The 53-year-old stadium in Washington brought fear and media attention as chunks of concrete fell right in front of the press section during football game. Renovate or demolish? Support for the second option is growing.

RFK Stadium is a famous one for baseball fans in the US. Less so for DC United football supporters, but over the years of playing here many of them developed sympathy for the oversized home.

Now it may be time to part as the state of this structure is questioned. On Wednesday, during Copa Centroamericana game between Guatemala and El Salvador, a couple large pieces of concrete fell from the ceiling of the press section overhang and landed right in front of reporters. No-one was hurt, but doubts over the stadium’s lifespan are raised. One look up and spectators saw this, a clear sign that something needs to be done:

Photo: washingtonpost.com

This isn’t the first case of this kind, too. As long as 15 years ago a local reporter saw large pieces of concrete fall onto empty seats during gameplay. Over the last two years Washington spent $10 million on repairs, but the result is insufficient to say the least.

Councilman Jack Evans suggests sports at the site can only be played at a brand new stadium. “The cost of doing anything to RFK Stadium is way more expensive than tearing it down and building a new stadium,” Evans said.

Evans is a big supporter of the new DC United stadium at Buzzard Point, which seems to be the first realistic relocation option for the football club. If United leave RFK, the stadium will be left with no major tenant and the sense of its existence in current shape will be gone.

Photo: Stadiontour.at

Photo: Stadiontour.at