Pictures from Audi Field Inaugural Match Day

Yesterday was the inaugural match at Audi Field, the new home of D.C. United located in Buzzard Point. The 20,000-seat stadium was sold out as D.C. United won 3-1 against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Some finishing touches still need to be done - for instance, many signs throughout the stadium have not been put up yet, but Audi Field was ready to host its inaugural match. Below are pictures from yesterday's festivities. 

Fan walk

Fan plaza in front of stadium

Audi parked in Audi Way

Ticket window with sports car above

Main gate

Cycle track on 2nd Street

National Defense University

Team office on T Street

Staff entry on T Street side of stadium

Southern end of Audi Way

Audi Way - black areas will be retail

Cement plant across Half Street

View down S Street toward river

Audi Valet on 2nd Street

Team store entrance 

Eagle Bank Club

Picnic tables set up for fans

Activities available prior to match

Audi Sport tent on Audi Way

Food trucks

Fans waiting to enter

Sign greeting fans upon entry

Waiting for gates to open

White Ford Bronco performed

Ax throwing at Field House DC

Field House DC

Sports car above ticket office

View of pitch at Audi Field pre-game

View of west side of pitch

Screaming Eagles unfurl flag

East side of stadium

20,512 were in attendance 

Sunset at Audi Field

View of the pitch

Concession lines

Factoría Maria Pupusería

Wayne Rooney enters in 58th minute

Rooney on the jumbotron

Smoke bomb after second goal scored

Nighttime view of pitch

Fireworks celebrating 3-1 win

Pitch-level view

Bar w/ new substation in background 

Team store

Team store

View of main entrance and Nats Park

Main gate

One last view of the pitch and stands

Audi Field Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

The ribbon cutting ceremony and open house for Audi Field was held on Monday, less than a week prior to D.C. United's inaugural match at the new stadium against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Below are some pictures from the event, which brought the team, including captain Steve Birnbaum and newcomer superstar Wayne Rooney (the rest of the team was seated in the audience); D.C. United ownership - Jason Levien and Erick Thohir; MLS Commissioner Don Garber, and politicians including Mayor Bowser and Councilmembers Allen and Evans.  Dave Johnson, the voice of D.C. United, was the emcee.

Now that the inaugural game is just days away, construction fences have come down and finishing touches are being put in place in and around the stadium in Buzzard Point.  Along Potomac Avenue, the fan plaza is still under construction. A parcel adjacent to the stadium will one day contain mixed-use development, but for now will be a grassy field. The first Capitol Bikeshare station in the neighborhood has been installed at the northwest corner of Potomac Avenue and Half Street.  A Circulator stop is located on Potomac Avenue east of Half Street - this match-day service will be implemented after the inaugural match. New signage has been installed by the Capitol Riverfront BID to promote Buzzard Point with a new website and slogan: It All Connects Here. Meanwhile, construction continues on the new Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge. 

Events Announced for Audi Field Opening

As anticipated, D.C. United has released a schedule of events for the next five days leading up to its inaugural match at Audi Field. Here’s a rundown of what is planned so far, which is also located here:  

• Monday: There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony for Audi Field and Housewarming Party from 4:30 to 7pm, located at the NW gate at R and 2nd streets. 
• Tuesday & Wednesday: The club will hold World Cup watch parties at Fado Irish pub and Freedom Plaza downtown. 
• Thursday: There will be an inaugural match ticket giveaway at 10AM via social media. 
• Friday: Happy hour at Bardo Beer Garden from 4:30 to 6:30pm, which is located across South Capitol Street next to Dock 79 apartments in Near SE/Navy Yard/Capitol Riverfront. 
• Saturday (Matchday): The new fan plaza near the NE entrance of Audi Field at Potomac Avenue and Half Street will open at 4pm and will feature a live concert by White Ford Bronco. In addition, there will be a beer garden, games, food trucks, free D.C. United swag, and a fan photo mosaic. Fans can use the hashtag #UnitedAtHome when taking a picture throughout the week and the photo will be added to a photo time capsule that will be hung permanently at the stadium. The Club Shop on the R Street side of the stadium will also open at 4pm. Gates open at 6pm.

This post will be updated with any other opening-related events.

Work Underway at River Point

Construction fencing is up and interior demolition is underway at the former coast guard headquarters building at 2100 2nd Street in Buzzard Point (h/t to reader Bill). Once complete in 2020, River Point will contain 470+ rental apartment units and over 60,000 SF of ground floor retail on all sides of the building, with restaurants facing the Anacostia River. In a May interview with Bisnow, Akridge’s Chip Akridge stated they have a letter of intent with a drugstore and are in final negotiations with a fitness tenant that will open a fitness facility. The developer is also targeting a food hall. A Capital Bikeshare station is planned for the SW corner of the site along the 2nd Street cycle track.

Akridge also stated during the Bisnow interview that the first phase of its adjacent, 7-acre 100 V Street development may get underway early next year. The first phase will be on the southeast corner of the site, which will be called First and V and will contain approximately 250 rental apartment units. 

Another big residential conversion may soon get underway nearby. Michael Neibauer from the Washington Business Journal tweeted this week that Douglas Development has secured a permit to start work on its conversion of 1900 Half Street to a mixed-use development with 419 rental apartment units and 15,600 SF of ground floor retail. 

1900 Half Street

Renderings courtesy of 2100 2nd Street, SW LLC and Antunovich Associates

Audi Field Almost Ready for its Debut

In less than two weeks, Audi Field will be open for its inaugural match where D.C. United will play the Vancouver Whitecaps. On the stadium front, more progress has been made since my last visit in June. For one, the south side of the stadium is more accessible now. Work continues on Audi Way, an extension of 1st Street that curves along the east side of the stadium, which should be completed by the end of this week. Most of the remaining work involves setting up the concessions areas. Work is being done now seven days a week in order to get the stadium finished in time.

🚨 It’s finally July. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/7LRjKh3WoO

— Audi Field (@AudiField) July 1, 2018

Here are some photos of the south part of the stadium.

Retail space on SE corner of stadium

South side of Audi Way still U/C

Street furniture on T Street

View of south facade of stadium

Here are some views on the east side:

Eastern facade from Half Street

Retaining wall covers Pepco facility 

Main gate from Potomac Ave

North side of Audi Way

D.C. United announced today that limited tickets are still available for the inaugural match at Audi Field. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and housewarming party will be held on Monday, July 9 from 4:30 to 7pm. The event will feature speeches from representatives from D.C. United, the District government, and Audi. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at the northwest gate at the corner of 2nd and R streets. Following the ceremony, there will be a housewarming party with D.C. United players, music, games, and food, including a sneak peek of the food offerings that Jose Andres will be offering at Audi Field. While admission is free and open to the public, food and beverage will be available for purchase. There will likely be other events leading up to the grand open that will be announced in the coming days. 

Here's some north and west views of the stadium:

Side view of main gate

A peek behind the gate from R Street

 New plaza on NE side of stadium

Team store on R Street

Northwest stadium entrance

View of western facade along 2nd St.

Field House DC, which will become a pre-game spot for D.C. United matches like The Bullpen is for Nationals games, is now operational on a daily basis during the World Cup. Following the World Cup, the venue will be open on D.C. United match days and will host special events. The entrance to Field House DC is located at the corner of 1st and T streets, just south of Audi Field.  

Main entrance

Seating area

Drink tokens & snacks purchased here

Bar and corn hole

Umbrellas provide limited shade

Seating area & large screen TV