "a crazy beautiful ride."
🏢 I also spoke with Willie Edwards of WMT Enterprises LLC, the company that owns the building and business.
Edwards told me he and his business partners met with management on Tuesday, July 21, where they made the difficult decision to close The Sports Center.
He explained that despite being one of the busiest bars in town, the business had been consistently losing money. According to Edwards, he and his partners had continued putting money into the business to keep it operating, but eventually decided it was time to hit the reset button.
🔄 Edwards emphasized that he does not want this to be a permanent closure.
Instead, he said the owners hope to make changes to the business, find new management, and eventually reopen The Sports Center under a more sustainable business model.
📋 I also looked into online claims regarding the property's tax status.
When I initially asked Edwards about the issue, he told me the business was not behind on taxes.
To verify that information, I contacted both the Yakima County Assessor's Office and the Yakima County Treasurer's Office. The Treasurer's Office confirmed that the county's online property tax records are updated in real time once payments are processed.
At the time this story was published, the WMT Enterprises LLC property tax account associated with the property showed a cumulative balance due of $16,756.08, including a delinquent 2025 property tax balance.
After I shared those records with Edwards, he said he believed the taxes had been paid based on what he had been told by the business's accountant and manager. He expressed surprise at the information and said he planned to look into it further.
❤️ Regardless of the circumstances, it's sad to see another longtime Yakima business close its doors. For many people, The Sports Center wasn't just a bar—it was a place to meet friends, celebrate milestones, watch games, and make memories.
Time will tell whether this is the final chapter for The Sports Center or simply the beginning of a new one.
👇 Did you ever visit The Sports Center? I'd love to hear your favorite memories in the comments.
