Rendering by Populous

Audi Field, the new home of D.C. United. (Rendering by Populous)


The prospect of attending games at D.C United’s upcoming new home field just got a whole lot tastier. Chef José Andrés—one of D.C. best culinary minds and soccer fanatic—has signed on to provide inspiration and guidance for all the food and beverage experiences at Audi Field when it opens in 2018.

The 20,000-seat facility will open in Southwest D.C. as the exclusive home of D.C. United, replacing the aging RFK stadium. And now it will have food to match the rest of its glitz, which includes 31 luxury boxes.

Andrés has a 10-year partnership with Levy restaurants, a company specializing in sports venue concessions. D.C. United President Tom Hunt said in an announcement that the team is determined to integrate D.C. culture into the game experience. And if anyone knows D.C. food, it’s Andrés.

“Soccer and food are two things that are very close to my heart,” Andrés said in an announcement. “With Audi Field, together we can reimagine what it means to have a dining experience when you are watching a soccer match. Who says you cannot continue to feed your love of sport and good food at the same time?!”

This will not be the first time Andrés has dipped his toes into sports food. He currently has a rotating “test kitchen” stand at the Verizon Center. There are no details on the Audi Field menu items yet, but you can bet it will be far beyond lukewarm chicken fingers and soggy french fries.