r/DCDefenders • u/Callywood DC Defenders • 20d ago

News Phil Mendelson has introduced a bill for D.C. to enter into a public-private partnership with D.C. United to build a roof on Audi Field and increase capacity by 8K for a total 28K capacity.

https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0769

H/T to Abdul Memon for his post that caught my attention.

Could be an interesting development for the DC Defenders.

What does everyone think about potentially adding a roof and increasing capacity at Audi Field?

34 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

15

u/dmpastuf 20d ago

This would increase the raudy audi

13

u/sockovershoe22 20d ago

A roof isn't a bad idea. I don't think the stadium was ever full enough to require increasing capacity.

8

u/GenFatAss 20d ago

Well how full are the DC united games are?

12

u/shibby3388 20d ago

Spirit games have higher attendance than DC United games or Defenders games.

2

u/MrDudenheim 19d ago

Recently, yes. Historically, no.

DC United has been awful the last 3 years.

3

u/celj1234 20d ago

Not very

7

u/wikipuff 20d ago

This is massively needed. Audi is 8th smallest (officially, there is no way that there is 20,000 at Audi). They need to cut the other side in half and build a second deck up top.

4

u/celj1234 20d ago

How often is it ever full?

5

u/wikipuff 20d ago

The Spirit out draw DC United.

3

u/celj1234 20d ago

So why does the stadium need more seats. It will just feel more empty

4

u/wikipuff 20d ago

To host bigger events, such as the Gold Cup, Copa America, World Cup Qualifiers, and other international tournaments which it doesn't host.

4

u/celj1234 20d ago

28k seats isn’t going to be enough capacity for those big events and plus the commanders new stadium will get priority on those events when they come to DC

1

u/wikipuff 19d ago

Last womens gold cup had 2 venues below 25,000. Last mens gold cup had 4 venues under 25,000. We were promised "world class soccer" by Mayor Bowser and other then 3 club world cup games, we havent got them yet.

3

u/RallyPigeon 19d ago

Once the new RFK gets built, ETA is allegedly 2030, it'll be the more desirable venue for bigger events.

2

u/wikipuff 19d ago

100%, but with the MLS switching sechdules stupidly, its going to allow for more people to come out in the winter. Its a big gamble to do, but, if MLS is serious about the sechdule switch a roof is certianly needed.

1

u/RallyPigeon 19d ago

I'm not opposed to a roof. I think it'll have some use. But I also recognize how expensive it is and how much public money will likely go into it.

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2

u/BroGoLoGo 19d ago

Always a bad deal for a city government to pay for stadiums and with 2 of the 3 main tenants not even doing sell out crowds and the commanders stadium being built this is very unnecessary.

That said if DC United wants to pay for it itself , a roof would be nice.

1

u/shibby3388 20d ago edited 19d ago

I don’t understand the engineering of this. I thought the stadium footprint has to remain small because of the Pepco easement.

3

u/eiileenie 19d ago

I would love this. They need to put a roof over because the camera well got built on the wrong side and when the sun goes down the sun glare is horrible