Gotham FC
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING. THIS EVENT PARTICIPATION RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY AGREEMENT (THIS "AGREEMENT") HAS LEGAL CONSEQUENCES AND WILL AFFECT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND ABILITY TO BRING FUTURE LEGAL ACTIONS. THIS AGREEMENT INCLUDES AN ARBITRATION PROVISION. IN CONSIDERATION for being permitted to participate in the Washington Spirit Spirit & Paws Day Experience ("Event") to be held on Sunday, September 13, 2026 at Audi Field ("Venue"), I, the undersigned custodial parent or legal guardian of the minor participant named below (the "Minor Participant"), on behalf of myself and the Minor Participant (hereinafter "I," "me," "my," or "Participant"), agree as follows: The Event is a themed gameday experience in which Participants are invited to bring a dog in their custody (“my dog”) into designated “Dog Zone” sections of the Venue before and during the Washington Spirit vs. Boston Legacy FC match. The Event involves the presence of other Participants, other dogs, Company and Venue staff, and normal matchday stadium activity, and does not involve the dog(s) entering the field of play.
1. Acknowledgement of Participation.
I acknowledge and fully understand that my participation, and my dog’s participation, in the Event is voluntary and may result in personal injury, illness, or property damage. I recognize that Washington Soccer Properties, LLC d/b/a Washington Spirit ("Company") cannot guarantee the absence of the risk of injury during the Event. Riska associated with the Event include, without limitation, danger from a canine-oriented event (e.g., dog bites, fights, or altercations among dogs), the sport of soccer (e.g., thrown or kicked soccer balls, or contact or collisions with other persons), crowd conditions, crowd noise, field and stadium conditions, and inclement weather, each of which may carry a risk of personal injury or property damage to myself, my dog, or others. At all times during the Event, I agree to take an active role in identifying and accepting those risks, conditions, and hazards, and I agree that, if at any time, I believe any condition to be unsafe, including a threat from another dog participating in the Event, I will immediately advise a Washington Spirit representative and leave the Event. I am not required to participate in the Event; I have freely elected to do so, and to bring my dog, at my own risk.
2. Acknowledgments of Risks and Assumption of Risks.
I acknowledge my dog’s temperament and behavioral history and have independently determined that my dog’s participation in the Event is appropriate. I fully understand that participation in the Event involved known and unknown risks which could result in SERIOUS BODILY INJURY, ILLNESS, PERMANENT DISABILITY, PARALYSIS, DEATH, PROPERTY DAMAGE OR LOSS to myself, my dog, or to third parties and their property, caused by our own actions or inactions, those of others present or their dogs, the conditions in which the Event takes place, or the negligence of the Released Parties (as defined below). I fully accept and ASSUME ALL SUCH RISKS and all responsibility for losses, costs, and damages incurred as a result of participation in the Event.
3. Consent to Rules.
I have reviewed and acknowledge the Audi Field Dog Rules attached to this Agreement, together with any other Rules, Recommendations, and Information ("Rules") provided by the Company, and I agree that it is my responsibility to: (1) act in accordance with and abide by the Rules and any other rules and regulations of the Venue; (2) control myself and my dog at all times; and (3) not act, or permit my dog to act, in any way that may cause injury or death to myself, my dog, other participants, other dogs, or others while at the Event. I understand that the Company has the right to refuse entry to my dog and to remove my dog, me, and our immediate party from the Venue and/or to terminate the Event at any time and for any reason in the Company's sole and absolute discretion.
4. Release, Waiver of Liability, and Indemnification.
I, on behalf of myself, and each of our Related Persons ("Related Persons" shall mean: heirs, assigns, administrators, executors, legal and personal representatives, next of kin, and any other person acting or purporting to act on behalf of either of us), hereby knowingly, voluntarily, irrevocably, and forever release, waive, discharge, save and hold harmless each and all of the Released Parties ("Released Parties" shall mean: the Company, the National Women's Soccer League, DC Stadium, LLC, D.C. Soccer, LLC, D.C. United Partners, LLC, DC United Holdings, LLC, DC Sports Facilities Entertainment, LLC, DC Soccer Management Company, LLC, Event sponsors, and each of their respective direct and indirect affiliates, owners, directors, officers, employees, agents, partners, representatives, members, administrators, sponsors, invitees, and contractors (and all employees of such contractors), parents, subsidiaries, affiliated and related companies, insurers, doctors, nurses or anyone offering medical assistance, volunteers, successors, and assigns of each of the foregoing entities and persons, whether past, present or future, and whether in their institutional or personal capacities, and other participants at the Event) from any and all liability, claims, demands, losses, damages, costs or expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and costs) (collectively, "Losses") arising out of or in any way related to my dog’s participation in the Event and related activities, including, without limitation, any Losses caused or alleged to be CAUSED IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY THE NEGLIGENCE of any Released Party or otherwise, including negligent rescue operations. I agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Released Parties from and against any Loss, liability, damage, or cost they may incur due to our attendance at the Event and regarding any matter within the scope of this Agreement. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE RELEASED PARTIES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, EVEN IF SUCH DAMAGES ARE FORESEEABLE AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER RELEASED PARTIES HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. I have read this Agreement, understand that I have given up substantial rights by signing it, have signed it freely and without any inducement or assurance of any nature, and intend it to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law.
5. Consent to Medical Treatment.
I understand and agree that any medical or other services rendered to me by or at the insistence of any of the Released Parties is not an admission of liability to provide or to continue any such services and is not a waiver by the Released Parties of any rights hereunder. I authorize the Company, Venue personnel, and emergency medical personnel to provide or arrange emergency medical treatment for me, if deemed necessary in connection with the Event. I understand that the Released Parties are not responsible for arranging or paying for veterinary care for my dog, and I agree to be solely responsible for any such care and its cost.
6. Vaccinations and Dog Eligibility
I represent and warrant that my dog is at least six (6) months old, has current Rabies, DHLPP, or Bordetella vaccinations, is in good health ,is able to tolerate the presence of crowds and other dogs, and has not demonstrated dangerous or aggressive behavior towards persons or other dogs. I agree to abide by all Rules and instructions given in connection with the Event, including presenting proof of vaccination and identification tags on request. I acknowledge that I am solely responsible for the accuracy of the information in this Section, and I release and hold harmless the Released Parties from any liability or responsibility for verifying such information about my dog or any other dog participating in the Event.
7. Photography/Video/Audio Consent.
I hereby grant to the Released Parties and their respective designees the irrevocable, non-exclusive, transferable, sublicensable, and assignable right to depict, without any additional compensation or consideration, notification or permission, and in perpetuity, in any and all media now or hereafter known, the likeness, image, name, words, voice, actions, and/or biographical information of myself and the Minor Participant (collectively, "Images") in photographic, video, or audio recordings or other works for purposes of promoting, advertising, or marketing current or future events related to the Company, any of the Released Parties, or the Event. I agree that such Images may be used by any Released Party (including its rightsholders, sponsors, and/or other licensees) for all such purposes. I hereby release and waive any action or cause of action that I or anyone acting on my behalf may assert in connection with the use of the Images, including but not limited to any claims for invasion of privacy, defamation, violation of any right of publicity, or any other cause of action arising out of the production, reproduction, distribution, transmission, publication, public performance, broadcast, or exhibition of advertisements, promotions, content, programs, and/or materials in which the Images appear. Any pictures or photographs that I take shall be used solely for my private, non-commercial use. No sale, transmission, distribution, or commercial use may be made of the pictures, descriptions, or depictions of the Event.
8. Severability.
If any provision of this Agreement is unenforceable, the remainder shall remain enforceable to the full extent allowed by law.
9. Governing Law.
I expressly agree this Agreement is intended to be as broad and inclusive as permitted by the laws of Washington, D.C. This Agreement and the validity thereof shall be interpreted, enforced, governed by, and construed in accordance with the substantive laws (excluding choice of law provisions) of Washington, D.C.
10. Dispute Resolution.
Any dispute or claim related to or arising from this Event shall be resolved by mandatory, confidential, final, and binding arbitration to take place in Washington, D.C. I agree that all disputes shall be arbitrated on an individual basis and I waive any right to litigate in court or arbitrate any claim as a class action, representative action, or class arbitration. If I do not consent to this clause, I will immediately discontinue participation in the Event and will leave the Venue.
11. Privacy
I acknowledge that use of this service is governed by the Company's Privacy Policy. The Company may collect, use, process, and store personal information provided in connection with registration for and participation in the Event, including contact information, signature information, and minor participant information, in accordance with that policy.
PARTICIPANT SIGNATURE
I, the undersigned, HAVE CAREFULLY READ AND VOLUNTARILY SIGN THIS AGREEMENT; I understand its terms and I am aware of its legal consequences, including that I am hereby giving up substantial legal rights and that this Agreement is legally binding.
Audi Field Dog Rules
1. Children are not permitted to bring dogs without adult supervision. 2. Any participating dog must be at least six months old. 3. All owners must have a signed waiver to gain admission to Audi Field with their dog. 4. All owners and dogs must have a ticket located in sections 201 – 203 to gain admission to Audi Field. 5. Your dog MUST be up to date on Rabies, DHLPP, and Bordetella vaccinations to attend the game. I.D. tags and proof of vaccination are required to gain admission to Audi Field. 6. Audi Field reserves the right to refuse entry to any dog and reserves the right to eject any unruly, rowdy, or disruptive dog or owner from the game and/or the Stadium. 7. You MUST enter through Gate B, designated as the “Spirit & Paws Day” gate, and dogs are permitted in the “Dog Zone” sections ONLY, as clearly labeled with signage and a map provided by Audi Field. 8. No dogs will be permitted on the field. 9. All dogs MUST be on a leash at all times. Retractable leashes are not permitted. 10. Do not bring your dog if they are unreliable in crowds or with other dogs. 11. Do not bring a dog whose behavior could be dangerous to others or who has an unreliable temperament. 12. Do not bring a female dog in heat. 13. Be courteous and responsible — you must pick up after your dog.
