Robert F. Kennedy Stadium Memorial

The Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium or RFK Stadium (before D.C. Stadium or District off Columbia Stadium ) is a general sports stage which is useful mainly for the Baseball, the American football and the Soccer. It is located at the edge of the Anacostia river at the east of the center of Washington in the District of Columbia at the the United States.

Since 2005 it is the residence of a team of Baseball MLB evolving/moving in division Is National league, the Nationals of Washington. In 1996, MLS arrives at Washington D.C and the stage becomes the cave of D.C. United. The RFK Stadium had also accommodated another team of MLB between 1962 and 1971, the Washington Senators, which since moved with the Texas. The Redskins of Washington of NFL also played there more than thirty years between 1961 and 1996 before the Fedex Field either built. The enclosure has a capacity of 56.692 places for the Soccer and 45.596 for the Baseball and it is surrounded by 10.000 parking spaces.

History

That made 33 seasons that the baseball was not played Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. During more than five decades the Washington Senators (MLB) played Griffith Stadium but moved with Mineapolis and became Twins of Minnesota after the season 1960. The same year, a new stage multisports was built along the Anacostia river. Whereas Clark Griffith moved Senators with Mineapolis after the season 1960, MLB allotted a news frankness to the town of Washington, again known under the name of Washington Senators. The team played one year in Griffith Stadium before entry in their new enclosure.

The stage is inaugurated on October 1st 1961 with a defeat 24 to 21 of the Redskins of Washington against the Giants of New York in front of 36.000 spectators. It was built at a cost of $24 million USD and was conceived by George A. Dahl (Dallas), Osborn Engineering (Cleveland) and Ewin Engineering Associates (Washington DC). The building was called D.C. Stadium (District off Columbia Stadium) and Senators played their match at the stage the April 9th 1962. The D.C. Stadium became the first " Cookie cutter stadium" (stage multi-surface which can accommodate several sports: Baseball, American football…). It summer retitré RFK Stadium (Robert Francis Kennedy) the January 18th 1969, shortly after the death of this one. The Base-ball was played only nine years with the RFK Stadium, the last match take place the September 30th 1971. The Washington Senators moved with Arlington after the season 1971 and became the Rangers of Texas. Although the stage has a tenant in less after the season 1971, it was the residence of the Redskins of Washington (NFL) until in 1996. In 1997 the construction of a new modern stage for Redskins with Landover (Maryland) is finished, it is the Fedex Field. The Redskins of Washington played their last match with the RFK Stadium the December 22nd 1996 with a victory over the Cowboys of Dallas (score 37 to 10).

After a 33 years absence, the Major League Baseball returned with the RFK Stadium the April 14th 2005. Before 2005, years ago of maintenance and debate so that a team is relocated in the city. To 1995 with 2004 the Expos of Montreal endeavoured to attract the most fans with the Olympic stadium of Montreal and had many financial problems. In 2001, MLB started to study the idea to replace Expos, finally making a decision to move the team Washington the September 29th 2004. In November 2004, Expos are famous Nationals of Washington. So accommodating the new team in the city, the stage was renovated and improved at an approximate cost of $18,5 million. The installation of a new display board, a platform of press, and the transforamation of the places of the lower platform in retractable seats to allow the change of configuration so that D.C. United (MLS) continues to play at stage. The current configuration of Base-ball to the RFK Stadium is almost identical to that of the years 1970. The large lower platform, being composed of three sections of seats oranges. A small section of white seats surrounds the ground below the higher platform. The higher platform surrounds the whole ground. The principal video display board is suspended on the roof above the seats of the higher platform in the right field. A reconfiguration of the stage is necessary (at a cost of $40.000 each time) in order to convert the ground of a configuration Football into Base-ball and opposite. In 2005, conversion was made 20 times. The RFK Stadium is the 4th oldest stage of the Major League Baseball still in activity, three older are: Wrigley Field, Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium. Partly because of its age and its vetustity, " Nats" (Nationals) plans to move in a new more modern stage from here 2008. The last match of the Nationals of Washington to the RFK Stadium is planned for the September 23rd 2007 against the Phillies of Philadelphia.

New stage

In 2008, the Nationals of Washington will play in a new enclosure of $611 million USD located along the Anacostia which will name the Nationals Ballpark. Work of this last began the May 4th 2006 and it will be able to accommodate 41.222 spectators with 66 continuations of luxury.

Tenants

Currently

Soccer

D.C. United (1996 -)

Baseball

Nationals of Washington (2005 -)

Old

American football

Redskins of Washington (NFL) (1961 - 1996)
Washington Federals (USFL) (1983 - 1984)

Baseball

Washington Senators (1962 - 1971)

Soccer

Washington Freedom (WUSA) (2001 - 2003)
Washington Diplomats (NASL) (1974 - 1981), (1991).
Washington Darts (1971)
TEAM America (NASL), (1983)
Washington Whips (E. - U.) (1968)

Restaurants

The RFK Stadium includes/understands several restaurants:

Forescore Grill
The Diamond Club
Burrito Brothers
Dominic' S off New York
Stars and Stripes Brew
Red, Hot and Blue Barbecue (Red, Hot & Blue BBQ)

Race of the Presidents

During each match of Nationals, the RFK Stadium accommodates a race with mascots which represent old Presidents the United States. Promotion began in 2005 like animation on the video display board. But to leave 2006 the race took place on the ground with four mascots which are the caricatures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. Most probably, this is inspired by Sausage Race of the Milwaukee Brewers or Pierogie Races of Pittsburgh.

Events

1e Match of stars of the major League of baseball 1962, July 10th, 1962
Match of stars of the major League of baseball 1969, July 23rd, 1969
5 matches of the Football world cup of 1994 female
6 matches of the Football world cup 2003
Cut of the champions of the CONCACAF, 1998
MLS Cup, October 26th, 1997
MLS Cup, October 15th, 2000
MLS Cup, November 18th, 2007
Major League Soccer AlStar Range, 2002 and 2004
Final of the Cut of the United States of football, October 30th, 1996
Soccer Bowl, September 21st, 1980
concert Grateful Dead, June 10th, 1973
HFStival (festival of rock'n'roll), 1993 to 1999 and 2001 to 2004

Dimensions

Left Field (left Field): 335 feet (102 meters)
Left-Center: 380 ft (116 m)
Center Field (central Field): 410 ft (125 m)
Right-Center: 380 ft (116 m)
Right Field (right Field): 335 ft (102 m)
Backstop: 54 ft (16.5 m)

Gallery

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