A look back at RFK Stadium

RFK Stadium, which recently turned 50 years old, has a special place in D.C. sports lore. The stadium’s days as home to D.C. United are likely numbered, as the club is looking to build a soccer-specific stadium somewhere in the D.C. region.

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The area at the end of East Capitol Street was recommended as the site for Washington's new District Stadium at a cost of about $20 million.

The Washington Post /

A photo from December 1960 shows the early stages of RFK Stadium's construction. The stadium opened in October 1961.

J.W. Stinchcomb

RFK Stadium in 1962.

Joseph Silverman / The Washington Star

Washington Senators President Pete Quesada, left, takes a look at how construction is going in May 1961.

Joe Heiberger / The Washington Post

Rep. Oren Harris (D-Ark.) dedicates what was then known as D.C. Stadium in October 1961. Harris introduced the bill to build the $24 million structure.

Del Vecchio / The Washington Post

D.C. Stadium, which was renamed RFK Stadium in 1969, was home to the Washington Senators from 1962 to 1971.

The Washington Post

Senators slugger 6-foot-7 Frank Howard, nicknamed "The Capital Punisher," takes his cuts in the on-deck circle.

The Washington Post

President John F. Kennedy shakes hands with St. Louis Cardinals slugger Stan Musial before the start of the 1962 All-Star Game at D.C. Stadium.

Senators fan Steve Adamson leans over the dugout to shake hands with Washington's Dave Nelson (15) before fans stormed the field in the ninth inning of the Senators' last game at RFK in 1971.

/ AP

The Washington Redskins' Charley Taylor catches a pass from Billy Kilmer during a game against the Dallas Cowboys in 1972. Washington Post photographer Dick Darcey anticipated this catch while he was shooting midfield with the other photographers and sprinted to the north end zone just in time to get this shot.

RICHARD DARCEY / TWP

Fans lined up for Redskins playoff tickets outside RFK Stadium in January 1983.

Harry Nalchayan / The Washington Post

Fans cheer on the Redskins against the San Francisco 49ers in the 1983 NFC championship game. Charles Brotman, a longtime fan, said one of the best parts of the games was the Washington Touchdown Club, an elite social and sports fan club.

Dudley M. Brooks / The Washington Post

The Rev. Sun Myung Moon of the controversial Unification Church and his wife bless about 40,000 couples from around the world in a mass marriage ceremony in November 1997. Moon recently celebrated his 90th birthday.

Susan Biddle / The Washington Post

No matter how cold the weather, Redskins fans even in 1986 could always be counted on to tailgate in the RFK Stadium parking lots before games. The Redskins went 12-4 that year, 3 years after the team's 1983 Super Bowl victory.

Sharon Farmer / For The Washington Post

The NFL strike in 1987 left Redskins fans like Kevin and Neil Lockwood lost.

Dave R. Frazier / For The Washington Post

Fans of Mexico parade outside RFK Stadium before a 1994 World Cup game.

Juana Arias / The Washington Post

After the first half of a soccer game between the U.S. and Germany in 2002, visitors make a stop in the men's restroom.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Workers repainted the end zone at RFK Stadium during the 1994 season.

L. Morris / The Washington Post

With “Bafo Be Africa” (a.k.a. Bob Vokes) standing and Rob Gabriels flipping, the two perform an aerial act during the first act of the show during the UniverSoul circus in 1997.

Michael Williamson / The Washington Post

An unidentified man collects turf from RFK Stadium following the Redskins’ final game in 1996 before moving to a newer stadium. Phil Hochberg, a longtime announcer at the stadium, wore a tuxedo to the game. "People were celebrating the many years of success," he said.

Rich Lipski / The Washington Post

From left, Heather Sikes, 15, of Springfield gives a high five to Megan Harris, 16, also of Springfield, at the "United We Stand -- What More Can I Give" benefit concert in October 2001, for victims of the Sept. 11 tragedy.

Frank Johnston / The Washington Post

Mike Wyand, center, from Falls Church, cheers during the Cadillac Grand Prix race at RFK Stadium.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

In January 2005, workers rushed to give RFK Stadium new life, as the Washington Nationals soon would take the field.

Preston Keres / The Washington Post

Chris Holman, his 18-month-old son Mitchell, 5-year-old son Matthew and wife Michelle Holman have 50-yard-line seats at RFK stadium, where they were able to watch the game courtesy of a WHFS 99.1 radio contest.

Tyler Mallory / For The Washington Post

The pitcher's mound is lowered into position under the careful guidance of iron workers Shawn Fitzgerald, left; Larry Stern, in the hold; Walt Tyszko; and engineer Jim Hepworth, right, during the installation at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in 2005.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

In 2004, D.C. officials toured the stadium to gauge its readiness for the return of Major League Baseball.

James A. Parcell / The Washington Post

White seats, shown in a 2004 photo, designated the center field landing spots for monstrous home runs hit by Senators slugger Frank Howard.

Robert A. Reeder / The Washington Post

Workers push to get RFK Stadium ready for the Nationals' return in April 2005.

Preston Keres / The Washington Post

President George W. Bush throws out the ceremonial first pitch at RFK Stadium on April 14, 2005. The game between the Washington Nationals and the Arizona Diamondbacks was the first regular-season baseball game in the nation's capital in 34 years.

Evan Vucci / AP

D.C. United's Jaime Moreno wipes tears away after he played his last game Oct. 23, 2010 . His 14 years in the MLS ended as D.C. United lost to the Toronto FC 3 -2 at RFK Stadium.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

The state of the restrooms at RFK Stadium.

Doug Kapustin / For The Washington Post

RFK Stadium's days as home to D.C. United are probably numbered, as the club is looking to build a soccer-specific stadium somewhere in the Washington-Baltimore area. Oscar Zambrana says RFK isn’t bad, but all D.C. United fans want the soccer team to have a stadium of its own.

Doug Kapustin / For The Washington Post

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