A hearing on Thursday will address the future of RFK Stadium, which is currently home of the D.C. United but is about to enter a state of uncertainty.
Opening as a multipurpose venue in 1961, RFK Stadium has a history in several sports, including as home of the NFL’s Washington Redskins and two MLB teams in the Washington Senators and, decades later, the Washington Nationals. Since 1996 it has been home to the United, but that is expected to change when the team moves to a new stadium in Buzzard Point.
Some details still need to be addressed to finalize the Buzzard Point plan, but the United have discussed moving to the facility during the 2018 MLS season. If that comes to fruition, it make the 2017 campaign RFK Stadium’s last in hosting a major tenant, leaving its future in question.
On Thursday, the Washington stadium authority will hold a public hearing on the stadium’s future. More from the AP:
Events DC has released design concepts for redeveloping the RFK site with either a new football stadium, a basketball and hockey arena or no major sports venue.
Residents will have an opportunity to comment on those ideas at a public meeting on Thursday evening.
Events DC manages the site under a long-term lease with the National Park Service. It could take years to sort out the location’s future, but there have been several possibilities discussed for what could happen to RFK Stadium. One plan that has been discussed is for the Redskins to construct a new football stadium at that location. The Redskins left RFK Stadium for FedEx Field in 1997.
Image courtesy Events DC.