D.C. United Signs 5-Year Deal To Practice At New Springfield Sports Complex
D.C. United last year began playing in a newly built stadium in the District, and this year it has begun practicing in a new facility in Fairfax County.
The soccer club announced Monday it signed a five-year agreement with The St. James, a new 450K SF sports complex in Springfield. It began practicing at the facility in January and plans to continue at least through the 2023 season.
The team will practice in the 110K SF field house, use the pool house for aquatic training and perform strength and conditioning exercises in the training center. Players will also receive athletic performance testing, rejuvenation treatments and other services from The St. James' staff.
"We wanted to give our first-team access to expertise, services and facilities that would give them the best platform to compete on the field," D.C. United Chief Revenue Officer Andy Bush said in a release. "The St. James has been a great partner to us throughout the season and has been integral to our team’s early success in 2019. Our partnership with The St. James will allow us to continue our upward trajectory and fuel the chase to bring trophies back to the District."
Construction began on the complex in September 2017, and it completed one year later. Its field house can also be used for lacrosse, football and rugby. It has a court house for basketball and volleyball, an ice house for hockey and skating, a hitting house for baseball and softball, plus areas for gymnastics, dance, squash, golf and rock climbing.
The facility also features restaurant Vim & Victor from chef Spike Mendelsohn, a spa and rejuvenation center, a 30K SF entertainment center for children and an indoor water park.
In July, D.C. United began playing at Audi Field, its new 20,000-seat stadium on Buzzard Point in Southwest D.C. The team is in talks with developers to build a $200M mixed-use project next to the new stadium. It is also developing a new 5,000-seat stadium for its second-division team in Loudoun County.
