D.C. United are finally getting a home to call their own.
After many years of negotiating, the D.C. city council voted unanimously to approve the development of a soccer-specific stadium for D.C. United in the Buzzard Point section of Washington. The stadium, once open, will be the 17th soccer-specific stadium in MLS.
Many observers have noted that the building of stadiums, beginning with the opening of Columbus Crew Stadium in 1999, was one of the major catalysts for the eventual growth of MLS. Only three clubs
Here is a timeline of MLS soccer-specific stadium openings:
Columbus Crew Stadium
(Columbus Crew). First MLS game: May 15, 1999
StubHub Center (LA Galaxy). First MLS game: June 1, 2003
Toyota Stadium (FC Dallas). First MLS game: August 6, 2005
Toyota Park (Chicago Fire). First MLS game: June 11, 2006
Dick's Sporting Goods Park (Colorado Rapids). First MLS game: April 7, 2007
Toronto FC (BMO Field). First MLS game: April 28, 2007
Rio Tinto Stadium
(Real Salt Lake). First MLS game: October 9, 2008
Red Bull Arena (New York Red Bulls). First MLS game: March 27, 2010
PPL Park (Philadelphia Union). First MLS game: June 27, 2010
Sporting Park (Sporting Kansas City). First MLS game: June 9, 2011
Providence Park (Portland Timbers). First MLS game: April 14, 2011 (originally opened October 9, 1926; renovated in 2010/11)
BC Place (Vancouver Whitecaps). First MLS game: October 2, 2011 (originally opened June 19, 1983; renovated in 2011)
BBVA Compass Stadium
(Houston Dynamo). First MLS game: May 12, 2012
Stade Saputo (Montreal Impact). First MLS game: June 16, 2012 (originally opened May 18, 2008; renovated and expanded in 2012)
Avaya Stadium (San Jose Earthquakes). Coming 2015
Orlando City Stadium (Orlando City SC). Coming 2016
D.C. United Stadium (D.C. United). Targeted date: 2017
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Below is a map of the current soccer-specific stadiums in MLS:
Current Soccer-Specific Stadiums in MLS
