D.C. United home opener

So I just got home from the home opener of the season for D.C. United. We played Toronto FC and beat them 4-1 (could have been worse for Toronto). We scored 2 goals in the first 5 minutes.

Well, I took some pictures while I was there.

Championship banners. D.C. United is the most successful club in MLS history.






I got there an hour before kickoff so I could snap some good pictures and the teams warming up. This is the view from my season tickets.







National Anthems from both Canada and US, and starting lineup announcements and such.



Before opening kickoff (D.C. United in black, Toronto FC in red).




Opening kickoff.. D.C. United start it up.



Restart after D.C. United score in the 2nd minute of the game (goal by Emilio). Sorry that this picture is blurry, but the bleachers/stands bounce up and down while everyone is standing and jumping. The guys waving the flags are Barra Brava, the main supporters group of D.C. United. CLICK HERE for a quick video of Barra Brava at a D.C. United game. There's a good view of the bleachers bouncing in this video.

Nice one, mate.

Is Fred (Brazilian) still with you guys and did he start if he is?

Yes he is. He's freeking brilliant. Was the MOTM for me today. I was scared he was going to start on the bench again to rest him for the second leg Champions Cup match against Pachuca on Wednesday. But thank god he started.

Are you guys getting a 'soccer specific' stadium?

Actually where they play now in JFK stadium they are the only team that still plays there. So i guess thats Soccer Specific?

The club has been trying for years. It's come down to a point, where D.C. United ownership is fighting with D.C. for space to build the stadium. There's a perfect area to build the stadium which is near the new Nationals Park, but city officials are being a-holes about it. It's basically a swamp area that D.C. United want to fix up and build the stadium as well as retail stores and a hotel. But right now it's not happening. Due to that D.C. United owners are looking else ware for the new stadium. Right now, the most likely of areas will be in Maryland, possibly in the same area as Fed-Ex field for the Redskins. The other option is out in Loudon VA where they used to have their practice facilities. But due to lack of public transportation to that area, it's highly unlikely.

CLICK HERE for a list of currently proposed and/or being built stadiums for the MLS.

I hope DC can get one. A couple of things that make the MLS appear to be third class is seeing a game where the stadium appears to have only 200 people in it (which we know is no the case), only because it's a some giant football stadium. This reminds me of when I had my season tickets and was watching the NASL.
The second thing is playing on turf fields, especially those still lined for football.

Like I said, I hope DC gets a stadium, and if not, moves so they can get one.....

I really want them to get their own stadium as well. We usually average around 20-25k a game, but RFK holds 50k+ or somewhere around that. The upper deck is usually completely empty while the lower deck is packed.

The good thing this year is that the Nationals are out in their own stadium, so now RFK belongs to D.C. United, and the pitch will be nice all season. No more crappy patch-up work from the baseball diamond.

2007 average attendances for each franchise:

Here are the team by team averages:

1- LA Galaxy 24,252
2- DC United 20,967
3- Toronto FC 20,130
4- NE Revs 16,787
5- NY Red Bulls 16,537
6- Chicago 16,490
7- Real Salt Lake 15,960
8- Houston 15,883
9- Columbus 15,230
10-FC Dallas 15,150
11-Colorado 14,749
12-Chivas USA 14,305
13-Kansas City 11,586

Of Note: 7 teams have Soccer Specific Stadiums, 4 have NFL (current or previous) Stadiums, and 2 have College Stadiums...........