Waterfront stadium opens to great fanfare
A rocking band, the Silver Liners, dignitaries including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Mayor Vincent Gray, and a near capacity crowd welcomed World Team Tennis’ Washington Kastles to their facility Tuesday night on the Southwest Waterfront.
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Situated in the midst of two seafood houses, Maine Street and the Washington Marina, Kastles Stadium at the Wharf manages to blend with the aging neighborhood, rising no taller than the surrounding restaurants.
It’s already a hit with the players.
“It’s fantastic. I can’t think of any other stadiums on the water,” Venus Williams said. “I love that this is our first year here. Now it feels like we have a real home. I’m hoping my tennis today will match up with the location.”
Williams’ play did just that as she helped Washington to a 21-18 overtime victory over the Kansas City Explorers, including the contest-winning volley in women’s doubles. In mixed doubles, she combined with Leander Paes for a 5-3 win. In the key game, the lone break of the match, Williams handcuffed Christina McHale with an accurate return of serve. Later she intercepted a volley at the net, smashing it through her befuddled foes.
Two matches later in women’s singles, McHale got revenge with a 5-4 victory on a tiebreaker. Williams rallied from a 3-1 deficit, squaring the match at 4-4 before handing away the decisive point with a return that whistled past the baseline.
Owner Mark Ein welcomed the crowd before the match.
“We start this new chapter in Kastles history with a great, memorable night tonight,” Ein said. “We expect to follow with an incredible season and win our second World TeamTennis title in three years in Washington, D.C.”
The new stadium was a hit with the enthusiastic crowd. Many fans said they were happy to avoid downtown traffic and the search for parking. The old temporary stadium was erected on New York Avenue the last three summers in a parking lot on the former site of the Washington Convention Center.
“I believe this is a perfect location — good scenery from the water and the docks, away from the congestion,” said Cedric Carter of the District. “Being on the water, it’s just serene.”
The permanent facility is a lob shot from the George Washington Parkway and the 14th Street and Frederick Douglass Memorial bridges.
Fans can grab a plate and a drink and sit at umbrella tables, which overlook house boats and sail boats docked in the marina. Across the Washington Channel is East Potomac Park.
“I really like the new setup. It brings a lot of people to a part of town that they’re not as familiar with,” said Jack Costello of the District. “It offers great sights and great fun.”
In men’s singles, Bobby Reynolds gave Washington a commanding lead in the third match of the night, routing Kansas City’s Alex Kuznetsov 5-1.
