Politicians, athletes, and sports team executives attended the farewell event.

Aja Drain / DCist/WAMU

As a part of their “Farewell RFK Stadium” campaign, on Thursday Events DC held a gathering inside the stadium so well-wishers could say a final good-bye. There was everything from teary remembrances to comical stories as athletes, sports team owners, and politicians gathered to share their fondest memories of RFK, and also what’s in store for the future of the site.

RFK has been home to the Washington Freedom, the Washington Senators, and the Washington Commanders – with their former name.

Speakers highlighted the richness of the 61-year old stadium’s history.

Vice President for Community Affairs of the Washington Nationals Gregory McCarthy shared a story about the time RFK hosted the All-Star game. He was in the first grade, and his father was unable to take off work to take him. McCarthy had a rather unique person step in and save the day.

“I’m probably the only person here today who was escorted to an All-Star Game by a nun,” McCarthy said. “And incidentally, the roster for the All-Star Game included some players you may have heard about: Hank Aaron, Willie McCovey, Ron Santo and Johnny Bench…Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson, Frank Robinson and the Senators’ own Frank Howard.”

Also noted – some of the phenomenal musical artists who came through the stadium to perform. The list was long and included Mariah Carey, the Backstreet Boys, the Goo Goo Dolls, Aerosmith, and even Michael Jackson

“I remember coming here a lot, seeing football games with Doug Williams. Seeing the Grateful Dead,” D.C. Board Chairman Max Brown said. “Those memories are maybe not as forward in my head as some of the others, but this is an important place…this is bittersweet.”

After a polite reminder from Events DC representatives, Deputy Mayor John Falcicchio reminded attendees that Washingtonians can bring home a piece of history with stadium seats being sold Dec. 16-18 online. Portions of the sales will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club and St. Coletta of Greater Washington.

Orange stadium seats from RFK stadium with white hard hats and scarves on them.
Washingtonians can purchase stadium seats online starting next weekend. Aja Drain / DCist/WAMU

The future of the soon-to-be open land is unclear. Mayor Bowser says they still need to obtain control of the space from Congress in order to build anything new for the District. 

“We know the District having control of the land will allow us to think big about it,” Bowser said. “Recreational uses, a local sports center that D.C. residents will be able to have indoor swimming and track and field and the like to add to the fields that are already here. Housing, jobs, connections to the river and professional sports.”

And in regards to a new stadium, Bowser says D.C. taxpayers want the sports team potentially using it to pay for the construction of the new stadium. She says public money could be used to secure the site, prepare the site, and invest in local infrastructure, similar to Audi Stadium, and that economic activity could offset the cost of demolishing RFK.

But to get there it requires dreaming big, Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto shared in the great (but butchered) words of Robert F. Kennedy. “His point was that we have to dream big to achieve greatness, and if we don’t dare then we’re going to fail. Something like that, that he said much more eloquently.”

Events DC is partnered with the Parks Service with the demolition project ongoing. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

Filed Under: future of rfk, new stadium, RFK, Washington Commanders,