We don't have a national soccer stadium, and as a result of our nation's size and decent variety, honestly we needn't bother with one. The beat of the game, performed at the most elevated amounts, resounds crosswise over time zones, from the South Ward at Red Bull Arena to The Cauldron in Kansas City and to the crazy houses in the Pacific Northwest.
To assign one plot of emerald-green grass and tight white lines for our greatest matches minimizes whatever remains of a rich soccer country.
American soccer, in any case, has had an informal home for a considerable length of time — and we didn't have to arrange each national group match and MLS Cup there to demonstrate it.
Washington's RFK Stadium wasn't worked for soccer; it opened in 1961 as D.C. Stadium for baseball, football and shows. In any case, finished the previous 30 or more years, through various groups and imparted seasons to other nearby ace outfits, through D.C. Joined's last home amusement on Sunday before moving to another stadium next season, soccer flourished on East Capitol Street.
In that time, RFK picked up a persona. It originated from life span and amount as well as the way that, in spite of physical blemishes obtained late in life, RFK had a pulse, a spirit. It inhales (and burps).
The encased outline held sound, transforming the volume of 20,000 into the fierceness of 80,000. The east-side stands skiped under the weight and enthusiasm of the Screaming Eagles, Barra Brava and District Ultras. What number of different stadiums can influence such to a claim?
Exploring the solid slopes, strolling through the claustrophobic concourse and intersection the catwalks into the upper spans was an adventure into yesteryear.
"The spirit is genuine," said D.C. Joined's Ben Olsen, who played at RFK for a long time and has instructed there for eight, totaling a large portion of his life. "This building still has more character than wherever in the nation. There's an inclination here around evening time that is unique. I don't know whether it's the lights. There's only an alternate atmosphere — the shading, the shine, the vibe is not the same as the majority of the new stops."
That air lit up the most-prized rivalries. RFK is the main U.S. office to have facilitated the greater part of the accompanying: NASL's Soccer Bowl (1980), the World Cup (1994), an Olympic gathering stage (1996), the MLS Cup (three times) and the Women's World Cup (2003).
The U.S. men's national group played at RFK more than some other setting. The Rose Bowl is the main other stadium in its unique frame with a practically identical soccer portfolio.
What's more, RFK was at MLS's administration when U.S. soccer required stadiums to dispatch another group in 1996. Toward the finish of its 22nd battle, United will play its 347th and last standard season coordinate there Sunday against the loathed New York Red Bulls. (In the vicinity of 1961 and 1996, the group best known for occupying the office, the NFL's Redskins, shown up.)
Next summer, United is booked to initiate Audi Field. RFK will stay open for business. Joined isn't totally finished with RFK, however. Until the point that the club fabricates a preparation office, it will keep rehearsing on the external fields and renting the locker rooms and storm cellar space. Just the front office will for all time move into the new burrows next spring.
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