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Washington, D.C. (12/06/2022) – The Washington Spirit will begin playing all home games at Audi Field in 2023, the club announced today. The District’s Navy Yard will now be the exclusive home of the Spirit after the club reached a multiyear agreement with D.C. United.
The full-time shift to Audi Field is the latest marker of a new era for the club under majority owner Michele Kang’s leadership. On the field, the Spirit has recently hired top executives such as Mark Krikorian as President of Soccer Operations, Mark Parsons as Head Coach and Dawn Scott as the Senior Director of Performance, Medical and Innovation. Similar changes are occurring off the field with the Spirit naming Emma May as President of Business Operations in September.
“The opportunity to play all our home games at Audi Field shows the continued commitment Michele has made to making this club the best,” said Mark Krikorian. “The state-of-the-art Audi Field will allow our athletes to perform at the highest level and produce the best results possible. It is one of the best professional soccer stadiums in the country and it is where our club belongs. We are looking to dominate in the District.”
The club will also make investments to significantly enhance matchday fan experience at Audi. “We will have a dynamic product on the pitch and our in-stadium fan experience will be second to none. We are adding new benefits for season ticket members, more pre-match activities and elevated match presentations just to name a few,” said Emma May.
Since beginning play in 2013, the Spirit has played matches at various venues around the Washington area, including Segra Field in Leesburg and the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds. The Spirit played its first match at Audi Field in August 2018. In 2019, the club hosted two matches at Audi Field in the wake of the U.S. Women’s National Team’s second consecutive World Cup championship and set new club attendance records as both matches drew more than 17,000 fans. In 2021 and 2022, Washington began playing just more than half of its home matches at the venue.
Loudoun County remains an important location for the Spirit beyond serving as its part-time home for the last three years. The Spirit will continue to practice at the United Performance Center in Leesburg and will engage with its fans with special events and build on its established presence at community events throughout Northern Virginia. Spirit account representatives will contact Northern Virginia members to discuss the 2023 season at Audi Field.
“On behalf of all our players, staff and investors, I want to thank our fans who have steadfastly supported the club through highs and lows, especially those who came to Segra in the last three years. Moving all our games to Audi will allow us to build a truly Premier, Professional and Proudly DC women’s soccer team,” said Michele Kang. “I also would like to thank Jason Levien, Stephen Kaplan and the D.C. United leadership group led by Danita Johnson. The opportunity to invest in the team and our fans would not have been possible without their support.”
Starting today, current Spirit season ticket members and current D.C. United season tickets holders have the exclusive opportunity to purchase 2023 season tickets. On December 20, season tickets will go on sale to the public. New fans looking to purchase season ticket memberships can sign up for priority access here. Special holiday offers will be available for those who secure their season tickets memberships in December. Additional season ticket member information can be found here.
About The Washington Spirit
The Washington Spirit is the professional women’s soccer team based at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. Launched in 2012, the Spirit play in the National Women’s Soccer League, the premier women’s soccer competition in North America. For more information about the Spirit, visit www.WashingtonSpirit.com, follow the club on Twitter @WashSpirit and on Facebook at facebook.com/washingtonspirit.
About Audi Field
Audi Field is a state-of-the-art soccer-specific venue home to the NWSL’s Washington Spirit and MLS’ D.C. United. Located in Washington, D.C.’s Buzzard Point, the stadium officially opened its doors on July 14, 2018. Audi Field provides an accessible, affordable and family friendly stadium for all and aims to serve the community with year-round cultural events and world-class experiences.