Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
RFK Stadium | |
RFK Stadium in 2015 with the U.S. Capitol and Washington Monument visible in the background | |
RFK Stadium Location in Washington, D.C. RFK Stadium Location in the United States | |
| Former names | District of Columbia Stadium (1961–1969) |
|---|---|
| Address | 2400 East Capitol Street SE |
| Location | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Coordinates | 38°53′24″N 76°58′19″W / 38.89°N 76.9719°W |
| Owner |
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| Operator | Events DC |
| Capacity | Baseball: 43,500 (1961) 45,016 (1971) 45,596 (2005) Football or soccer: 56,692 (1961) 45,596 (2005–2019) 20,000 (2012–2017, MLS) |
| Surface | TifGrand bermuda grass |
| Field size | Football: 120 yd × 53.333 yd (110 m × 49 m) Soccer: 110 yd × 72 yd (101 m × 66 m) Baseball: Left field: 335 ft (102 m) Left-center: 380 ft (116 m) Center field: 410 ft (125 m) Right-center: 380 ft (116 m) Right field: 335 ft (102 m) Backstop: 54 ft (16 m) |
| Public transit |
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| Construction | |
| Broke ground | July 8, 1960 |
| Opened | October 1, 1961 |
| Closed | September 15, 2019 |
| Demolished | 2023–2026 |
| Construction cost | $24 million ($259 million in 2025 dollars) |
| Architect | George Leighton Dahl, Architects and Engineers, Inc. |
| Structural engineer | Osborn Engineering Company |
| Services engineer | Ewin Engineering Associates |
| General contractor | McCloskey and Co. |
| Tenants | |
| Washington Redskins (NFL) 1961–1996 George Washington Colonials (NCAA) 1961–1966 Washington Senators (MLB) 1962–1971 Washington Whips (USA / NASL) 1967–1968 Howard Bison (NCAA) 1974–1976 Washington Diplomats (NASL) 1974, 1977–1981 Team America (NASL) 1983 Washington Federals (USFL) 1983–1984 Washington Diplomats (ASL/APSL) 1988–1990 D.C. United (MLS) 1996–2017 Washington Freedom (WUSA) 2001–2003 Washington Nationals (MLB) 2005–2007 Military Bowl (NCAA) 2008–2012 | |
| Website | |
| eventsdc | |
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, commonly known as RFK Stadium and originally known as District of Columbia Stadium, was a multi-purpose stadium in Washington, D.C. It was located along the Anacostia River on East Capitol Street in the city's Hill East neighborhood. The stadium was in operation from 1961 to 2019, with deconstruction commencing in 2025 ahead of a $3.7 billion stadium to replace it at the site. RFK Stadium was one of the first large stadiums designed to host both baseball and football, and was among the first to use what became known as the cookie-cutter design.
RFK Stadium was home to a National Football League (NFL) team, two Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, five professional soccer teams, two college football teams, and a USFL team. It hosted college football, college soccer, baseball exhibitions, boxing matches, a cycling race, an American Le Mans Series auto race, marathons, and dozens of concerts. Significant events hosted include five NFC Championship Games, two MLB All-Star Games, several FIFA World Cup matches, nine 1996 Olympic soccer matches, three MLS Cups, and two MLS All-Star Games.