Southwest, previously avoided by tourists and DC residents, has, in the last two decades, emerged as a popular spot for both, drawing 11 million visitors annually. These two premier attractions promise to augment that number substantially by delighting their respective fans.
DC United Stadium
The new DC United Stadium, scheduled to host its first match in 2018, will be a $300M, state-of-the-art facility in the Buzzard Point section of Southwest. With capacity for 20,000 spectators, the 14-acre site will relieve the dated RFK Stadium, where the team is playing its 22nd season and its last before it moves. A 65K SF public plaza will be a congregating point for fans and a hub of activity with food stalls, merchandise for sale and live music.
Proponents of the public-private partnership anticipate the field’s arrival will precipitate a tremendous amount of new development around the site in DC’s two southern quadrants.
The stadium has already created 900 jobs, some temporary construction ones and others permanent, those associated with running the venue. The February groundbreaking ceremony served to increase excitement among soccer fans and local residents. Audi purchased the right to brand the stadium Audi Field for a minimum of 12 years.
The Anthem
The new $60M concert venue The Anthem, in the works for half a decade, will open on Oct. 12. It has a flexible capacity, accommodating 2,500 to 6,000 guests. Bethesda-based I.M.P. Productions, the 9:30 Club’s parent company, is spearheading the project.
PN Hoffman CEO Monty Hoffman partnered with 9:30 Club co-owner Seth Hurwitz to bring the venue to fruition.
"Monty’s a real visionary," Hurwitz told Bisnow in October. "It's just a different conversation with him than other developers."
Hurwitz had searched for years for the perfect location for the venue, and The Wharf, positioned to become a mixed-use Millennial stronghold with its ample shops and restaurants, proved perfect.
