Audi takes a shot and scores big. The company has announced in a press release that it has secured the naming rights for D.C. United’s new stadium in Washington, D.C.
The venue, named Audi Field, is set to open in 2018 in the Buzzard Point neighborhood of southwestern D.C. This 20,000-seat stadium aims to host not only soccer games but also concerts and other events requiring seating for a large audience.
Reports suggest that Audi may have made a significant investment for these rights. According to a source cited by Bloomberg, the contract for the new stadium is one of the three most expensive naming-rights agreements in Major League Soccer (MLS), comparable to the $6.6 million per year that the Banc of California pays for the naming rights to the LA Galaxy’s stadium.
Audi has a longstanding relationship with soccer, often regarded internationally as “football.” The company has been the official automotive sponsor of MLS since 2015 and has also sponsored the professional German soccer team FC Bayern München since 2002.
D.C. United, one of the 10 original franchises in MLS, was established in 1996 and ranks as the second most successful team in league history, boasting four championships. The only team with more titles is the LA Galaxy.
Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, approximately 25 miles from RFK Stadium—D.C. United’s current shared home with the Washington Nationals—Audi is part of the Volkswagen Group’s U.S. operations.
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