Why not? Looks like FIFA is looking to consider mostly East Coast cities in order to cater to the European TV audience. I know Audi Field has a small capacity but do you need a 75K stadium when Red Bull Salzburg plays Auckland City? Sure you can use doubleheaders to piggyback off of the popularity of one of the heavyweights but let's throw DC a bone. FedEx actually came out pretty well as a soccer pitch for its summer friendlies in comparison with the disastrous Copa America. Imagine a round of 16 game at Audi Field between River Plate and Benfica. If Harrison or Chester is a site and DC is shutout altogether I'll be pissed.
The CWC usually takes place in mid December. I can't imagine anyone wanting to play a match here, or north of here, at that time of year.
No longer the case. The CWC is being played in mid-June to mid-July in 2025 with the format change to a quadrennial, 32-team event.
You'd have people literally climbing over the walls of the stadium to get into that matchup. You can be pissed if they choose NJ or PHL, but you know exactly who is to blame for building the worst new SSS in MLS.
Is Audi Field really that bad? I've only gone to the game against UNAM Pumas last year and was impressed on how close the seats were to the pitch. And then almost anyone who's been to a DC Defenders game raves about it. But maybe it pales in comparison to Cincinatti or Austin. Even if it was built after Harrison, I think Red Bull Arena is considered a top SSS. What in particular makes Audi Field unimpressive?
As you noted, the sight lines are fantastic all-around. But after that, serious issues: Capacity is very low, currently 21k, expandable to 25k, about half of FIFA requirements for sanctioned WC quali and final tournament games. It was built with only 3 locker rooms but this might have changed recently to 4. I believe FIFA requires 4 plus referee locker rooms. Inadequate space around the pitch for runoff, advertising, and media and security personnel - doesnt meet FIFA specs. Some of the whiner issues: Lots of concessions but inadequate space in the concourses (even as the building permits were issued). Too few TVs in the concourses for watching the games while waiting in lines. Inadequate parking (but this is changing as new building come on line). Inadequate roads and traffic control for egress traffic.
A roof only along the sidelines. An absolutely pathetic pitch every single year for much of the season. No escalators to the top level. A rather poor beer selection.
Thanks. I have a co-worker who's a big EPL fan and refused to go back to Audi Field because it was cashless payments only. I thought he was being backwards but I was unaware of the shortcomings pointed out. It looks like most of the shortcomings can be remediated with minor investments (poor beer selection, more TVs in the concourses). But I wonder if the inadequate space around the pitch for runoff/advertising/media could even be addressed with a major renovation. Maybe the capacity can be expanded to 25K in a decade and spur the major investment of a space around the pitch and a roof all around. Looks like we'll have to depend on the Commanders' ownership to continue investing in Commanders Field and ultimately getting a new stadium in order to get big time soccer in the DMV.
So this is just a preference thing? Lagunitas IPA, Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing, Bell’s Two Hearted, Dogfish 60 Minute IPA, and Aslin are all excellent choices for a stadium. And that’s just the IPAs.
Where on earth are you getting the dogfish and bells? They do not exist in the upper deck. Aslin now does.
Leagues Cup game moved from D.C. over poor field condition https://africa.espn.com/football/story/_/id/40649684/leagues-cup-dc-united-santos-laguna-moved-audi-field-poor Thx, Jay!
While it's good business to pack non-MLS games and events into the stadium for revenue, it's hell on the field. There simply was not enough down time for the sod to recover. It obviously didn't help when there was a rugby game during a monsoon and then a DCU game the next day (or two) followed by the USWNT another few days later. And now there's Broccoli Festival on the field plus some other tourney. If MLS had kept its schedule through last half of July into August maybe this wouldn't have happened.
I haven't watched the grass grow in a long time, but is ONE STINKIN DAY OF 100' F weather gonna make that much of a difference?
Absolutely wild to me that they let the field deteriorate as much as it did, went to Leagues Cup officials essentially with the “this is fine” meme, and oh yeah hosted a multi-day music festival all weekend with the expectation of playing a competitive home game on it tomorrow.
Bless you, this is news I can use! The selection at the north side draft stand has dwindled and is not good.
Audi Field was chosen as one of 12 venues for the inaugural 32 team Club World Cup next Summer. asitis