Sport

The Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, originally named DC Stadium, is the largest city sports stadium with an official capacity for 55.672 spectators and has been home to at least 10 professional football teams, baseball and football The Verizon Center, home of the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals Other professional and semi-professional teams based in the city include the Baltimore Washington Eagles of the USAFL, the NWFA DC Divas, DC Explosion of Minor League Football, the Washington RFC rugby union team of the Rugby Super League as well as other teams in the Potomac Rugby Union and the Washington Cricket League. It was also headquarters of the WUSA Washington Freedom, from 1987 to 1989 home of the Washington Wave of Major Indoor Lacrosse League, and during the seasons from 2000 to 2002 in this league, the Washington Power was in town.There were two teams from Major League Baseball called Washington Senators in the early and mid-twentieth century, which left the city and became the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers. In the nineteenth century, the city hosted teams called Washington Nationals, Washington Statesmen, and Washington Senators from the 1870s until the end of the century. Washington was home to several baseball teams Negro Leagues, including the Homestead Grays, Washington Black Senators, Washington Elite Giants, Washington Pilots, and Washington Potomacs. The Verizon Center in Chinatown, home to the Capitals, Mystics, Wizards and Georgetown Hoyas, is also a larger enclosure for concerts, professional wrestling, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and other events, having replaced the old Capital Center. Since opening in 1997, the arena has served as a catalyst of prosperity in Chinatown. Office buildings, high-quality condominiums, restaurant chains, movie theaters and other luxuries have sprung up around Chinatown.Moreover, growth has eliminated many figures of Chinatown, and only a fraction of the site remains “Chinese”. The football team of the city, DC United, is the most successful franchise in MLS history, with 4 league championships and won 10 championships overall, both records in the league. The city also is considered the most passionate soccer market, with a list of people including MLS Commissioner Don Garber and TV Commentator (and former National team player and MLS) Eric Wynalda, who state categorically Washington is the best footballing market. Washington will host the 2007 ion of MLS Cup at RFK Stadium. In 1994, Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium hosted 5 games of the World Cup that year (4 and 1 first round knockout stage). Games were also held the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2003 in this stadium.Washington is hosting the annual tennis tournament Legg Mason Tennis Classic held at the Carter Barron Tennis Center on 17th Street. The Marathon of the Marine Corps and the National Marathon are held annually in Washington.