Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium facts for kids
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, often called "RFK Stadium," is a famous sports and music venue in Washington, D.C. It was first known as "D.C. Stadium." In 1969, it was renamed to honor Robert F. Kennedy, a U.S. Senator. This stadium has been home to many exciting sports teams. Today, the D.C. United soccer team plays there. In the past, it hosted the Washington Redskins football team and the Washington Senators and Washington Nationals baseball teams.
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RFK
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RFK Stadium from the east in 1988,
looking towards the U.S. Capitol |
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| Former names | District of Columbia |
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| Address | 2400 East Capitol Street SE |
| Location | Washington, D.C. |
| Coordinates | 38°53′24″N 76°58′19″W / 38.890°N 76.972°W |
| Public transit |  Washington Metro   at Stadium–Armory Metrobus: 96, 97, B2, D6 |
| Owner | District of Columbia |
| Operator | Events DC |
| Capacity | Baseball: 43,500 (1961) 45,016 (1971) 45,596 (2005) Football or soccer: 56,692 (1961) 45,596 (2005–present) 20,000 (2012–2017, MLS) |
| 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) |
| Surface | TifGrand Bermuda grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | July 8, 1960 |
| Opened | October 1, 1961 (64 years ago) |
| Construction cost | $24 million ($235 million in 2022 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) Geo. Washington Colonials (NCAA) (1961–1966) Washington Senators (II) (MLB) (1962–1971) Howard Bison (NCAA) (1974–1976) Washington Whips (USA / NASL) (1967–1968) Washington Diplomats (NASL) (1974, 1977–1981);(ASL) (1988-1989);(APSL) (1990) Team America (NASL) (1983) Washington Federals (USFL) (1983–1984) D.C. United (MLS) (1996–2017) Washington Freedom (WUSA) (2001–2003) Washington Nationals (II) (MLB) (2005–2007) Military Bowl (NCAA) (2008–2012) |
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Contents
About RFK Stadium
RFK Stadium is a well-known multi-purpose stadium. It is located in Washington, D.C. The stadium was built to host many different events. It has seen countless sports games and concerts.
Building the Stadium
Construction on the stadium began on July 8, 1960. It officially opened its doors on October 1, 1961. The total cost to build it was about $24 million. This was a large amount of money back then. The stadium was designed by George Leighton Dahl.
Home to Many Teams
RFK Stadium has been home to many professional sports teams. It hosted the Washington Redskins football team for many years. Baseball fans watched the Washington Senators and later the Washington Nationals play there.
- Football: The Washington Redskins (NFL) played here from 1961 to 1996.
- Baseball: The Washington Senators (MLB) played from 1962 to 1971. The Washington Nationals (MLB) played from 2005 to 2007.
- Soccer: D.C. United (MLS) has been a major tenant since 1996. Other soccer teams like the Washington Whips and Washington Diplomats also played here.
A Place for Big Events
Beyond regular season games, RFK Stadium has hosted many important events. It has welcomed international soccer matches. It was a venue for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. It also hosted games for the 1996 Summer Olympics. The stadium has also been a popular spot for concerts. Many famous musicians have performed there over the years.
Getting There
The stadium is easy to reach using public transportation. You can take the Washington Metro. The Stadium-Armory station is very close. Several Metrobus routes also stop nearby.
Images for kids
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President Kennedy throws the first pitch of the 1962 baseball season at D.C. Stadium
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RFK Stadium during a D.C. United soccer match in March 2009
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D.C. Stadium in 1963, looking west
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Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington DC
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View east from the Washington Monument, with RFK Stadium in the background (behind the U.S. Capitol). FedExField is visible at the top left corner.
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South exterior in August 2017
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Satellite view of the stadium in pre-2005 soccer configuration; the darker red seats at the northwest end (north is up on this image) were not part of the subsequent setup
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A Washington Nationals game at RFK, June 2005
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D.C. United after their win in the 2004 MLS Eastern Conference finals
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Track map.
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