Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
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Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, better known as RFK Stadium or RFK, is a professional sports stadium in the United States. Opened in October 1961 as District of Columbia Stadium (D.C. Stadium for short), RFK was the home of the NFL's Washington Redskins for 36 seasons, from 1961 through 1996. The Redskins moved to FedExField in suburban Maryland for the 1997 season. RFK Stadium also served as the home to the expansion Washington Senators of the American League from 1962 through 1971. For the 1972 season, the Senators moved to Arlington, Texas and were renamed the Texas Rangers. The Montreal Expos relocated to Washington as the Washington Nationals and played at RFK from 2005 to 2007. RFK has served as the home of Major League Soccer's D.C. United since 1996. Concerts featuring renowned rock bands and performers also take place at the stadium. It has hosted soccer matches in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, 1996 Summer Olympics, and 2003 Women's World Cup.
The stadium was renamed in January 1969 for U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in Los Angeles the previous June. As Attorney General, Kennedy's Justice Department played a role in the racial integration of the Redskins. Along with Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall, Kennedy threatened to revoke the team's lease at the federally-owned stadium until it promised to sign African American players.
A complex conversion is necessary, at a cost of $40,000 per switch, to convert the stadium from a soccer/football configuration to baseball and back again. This includes rolling the 3rd-base lower-level seats into the outfield along a buried rail, dropping the hydraulic pitcher's mound 3 feet into the ground, and laying sod over the infield dirt. RFK was the first major stadium designed specifically as a multisport facility for both football and baseball. Subsequent facilities were adjusted for this problem so the seating configuration could be changed much more quickly and at a lower cost. In 2005, the conversion was made more than 20 times.
During the Nationals' tenure at the stadium, it was the fourth-oldest active stadium in Major League Baseball behind Fenway Park, Wrigley Field and Yankee Stadium.
[edit] History
RFK Stadium was home for 36 seasons to the Redskins, whose return to prominence as a football power began the same year (1960) the baseball Senators left the city. The Redskins' first game in D.C. Stadium was a 24-21 loss to the New York Giants on October 1, 1961. The team's first win in the stadium was over its future archrival, the Dallas Cowboys on December 17, 1961. This was the only win in a 1-12-1 season, and it came on the final weekend of the regular season. The Redskins' last win at RFK was a 37-10 victory over the Cowboys on December 22, 1996.
The stadium's design was nearly circular, attempting to facilitate both football and baseball, the so-called "cookie-cutter" approach also used by (Philadelphia, New York, Houston, Atlanta, St. Louis, San Diego, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh). The design was not ideal for either sport. As the playing field dimensions for football and baseball vary greatly, seating had to accommodate the larger playing surface. In the case of RFK Stadium, this resulted in the first ten rows of the football configuration being at field level, making it difficult to see over the players. As a baseball park, RFK was a particular target of scorn from baseball purists, largely because it has no lower-deck seats in the outfield. The only outfield seats are in the upper deck, above a high wall.
The stadium was the first to use the design where blocks of seats along the baseball baselines are rolled around to flank the sidelines for football. But at RFK only the seats along the third-base line were rotated. The first-base seats are permanent. In some of the other facilities listed above, both sets of seats rotated.
During the years when the stadium was used only for Redskins games, the rotating seats remained in the football configuration. If a baseball game was scheduled, the left-field line was only 250 feet from home plate, and for some exhibition baseball games, a large screen was erected.
Some of RFK's quirks endeared the venue to fans and players. The large rolling bleacher section was always less stable than other seating, allowing fans to jump in rhythm and cause the whole area to bounce. Also, because of the stadium's design and the proximity of the fans to the football field, the stadium was extremely loud when the usual sell-out Redskins crowds became vocal. And legend has it that former Redskins coach George Allen would order a large rolling door opened in the side of the stadium when visiting teams were attempting field goals at critical moments in games so that a swirling wind from off the Potomac and Anacostia rivers would interfere with the flight of the kicked ball.
Since the stadium is on a direct sight line with the Washington Monument and the United States Capitol, light towers were not allowed; instead, arc lights were placed on its curved, dipping roof.
The stadium hosted its first baseball All-Star Game in its first season of 1962, which was attended by Robert Kennedy's brother, President John F. Kennedy (in whose administration Robert Kennedy served as Attorney General), and the 1969 All-Star Game, which was played in the daytime, after a rainout the night before. It turned out to be the final MLB All-Star Game played during the daytime hours.
Another memorable baseball moment occurred in a Cracker Jack Old Timers game in 1982, when 75 year-old Hall of Famer Luke Appling hit a home run. Although he had a .310 lifetime batting average, Appling only hit 45 home runs in 20 seasons. However, because the stadium had not been fully reconfigured, it was just 260 feet to the left-field foul pole, far shorter than normal.
In its tenure as the Senators' home field, RFK Stadium was known as a hitters' park. Slugger Frank Howard, a six-foot-seven-inch tall, 255-pound left fielder, hit a number of tape-measure home runs in his career, a few of which landed in the center field area of the upper deck. The seats Howard hit with his home runs are painted white, rather than the gold of the rest of the upper deck. Howard also hit the last home run in the park's original tenure, on September 30, 1971. With one out remaining in the game, a fan riot turned a 7-5 Senators lead over the New York Yankees into a 9-0 forfeit loss. However, in its tenure as the Nationals' home field, RFK has been known as a pitchers' park. While Howard hit at least 44 home runs for three straight seasons (1968-70), the 2005 Nationals had only one hitter with more than 15 home runs, Jose Guillen with 24.
With its revival as a major league baseball facility, RFK Stadium now displaces Dodger Stadium as the fourth-oldest major league ballpark, behind Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, and Yankee Stadium (which was significantly remodeled in 1974-75, re-opening in 1976). D.C. Stadium's first baseball game was the day before Dodger Stadium's first game, and it was opened for football the previous fall. The final baseball game at RFK Stadium was September 23, 2007 when the Nationals defeated the Philadelphia Phillies by a score of 5-3.
From 1993-1999 and 2001-2004, former rock radio station WHFS held its annual HFStival rock concert at RFK Stadium.
[edit] Memorable games and moments at RFK Stadium
- After trailing the Cowboys 24-6 halfway through the third quarter on November 28, 1965 quarterback Sonny Jurgensen leads the Redskins to 21 fourth-quarter points and a 34-31 comeback victory.
- The Redskins beat the New York Giants 72-41 on November 27, 1966. The 113 combined points are the most ever scored in an NFL game.
- In the Washington Senators' final home game, on September 30, 1971, the Senators led the New York Yankees 7-5 with two outs left in the top of the ninth. Fans storm the field and tear up bases, grass patches, and anything else they can find for souvenirs. The Senators forfeit the game, 9-0.
- On December 31, 1972 the Redskins defeat the Cowboys 26-3 in the NFC Championship game to earn a trip to Super Bowl VII.
- On June 10, 1973 The Grateful Dead performed what was perhaps their most legendary concert before a sold out crowd. For the final set of the three set show they were joined by the Allman Brothers Band. The Band played an opening set. More than 100,000 Deadheads showed up for the concert.
- In a Monday Night Football game on October 8, 1973 Redskins safety Ken Houston stops Cowboys' receiver Walt Garrison at the goal line as time expired to secure a win.
- December 17, 1977 - the Redskins defeat the Los Angeles Rams 17-14 in what would be head coach George Allen's final game with the team.
- On September 21, 1980 in the 1980 Soccer Bowl the New York Cosmos defeated the Fort Lauderdale Strikers 3-0.
- October 25, 1981 - the Redskins narrowly beat the New England Patriots 24-22 to earn head coach Joe Gibbs his first win at RFK Stadium.
- January 22, 1983 - the stadium physically shakes as a capacity crowd of 54,000 chant "We Want Dallas" taunting the hated Cowboys in the NFC Championship game. The Redskins go on to defeat the Cowboys 31-17 to earn a trip to Super Bowl XVII where they beat the Miami Dolphins 27-17 to claim the franchise's first Super Bowl win.
- September 5, 1983 - Redskins' rookie cornerback Darrell Green chases down Cowboys' running back Tony Dorsett from behind to prevent him from scoring. The Redskins go on to lose the game 31-30.
- November 18, 1985 - Giants' linebacker Lawrence Taylor sacks Redskins' quarterback Joe Theismann severely breaking his leg and ending his NFL career. Backup quarterback Jay Schroeder comes in and leads the Redskins to a 23-21 victory.
- January 17, 1988 Cornerback Darrell Green knocks down a Wade Wilson pass at the goal line to clinch a victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship game. The Redskins go on to defeat the Denver Broncos 42-10 in Super Bowl XXII.
- January 4, 1992 - In a pouring rain, the Redskins beat the Atlanta Falcons 24-7 in the Divisional round of the playoffs. After a touchdown scored by Redskins fullback Gerald Riggs with 6:32 remaining in the fourth quarter, the fans shower the field with the free yellow seat cushions given to them when they entered the stadium.
- January 12, 1992 - the Redskins destroy the Detroit Lions 41-10 in the NFC Championship game earning a trip to Super Bowl XXVI where they beat the Buffalo Bills 37-24.
- December 13, 1992 - Redskins' head coach Joe Gibbs coaches what would be his last win at RFK Stadium. The Redskins defeat the Cowboys 20-17.
- May 22, 1993 - Riddick Bowe knocks out Jesse Ferguson in the second round to retain his WBA heavyweight title.
- July 2, 1994 – The 1994 FIFA World Cup concludes its play in RFK as Spain defeats Switzerland 3–0 in the Round of Sixteen. (RFK had earlier hosted four group-play games.)
- July 24, 1996 – Soccer at the 1996 Summer Olympics includes the final match for the US side, which needed a win against Portugal to advance out of group play, but tied 1 – 1. (Five other Olympic matches were played in RFK as part of the Atlanta Olympics.)
- October 30, 1996 - Ten days after winning the first Major League Soccer title, D.C. United defeats the Rochester Raging Rhinos 3-1 in the U.S. Open Cup final, achieving the first "double" in American soccer history.
- December 22, 1996 - The Redskins win their last game in the stadium, defeating their arch-rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, 37-10. In a halftime ceremony, several past Redskins greats were introduced, wearing replicas of the jerseys of their time. After the game, fans storm the field and rip up chunks of grass as souvenirs. In the parking lot, fans are seen walking away with the stadium's maroon and yellow seats.
- October 26, 1997 - D.C. United defeats the Colorado Rapids 2-1 to win their second consecutive MLS Cup.
- June 13, 1998 - The first day of the Tibetan Freedom Concert is cut short after several fans are struck by lightning during Herbie Hancock's set.
- August 16, 1998 - D.C. United defeats C.D. Toluca of Mexico 1-0 to win the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, becoming the first American team to do so and marking their first victory in an international tournament.
- October 15, 2000 - the Kansas City Wizards defeat the Chicago Fire 1-0 to win their first MLS Cup.
- April 14, 2001 - the Washington Freedom defeat the Bay Area CyberRays 1-0 in the inaugural match of the Women's United Soccer Association.
- October 21, 2001 a concert, United We Stand: What More Can I Give, is held as a memorial to the tragedy of September 11.
- August 3, 2002 - In the MLS All-Star Game, a team of MLS players defeat the U.S. Men's National Team 3-2. D.C. United midfielder Marco Etcheverry is named MVP.
- July 30, 2003 - Ronaldinho makes his debut for FC Barcelona against AC Milan in a pre-season tour of the United States. Ronaldinho had a goal and an assist as Barcelona defeated defending European champion AC Milan 2-0 in an exhibition game that drew 45,864 to RFK Stadium.[1][2]
- April 3, 2004 - Freddy Adu debuted with D.C. United at RFK with a sell-out soccer crowd of 24,603[3].
- November 6, 2004 - D.C. United win the Eastern Conference final by tying the New England Revolution 3-3 and advancing on penalty kicks in what is generally regarded as one of the greatest games in MLS history. They would go on to defeat the Kansas City Wizards 3-2 in the MLS Cup.
- April 14, 2005 - Washington Nationals defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3, before a crowd of 45,596, to win their first home opener in Washington, D.C. They go on to sweep the 4-game series.
- June 17, 2006 - The Washington Nationals overcome the deficit of seven runs against the New York Yankees and beat the Yankees by blowing Yankees closing pitcher Mariano Rivera's save in the bottom of the eighth inning with Alfonso Soriano's steals and Jose Guillen's triple and Ryan Zimmerman's single in front of a sellout crowd of 45,085 fans.[1]
- June 18, 2006 - The Washington Nationals defeat the New York Yankees on Ryan Zimmerman's walk-off home run off Yankees ace starter Chien Ming Wang in front of a sellout crowd of 45,157 fans. The Nationals win the three-game series against the Yankees. [2]
- September 16, 2006 - Washington Nationals' Alfonso Soriano steals second base in the first inning of the game against the Milwaukee Brewers to become the fourth player in the Major League Baseball history to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in a season. [3] (At the Shea Stadium in New York City six days later, Soriano becomes the first person ever to reach 40 home runs, 40 stolen bases, and 40 doubles in one season, making him the only member of the 40-40-40 club.[4])
- July 4, 2007 - Washington Nationals 1st baseman Dmitri Young hits a Grand Slam enroute to a 6-0 Nationals win over the Chicago Cubs before almost 40,000 fans.
- August 9, 2007 - David Beckham debuts for the MLS LA Galaxy, losing to home team DC United before a sellout crowd of 46,686 fans, the 4th largest to watch MLS at RFK Stadium.
- September 23, 2007 - Washington Nationals defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-3, in the final baseball game ever played at RFK Stadium. The win gives the Nationals a final record of 122-121 in three seasons at the stadium.
- November 18, 2007 - In MLS Cup 2007, the Houston Dynamo defeat the New England Revolution 2-1 to win their 2nd MLS Cup in as many years. The Revs lose their 4th MLS Cup in 4 tries, and 3rd consecutive.
[edit] Picture Gallery
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