It’s no secret that D.C. United is at a serious disadvantage when it comes to ticket sales these days. Stuck at venerable old RFK Stadium for the near future, United has seen its crowds dwindle as fans seek out other events in venues not inhabited by a variety of local wildlife and places that aren’t physically falling apart. It’s a problem that will likely go away when D.C. moves into their new digs at Buzzard Point, slated to open in 2018.
Full credit to United, then, for thinking outside the box when it comes to getting people out to their matches in the meantime. Last year the club hosted a Tinder-themed evening, and who could forget this year’s Star Wars night, complete with costumed, light-saber wielding, fully-grown adults dueling on the pitch at halftime, something which led to one of Deadspin’s better headlines.
United’s latest effort is an informal partnership with Major League Quidditch, which is an actual thing. Quidditch, of course, is a game plucked from the Harry Potter universe, and MLQ strives to present the sport in an “elegant, highly-consumable form that mirrors other sports’ top leagues,” according to their official site. The rules are adapted from J.K. Rowling’s works, and aside from a few minor differences (the players don’t fly, but they do run around with broomsticks between their legs, obviously) it seems like a pretty authentic experience. The league has all the hallmarks of any pro organization: a fantasy game, sponsors, a draft, and even its own sexual assault allegations.
MLQ just finished up its Championship weekend—the Boston Night Riders took top honors this year—and a collection of MLQ members will be playing an exhibition match tomorrow at 1PM at D.C. United’s practice facility, in the shadow of RFK itself. Onlookers are welcome: MLQ members can purchase a ticket to the event here, which includes a ticket to the United match later in the evening, and a pre-game tailgate.
While the partnership isn’t set in stone, a United rep says they’re open to exploring a future relationship with MLQ. Who knows? Maybe we’ll see soccer balls permanently replaced by quaffles, bludgers, and the Golden Snitch.
