Big things are happening around the Timbers-Thorns FC North soccer facility in Hayden with the completion of a 15,000 square foot indoor turf facility on the corner of Huetter Road and Prairie Avenue.

“We used it this past winter and it was great,” Timbers-Thorns FC North Director of Competition Matt Ruchti said. “It’s the same turf you’d find at the major turf complexes in the area — and there’s not many to be had — but it’s great.”

The club, which is hosting its 28th annual Bill Eisenwinter Hot Shot Tournament Friday through Sunday in the area, is in the process of having three outdoor turf fields also build on the complex.

“We hope it grows next year,” Ruchti said. “Having that facility with three turf fields and being able to host games at one location will help. But we’ll still need the other facilities to make it work.”

Ruchti added that at its highest, over 200 teams played in the tournament each year, a number that could be reachable again.

“It was really hard to do with that many teams,” Ruchti said. “But I’ve seen other tournaments in the area with 50, 60 or 100 teams. To be at 150 this year, it shows we’re still thriving. We’ve got people from all over the place coming. I think with the potential for growth, we’ll be able to push it well over 200 again, or at least host another event.”

The indoor facility won’t be ready as matches kick off Friday.

“We’ve got a couple of more things to finish with the outdoor facility stuff,” Ruchti said. “We won’t have any matches this weekend at the indoor facility, but we’ve got that coming with indoor leagues, which is something this community hasn’t hard. We’ll have holiday tournaments and all sorts of things that will unfold during the indoor season next year. It’s been a great thing, but we’re just trying to finalize the calendar and scheduling usage.”

Fields in Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls will be used for the tournament.

“We’ve got teams from Canada, Washington, Montana and from all over Idaho coming,” Ruchti said. “We’re really proud of where we’re at right now. Once the outdoor facility gets down, we’ll be able to host games out there well into the evening. We’ve got a handful of night games at the Coeur d’Alene Soccer Complex at Skyway Elementary, on the football field at Lake City High, and using the facilities at Real Life in Post Falls. We’ve got night games all around our community, and it’s another great way to highlight and host one of the largest tournaments in the area and really show off the area.”

The Timbers-Thorns will have each of its teams represented.

“It’s the pinnacle of our season,” Ruchti said. “It wouldn’t happen without our volunteers, parents and all the businesses that help us put this on.”

The club estimates nearly 5,000 fans will be in town this weekend for teams ranging from 8 to 18-years old.

The tournament is named in memory of former Sting director and NIC soccer coach Bill Eisenwinter, who was killed in a car accident on Memorial Day weekend in 2003 driving to the State Cup Tournament in Pocatello.