Plans mooted in Washington D.C. for Audi Field expansion

Image: Audi Field, Matt Garrity, CC BY-SA 2.0

Washington D.C. Council has unveiled a new proposal for a $620 million Audi Field expansion project.

Fox5 said the proposed legislation calls for adding a new roof and 8,000 additional seats to the stadium, which would bring its total capacity to 28,000 fans. It also calls for introducing an all-weather canopy.

Under the Audi Field expansion project plan, a $300 million municipal contribution combined with a $320 million investment from the soccer franchise would pay for the venue’s modernization.

Audi Field is a soccer-specific stadium in the Buzzard Point neighborhood of Washington, D.C. It is the home of D.C. United of Major League Soccer, NWSL team Washington Spirit, DC Power FC and the DC Defenders football team.

Supporters say the aim of the project is to transform the stadium into a year-round, climate-controlled sports and concert venue capable of hosting 100 more events annually.

The bill also enables D.C. United to construct 467 new housing units, which would include affordable and senior housing.

D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said, “They want to increase the size of the stadium, not hugely, and to pay for that and some other upgrades, the city would front them the money.”

D.C. Council plans to hold a hearing in October on the prospective public-private partnership.

Mendelson said that the hearing in late October will delve more closely into the MLS franchise’s needs and to determine the best path forward and how feasible the Audi Field expansion project would be.

Mendelson introduced the Soccer Stadium Redevelopment and Maintenance Act of 2026 in July with the aim of helping the team overcome challenges lining up financing to expand the 20,000-seat venue.

The proposal follows several other significant sports investments by D.C. lawmakers, who have already committed $1.1 billion to a new Commanders stadium, $515 million to purchase and renovate Capital One Arena and $350 million for improvements at Nationals Park.

Some council members are withholding judgment on the proposed project until they review the specifics.

“I haven’t seen the legislation, so I look forward to seeing it. It’s intriguing, but I’m not ready to take a position on it,” Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen told Fox 5.

While residents expressed excitement over keeping major events centrally located within the District, some voiced concerns regarding public expenditure.

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