WASHINGTON — The 61-year-old Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in D.C. is slowly being demolished.
The owner – Events D.C. – is giving fans a chance to take home pieces of memorabilia. Last week, it was stadium chairs. Wednesday, a few special items were gifted to fans who say they're more than just history – they're family heirlooms.
It’s a D.C. landmark, a living monument, and a receptacle of memories.
“It was always something I would point out to my kids and grandkids,” said Larry Spalding.
“People’s joy is in there,” added Sebastian Amar.
“I never thought I would get a piece of RFK honestly,” laughed Elyse Horvath.
Three fans made a pilgrimage back to the old RFK Stadium. It was more than just a walk down memory lane, these folks asked Events D.C. for specific items – personal gifts that can’t be replicated.
“When I saw an article about seats for sale I reached out and never thought I would hear back and here it is before Christmas and I have to find a way to mount this so I can give to my grandkids it should be passed down I hope,” said Larry Spalding holding on to a rusted piece of ductwork.
“My father, after World War II, he worked on this stadium doing HVAC,” recalled Spalding. “It’s something to remember him by it’s about the only thing I have now.”
Elyse Horvath asked Events D.C. for an original elevator panel. “Well, I’m autistic and elevators have always been one of my hobbies – that and public transit I used to come here with my grandmother she was a huge Redskins fan and it's childhood to me.”
Sebastian Amar has been sending emails to Events D.C. since 2017. They discovered his message and granted his request for a seat that belonged to his late father – a season ticket holder.
“D.C. United was the last tangible connection my kids had to their grandpa,” Amar explained. “We kept the season tickets we’ve had since 1996, but it’s in a different stadium that he’s never seen, never sat in, never yelled at the team in. We have a very nice fancy stadium now and look at this falling-apart, rusted-out box, and man they don’t compare.”
“It was something, back in the day, it was a point of pride in the city when the old Washington Senators played here and the old Washington Redskins when there wasn’t much here on this side of town,” said Spalding. “It will be something new something for the next generation to cherish. Can’t stand in the way of progress.”
Events D.C. and the National Park Service (which owns the land) are partnering on the slow demolition that is expected to continue until the end of 2023.
While District leaders pitched a proposal for a multi-use residential, commercial, and recreation complex, there are no plans for the property at this time. The property is still owned by the federal government.
According to a spokesperson with DC Events, "The long-term future of the RFK Stadium Campus is dependent on conversations and decisions between the federal government and officials in the District of Columbia. We at Events DC look forward to working with Congress and the White House to transfer this parcel back to DC so local officials, stakeholders and residents can decide the best use for the site."