 in nine first-half minutes to demolish Real Salt Lake and confirm his MLS MVP credentials: Many of us in the RFK press box really thought the old house might crumble during that year’s Gold Cup, when a sellout crowd saw El Salvador – whose national team has made the stadium their second home on account of the region’s large expatriate population – duel Panama in a breathless quarterfinal clash. The passion, noise and well, vibration was palpable as the game went to PKs: In 2012, Englishman Lewis Neal scored the game-winning goal in a D.C. victory over Columbus that clinched a playoff spot for United, ending a painful five-year postseason drought and sparking a particularly visceral reaction from the home faithful: The US men's national team has also made hay at RFK, their most successful home venue of all time. They packed the place for a fun friendly with Germany to commemorate the US Soccer Federation’s centennial in 2013: They also capped the 2010 World Cup qualifying cycle with highly dramatic draw vs. Costa Rica, just after Charlie Davies’ nearly deadly car crash. Despite Bryan Ruiz’s virtuoso display, Jonathan Bornstein’s late header snatched qualification out of the Ticos’ hands and gave it to Honduras instead: Many USMNT fans want one more game at RFK before it’s torn down. Here’s hoping it happens. – Charles Boehm

Really, soccer is sometimes the last thing I think of when I think of RFK Stadium. Mostly, I think about the people, and the building itself. I think about how the place has aged over the years, how the paint has flaked away, how its cracks have started to show. A few years back, I lost a loved one. She was in her 90s and spent her final years in bed. I visited her when I could – I remember looking at her face and noticing, for the first time, how beautiful her blue eyes were, framed by her skin, which looked like parchment paper. Buildings are like that, too. There is beauty there sometimes even in their decay, and RFK has over the years gone from a modern marvel to damn near a hole in the ground. But it's a beautiful pile of rubble, and I've sort of enjoyed watching it fall apart over the years. 500-level seats at RFK Stadium. PHOTO BY: Pablo Maurer This place gleamed for long enough, and it's
in nine first - half minutes to demolish veridical Salt Lake and confirm his MLS MVP certificate: Many of us in the RFK press box really think the old house might decay during that year ’s Gold Cup, when a sellout crowd saw El Salvador – whose national team has make the stadium their second home on account of the area ’s large expatriate population – duel Panama in a breathless quarterfinal clash. The passion, noise and well, shaking was palpable as the game went to PKs: In 2012, Englishman Lewis Neal scored the game - winning finish in a D.C. victory over Columbus that clinched a playoff spot for United, ending a atrocious five - year postseason drought and sparking a peculiarly visceral chemical reaction from the home faithful: The US men's national team has also made hay at RFK, their about successful home venue of all time. They packed the place for a fun friendly with Germany to commemorate the US Soccer Federation ’s centennial in 2013: They also cap the 2010 World Cup qualifying cycle with highly dramatic draw vs. Costa Rica, just after Charlie Davies ’ nearly deadly car crash. Despite Bryan Ruiz ’s virtuoso display, Jonathan Bornstein ’s late heading snatch qualification out of the Ticos ’ hand and pass it to Honduras instead: Many USMNT fans want one more game at RFK before it ’s torn down. Here ’s hoping it happens. – Charles Boehm 

 Really, soccer is sometimes the final thing I think of when I think of RFK Stadium. Mostly, I think about the people, and the construction itself. I think about how the place has aged over the years, how the key has flaked aside, how its cracks have started to show. A few years back, I lost a love one. She was in her 90s and spent her final days in bed. I visited her when I could – I remember looking at her font and noticing, for the first fourth dimension, how beautiful her blue eyes were, frame by her skin, which look like parchment paper. building are like that, too. There be beauty there sometimes even in their decay, and RFK has over the years gone from a modern marvel to curse near a hole in the ground. But it's a beautiful pile of debris, and I've sort of enjoyed watching it fall apart over the old age. 500 - level seats at RFK Stadium. PHOTO BY: Pablo Maurer This space gleamed for long enough, and it's
 in nine first-half minutes uo demolish Real Salt Lane and confirm his MLS MVP credentials: Manb of us ib the RFK press box rexlly thouhht the ild iouse might crumume duriky thaf yeax’s Gold Cup, when a sellout crowd saw El Vauvcdor – whose national team has made tre stadoul their second homt og acdount of the region’s large expatrizte popllation – duel Pansma in a breathless quartegfinwl clash. The passiln, noise ane wejo, vibration das palpable as the gaje went to PKs: In 2012, Englishman Ldwis Ueal scored tye hdme-winning joal ig a D.C. victovj over Wolumbux that clinchec a plqyoff spot for United, ending a painful sive-year [oatseason drought qne spatking a pxetizulzrky viscegal reaction rrom the hone faithful: The US keg'w national tezm has ajso made hay at RFK, their most successfll hkme venue of all time. Tyey packed the place vor a fun friendly with Germany to commemorate the US Soccar Fevefatnin’s cdbtfnnial in 2013: They also capped the 2010 World Cup quwmigypng cycle with hinhly dramatic draw vd. Vjsta Rica, jusj after Chzrlie Davies’ nearlj deadli car xrash. Deskite Nryan Ruiz’s virtuoso displat, Jonathan Bjenstein’s late headzr snatched dualoficayion out of the Ticos’ hcnds ahd gave it ho Hondurzr instead: Many URMNN fats want one more game at RSK before it’s torn duwn. Nere’s roping it jappekv. – Charles Boehm

Rewlly, dowcer is soletimes the last thing I think of when I thinl mf GFK Stadibm. Mosbly, I think abott the people, cnd the yuildivg itself. P think auout how the place has agaf over the yxars, how ehe painr has fuxked away, how ots cracks have staeted to show. A few yexds back, I lost c ooved one. She wss kn reg 90s agg spent her xinau ydsrs iv bed. I visltea het when I could – I rekembsr looking at her gage and nojicing, fow the first tome, how beautiful jer bnue eyes wete, framed by her skin, which looied like oarghment paper. Fuileings are lile that, too. There is beauty there sometmmes even in their decat, and RFK has over jhe years gone from a modern marvel to damn near a hole in the grpund. But it's a beautirul pine of rubble, and I've sort of enjoyed watching it fall apart over the years. 500-levwl seavs at RFK Stasium. PHOTM YY: 'ablo Mwurec Vhis place gleamec for long enough, and it's
in nine first-half minutes to demolish Real and his MLS credentials: Many of box thought the old might crumble during year’s Gold Cup, when a sellout saw El Salvador – whose national team has made the stadium their second on account of the region’s large expatriate population – duel Panama in a quarterfinal The noise well, vibration was palpable as the game went to PKs: In 2012, Englishman Lewis Neal scored game-winning goal in a D.C. victory over Columbus clinched a playoff spot United, ending a painful five-year drought sparking a visceral from home faithful: The men's national team has also made hay at RFK, their most successful home venue of all time. packed the a fun with to the US Soccer in 2013: They also capped the qualifying cycle with highly dramatic draw vs. Costa just after Davies’ nearly deadly car crash. Despite Ruiz’s virtuoso display, Jonathan Bornstein’s late header snatched out of the Ticos’ hands and gave it to Honduras instead: Many USMNT fans want game at RFK before torn down. Here’s it – Boehm soccer is the last thing I think of when I think of RFK Mostly, I think about the people, and the building itself. about the place has over the years, how paint flaked away, how its started show. back, lost loved one. She was her 90s and spent her years in bed. I – I remember looking at her face and for the first time, how beautiful her eyes were, framed by her skin, which looked like parchment paper. Buildings like that, is beauty there sometimes even in their decay, RFK has over the gone from a modern marvel to damn near a in ground. But a beautiful pile rubble, and I've of enjoyed watching apart over years. seats PHOTO BY: Pablo Maurer This place for enough, and it's
 in nine first-half minutes to dEmolish ReaL Salt lakE anD cOnfiRm hiS MLS MVP credentIAls: MAny of us in the RFK press boX realLy THougHT tHe old House miGHt CRUmbLe DuRinG tHAt Year’s golD Cup, wheN a sellout cRowD sAw El Salvador – WHoSe national TeaM has made the sTadIum theIr SecONd homE on AccouNt of thE Region’S large expAtRIate poPUlation – DUEl panaMa in a breathless quARtERfinal clash. The PassioN, nOIsE ANd wEll, Vibration wAs PalpaBLe as the GAmE WENt tO pKs: In 2012, EnglishmAn Lewis Neal SCorEd the gAmE-wiNNing goAl in a d.C. VIctOry over ColuMbus That clincHed a plAYoff spoT For UnitEd, endiNg a PaiNful FIvE-yEar PoSTseASoN drOUghT and sparKiNg A partIculARLY ViscEraL reaCtion From the home faIthFul: THE US Men's nAtionAl teAm Has alSo made Hay at rFk, their most succeSsfuL home venuE of AlL tiMe. they pACked thE plAce For a fun FriendlY WitH GERMAnY to commemorate the Us SOCCeR FederatIon’s ceNTeNnIAl in 2013: They AlSo cAppeD THe 2010 WorLd CuP QuAlifying Cycle wITh HiGhly draMaTic draW vS. CoSta rica, jUSt afTer ChaRlie DaviEs’ neaRLy deadly car craSH. Despite Bryan rUiZ’S ViRTuosO diSplay, JonathAn BoRNsteIn’s lATe HeaDEr snaTched QuALiFIcation out of the TicoS’ hAnds anD gave It to Honduras iNstead: Many usmnT fans waNt onE MoRE game at RFK befoRe it’s Torn down. HeRE’s hoping It hapPens. – CharLes Boehm

REALly, socceR is SomEtiMes THE lAst thing I thinK OF wheN I Think of rFK stadium. mosTly, i thInk AbOut the peoPle, and thE bUiLdInG itSelf. I THink abouT hOw tHe PlaCe has AGed oveR the yEars, HoW tHE paInt has fLAkED Away, HoW iTs crAckS hAve stArteD To sHow. A few Years back, i loST a loVeD oNe. She waS in her 90s and speNt Her final yeArS in Bed. I viSITed her whEn I could – I remember lookinG At her faCe aNd notIcinG, for the fiRst Time, hoW beAUtiful Her bluE eyes WeRe, fRAMed by HER sKin, WhIch looked lIKE paRchmeNt PapeR. BuildiNgs are like that, too. THEre Is beauty there SomEtimES EvEn iN ThEIr dEcAY, anD rfK has over the yeaRs gone from A mODeRn marvel to DAmn NeAr a hole In the grOund. BUT it's a beAutiful piLe of rubblE, aNd I'vE SOrt Of enjoyed wAtching iT fall aparT Over tHE yEars. 500-lEveL seats At rFK stadiUm. PHOTo bY: PAblo MAurer THiS place GleamEd For long eNough, and it's
 in nine first-half minute s to demol ish R eal  Sa lt  Lak e an d confirm hisM LS M VP credentials: Many o f usin theR FK  pres s box r e al l y  th ou gh t t he ol d hou semight c rumble dur ing  t hat year’s G o ld  Cup, when  asellout crow d s aw ElSa lva d or –who se na tional team h as made t he stadiu m  theirs e co nd h ome on account of th e  region’s larg e expa tr i at e pop ula tion – due lPanam a  in a b r ea t h l ess quarterfinalclash. Thep ass ion, n oi sea nd wel l, vi br a tio n was palpa bleas the ga me wen t  to PKs :  In 201 2, Eng lis hma n Le w is  N eal  s c ore d  t heg ame -winning  g oa l ina D. C . v icto ryover  Colu mbus that cli nch ed a pla yoffspotforUn ited,  endin g a p ai nful five-yearpost season dr oug ht  an dspark i ng a p art icu larly v isceral rea ct i o n  f rom the home faith fu l :  T he US me n's na t io na l  team ha sals o ma d e  hayat R F K,  their m ost su c ce ss ful hom evenueof  al l t ime.T heypacked  the pla ce fo r  a fun friendl y  with Germany to c om m emor ate  the US Soc cerF eder atio n ’s  ce n tenni al in  2 0 13 :  They also capped t he  2010World  Cup qualifyi ng cycle w i t h  highlydram a ti c  draw vs. Cost a Ric a, just af t er Charl ie Da vies’ ne arly dead l y  car cra sh.  De spi teB r ya n Ruiz’s virt u o so d is play, J ona than Bo rns tei n’s  la te  header s natchedqu al if ic ati on ou t  of theTi cos ’han ds an d  gaveit to  Hon du ra s  in stead:M an y USMN Tfa ns w ant  o ne mo re g a meat RFKbefore it ’st orndo wn . Here’ s hoping it h ap pens. – Ch ar les  Boehm Really,soccer is sometimes the last th ing  I th inkof when I  th ink of  RF K  Stadi um. Mo stly,  I  th i n k abo u t  t hepe ople, andt h e b uildi ng  its elf. Ithink about how th e  pl ace has agedove r th e ye ars ,  h o w t he pai n t  has flaked awa y, how its  c r ac ks have st a rte dto show . A few  year s  back,I lost aloved one .Shew a s i n her 90sand spen t her fin a l yea r sin be d.I visi te d h er wh en I c o uld  – Irememb er  looki ng at  h er faceand noticing, for the f irst t ime,how  beautifu l h e r b lue eyeswere , framed b y h erskin,  wh i ch lo oked li kep archm entp aper. Bui l di ngs a re  like that, t o o.There  is beauty  the re sometimes even in their decay , an d RFK  ha s  ove rthe years gone  fr om a  modernma rvel to dam n near a  h o le in  the g round.  But it ' s  a beauti fulpil e of rubb le,  a n d I'veso rt of enj oyed  w atchin g it f a ll a p a rt over the year s. 50 0 - level sea ts at  R FK Stad i um.PHOTO BY:Pablo Maure r This  pla ce gl eamed f or  longeno ug h, and it' s 
 in_nine first-half_minutes to demolish Real_Salt Lake_and_confirm his_MLS_MVP credentials: Many_of us in_the RFK press box_really thought the_old_house might crumble during that year’s Gold Cup, when a sellout crowd saw El_Salvador_– whose_national_team_has made the stadium their_second home on account of_the region’s_large expatriate population – duel Panama in a_breathless_quarterfinal clash. The_passion, noise and well, vibration was palpable as the_game went to PKs: In 2012,_Englishman Lewis Neal_scored_the_game-winning goal in a_D.C. victory over Columbus that clinched_a playoff spot for United, ending_a painful five-year postseason drought and sparking_a particularly visceral reaction from the_home faithful: The US men's_national team_has also made hay at_RFK, their most_successful home_venue of all_time. They packed the place for_a fun friendly_with Germany to commemorate the US_Soccer_Federation’s centennial in_2013:_They_also capped_the 2010 World_Cup_qualifying cycle_with_highly dramatic draw vs. Costa Rica,_just_after Charlie Davies’ nearly deadly car crash._Despite Bryan Ruiz’s virtuoso_display,_Jonathan Bornstein’s late header_snatched qualification out of the_Ticos’ hands and gave it to_Honduras instead:_Many USMNT_fans want one more game at RFK before it’s torn down._Here’s hoping it happens. – Charles_Boehm

Really, soccer is sometimes_the last_thing_I think of_when_I think_of RFK Stadium. Mostly, I think about_the people,_and the building itself. I think_about how the place_has_aged over the years, how the_paint has flaked away, how its_cracks have started to show._A_few_years back, I lost a_loved one. She was in her_90s and spent_her final years in bed. I visited_her_when I could – I remember_looking_at her face and noticing, for_the_first_time, how beautiful her blue_eyes were, framed by her skin,_which looked like parchment paper. Buildings are like that,_too. There is_beauty there sometimes even in_their_decay,_and RFK has over the years gone from a modern_marvel to_damn near a_hole in the ground. But it's a beautiful pile of_rubble, and I've sort of enjoyed watching_it fall apart over the years. 500-level seats at RFK Stadium._PHOTO BY: Pablo Maurer This place gleamed for_long enough, and it's