For the first time since the 2007 season, D.C. United has a substantial lease in place at RFK Stadium.
In an agreement with Events DC announced on Thursday, United committed to a two-year term, replacing the game-by-game lease that had been in place since 2008.
As part of the agreement, a number of changes will take place that will help to improve the experience at RFK and the revenue opportunities for D.C. United, which intends to now turn its full attention toward securing a long-term stadium of its own. The rhetoric and relationship between the team and the District has improved of late, but any plans and discussions of a new stadium won’t progress further until there are plans in place to pay for such a stadium, almost certainly requiring additional investors in D.C. United.
As for the lease plan, it appears to take into account some ideas from other venues. First, the team is going to limit capacity to 19,647, which means it’s cutting off availability to the upper deck, which it hopes to cover and use as advertising space, a la CenturyLink Field in Seattle.
By setting a cap on available tickets, United hopes to drive demand rather than the perpetual feeling that tickets are always available.
The is also going to try and brand the field, similar to Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium in College Park.
To help with planned renovations within the stadium itself, including improved concourse lighting and renovated restrooms, a $2.25 maintenance fee is being added to each ticket.
“D.C. United is a valued member of the local sports landscape and community, and we are excited the team will continue playing its home games in the nation’s capital,” said Events DC President and CEO Gregory A. O’Dell in a statement. “RFK Stadium has been home to many special memories for the team, and we look forward to many more.”
As for United president and CEO Kevin Payne: “We appreciate the spirit of our relationship with Events DC, which is reflected in this new agreement and the improved economics to be enjoyed by D.C. United. We worked hard with Greg and Bill Hall, who chairs the sports committee of the Events DC Board, and arrived at an agreement which is fair to both parties. We now look forward to engaging in more detailed discussions with the District about a long-term stadium solution for D.C. United.”
