Welcome to the 21st century, Federal Way Memorial Stadium. It’s nice of you to join us.

The 37-year-old facility, behind Federal Way High School, is currently undergoing a much-needed facelift. Work crews have torn out the old artificial turf football/soccer field and the synthetic track and are awaiting word on some wetlands issues before replacing them with newer versions. Work crews are scheduled to put the new turf down on Monday.

“There is a little bit of a drainage issue,” said Greg Flynn, the district’s athletic liaison. “But everything is all ready to go down. I really don’t want things to drag along.”

The new synthetic playing surface might be the most welcome change at the stadium, at least for the football players who will be getting tackled on it this fall.

The new Field-Turf surface will be a much softer, grass-like material that is used at all of the other high school stadiums around the South Puget Sound League, as well as places like Husky Stadium and Qwest Field.

The old Memorial Stadium surface was nearly 15 years old and not as forgiving as the new Field-Turf.

The new field, along with the track and other improvements, including earthquake reinforcement, paving of the facility’s parking lot and the installation of new lighting, were paid for by the passage of a massive $149 million construction bond last May.

Something that is completed at Federal Way Memorial Stadium is a new, state-of-the-art LED scoreboard, which is up and running on the north side of the field. The new scoreboard replaced the old one that was erected, along with the stadium, in 1971. The $50,000 scoreboard was donated to the school district by Del Taco.

The Del Taco sponsorship comes a year after the Federal Way School Board voted to allow companies to advertise at district athletic venues, including Memorial Stadium.

There are already banners hanging along the perimeter fence of the field, which are purchased for an initial fee of $500, and plans exist for banners to be hung inside Federal Way gyms.

For information on advertising at school district facilities, contact Flynn at (253) 945-5575.

• In the something-you-never-would-thought-would-make-a-musical category comes this tidbit — “All In: The Poker Musical” will make its world debut July 4 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Created by Tim Molyneux, with support from professional poker player Phil Hellmuth and the World Series of Poker, this is the first poker-themed musical.

The story of “All In: The Poker Musical” revolves around the final nine players at the Main Event of the World Series Of Poker. These characters sing songs that are interlaced with poker analogies, quotes, and situations that also apply to the game of life, according to a press release.

“Through the lyrics of the songs and style of music, we see not only who these final nine players are, but we are able to see ourselves, our families, and our world,” Hellmuth said.

Hellmuth is a character in the show and has worked closely with Molyneux to help bring the poker player’s thinking and attitude to life on stage.

• Sudden Impact girls fastpitch team won the Junior Olympic ASA 12-under Tournament last weekend at Recreation Complex in Chehalis.

The tournament included teams from all over Washington. Despite the tough competition, Sudden Impact went undefeated in bracket play to win the championship. After having to come from behind to win their quarterfinal and semifinal games, the Sudden Impact team never trailed in the championship game and beat the Kelso Krushers, 9-7, to secure first place. This is the second tournament championship that the team has won this season.

Sudden Impact players include Kyra Adams, Sierra Bains, Audrey Birklid, Kelsey Cearley, Brooke Feldmeier, Stephanie Granger, Hien Hong, Krista Jones, Makenzie Lunstroth, Kylie McCown, Kelsey McDonnell, Miriam Santana, Alyssa Ubrun and Taylor Weimern-Pierce.

The Sudden Impact organization has been involved with competitive fastpitch for Federal Way girls since 1990. The 12-under team is coached by Raj Bains, Travis Ubrun, Brett Adams, Terry Cearley and Pat McDonnell.

For more information about Sudden Impact and its 2009 teams, visit www.eteamz.active.com/simpact.

Sports editor Casey Olson: 925-5565, sports@fedwaymirror.com