What's Next for RFK Stadium?
This rendering shows one proposed plan for the RFK Stadium-Armory campus
Our Community Now 11/30/17
D.C. United played its final game at RFK Memorial Stadium. This leaves the venue without a tenant for the first time in its history.
Events D.C. is working on a plan to improve the site. The city's conventions and sports authority is looking for development partners for two planned projects at RFK Memorial Stadium.
The Washington Convention Center and others around the city are drafting requests for proposals from developers for a proposed market hall and a sports and recreation complex. The goal is to have those RFPs ready for release by the end of the year. Selections of development partners are to be made by January.
Both the market hall and the sports and recreation complex are mid-term projects that are part of a larger redevelopment plan for the RFK campus. The short-term plan is to install new community soccer fields at the site. Events D.C.'s CEO Greg O'Dell says construction on those would start sometime in the spring or summer of 2018.
There are three long-term scenarios for the RFK campus: a 20,000-seat indoor basketball and hockey arena, a new NFL football stadium, or moving forward without a large venue anchor and instead pursuing development of more sports and recreation uses.
[caption id="attachment_5678" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Greg O'Dell, president and C.E.O. of Events DC, entertained the BizBash Hall of Fame inductees, including Carolyn Peachey.[/caption]
The potential market hall concept is visualized as a multifaceted food and beverage outlet. The goal is to have a mix of prepared foods, specialty foods, and seating for eating grab-and-go foods.
The sports and recreation complex is envisioned to be approximately 350,000 square feet and would include indoor and outdoor facilities, soccer fields, a tennis court, basketball courts, and space for other recreational activities, O'Dell said. He testified to the fact before the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources. D.C.'s lease of the federal property where RFK is located was in place for 50 years. The current lease has 21 years left on its term.
What do you think about the RFK Stadium space? What do you suggest they do with it? Share your ideas in the comments below!
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