After nearly 20 years of deliberation, the DC Department of General Services and D.C. United delivered a new state-of-the-art home for the MLS team and an anchor to the ambitious Buzzard Point redevelopment.

A longtime partner of the DC Department of General Services, B&D represented the public owner in analyzing the market potential and economic benefit pertaining to the development of a new multi-use stadium. Of utmost importance to the District was the revitalization of the Buzzard Point neighborhood in SW DC, an aging industrial area at the confluence of the Potomac and Anacostia rivers.

The analysis revealed that the construction of the stadium would introduce over $92M in economic activity, add $57M in wages, and support 1,107 full-time equivalent jobs in DC. On an annual basis, the project was expected to introduce over $51M in total economic activity, support over $16M in payroll, and support 452 full-time equivalent jobs.

With these analyses in hand, B&D helped the District make informed decisions during the negotiation of a development agreement with MLS’s D.C. United and continued to provide infrastructure program management services for the new stadium, ensuring the District fulfilled its obligations set forth in the development agreement.

After a 17-month construction period, Audi Field opened in summer 2018 as the newest soccer-specific MLS stadium. The stadium is already serving as a catalyst for the neighborhood, with developers moving ahead on retail and housing projects in the area.