Fans approaching a compact soccer stadium on the Southwest Washington waterfront at blue hour
Sports

Audi Field Guide: Metro, Seats, Bags & Game-Day Tips

Audi Field is the city's best argument for seeing soccer in person: compact, loud, and close enough to downtown that a match can fit into a real DC day. The catch is that the stadium is a walk from Metro and Buzzard Point gets congested fast. Here is how to do it without learning the logistics at the gate.

Local's Take

Take Metro to Navy Yard, eat before you reach the stadium, and treat the walk through Buzzard Point as part of the event. If you want calm, sit along the sideline. If you want the reason Audi Field punches above its size, get near the Chico Stand.

Getting There: Navy Yard Is the Better Metro Walk

Audi Field is at 100 Potomac Avenue SW in Buzzard Point. It does not sit on top of a Metro station, so build the walk into your plan. The official D.C. United transportation guide recommends the Green Line to Navy Yard-Ballpark because that station has more capacity, wider approaches, and more places to eat on the way. From there, expect roughly a 15-to-20-minute walk past Nationals Park and down toward the stadium.

Waterfront on the Green Line is a legitimate alternative, especially if you are coming from The Wharf, but the route cuts through quieter residential blocks. My default is Navy Yard before the match, then whichever Green Line station makes sense once the crowd breaks up. Save our Interactive Metro Map before you leave; weekend track work is the variable no stadium guide can predict for you.

Soccer supporters with scarves and drums inside a steep stadium bowl at sunset

Bags, Tickets & the Gate-Line Reality

Audi Field allows bags up to 14 x 14 x 6 inches, but backpacks and luggage are prohibited. Cinch bags are allowed if they stay within the size limit. Umbrellas and outside food or drinks are also on the prohibited list. Policies can change by event, so check the venue's current A-Z Guide on matchday instead of trusting a screenshot from last season.

Keep the original mobile ticket ready in your wallet or ticketing app. Event-specific instructions can differ, but Audi Field's current guidance warns that ticket screenshots may not scan. Download the ticket before you leave reliable Wi-Fi, turn up your screen brightness near the scanner, and do not be the person trying to reset a password at the front of the line.

Where to Sit: Know What Sections 136 and 137 Mean

Audi Field holds 20,000, but it feels smaller because the bowl is steep and the closest seats sit tight to the field. For D.C. United matches, sections 136 and 137 form the Chico Stand, the north-end home of the club's official supporters. That means standing, singing, flags, and drums — exactly the point if you want the loudest version of the match, not the right choice if you want a quiet seat and an unobstructed view all night.

The Washington Spirit also play their home schedule here, and their supporters occupy the same end. For families or first-time visitors who want to watch tactics more than tifos, choose a sideline section. For atmosphere, get closer to the north end. Either way, the compact design gives Audi Field the best crowd-to-seat ratio among DC's major venues.

Food, Water & Restrooms

Concessions are operated by Levy, with specialty food influenced by ThinkFoodGroup and José Andrés. That sounds more interesting than generic stadium nachos, but it is still stadium pricing. Navy Yard has the stronger pregame restaurant selection, while The Wharf works if you are willing to approach from the west. For a real meal rather than a hurried tray at kickoff, eat before you reach Buzzard Point.

Useful detail that venue roundups skip: baby-changing stations are available in all men's and women's restrooms, and family restrooms are near sections 103, 114, 123, and 131. Guest Services is just inside Gate A, and a Mamava nursing pod is nearby. Water fountains are available around the stadium; during an official heat advisory, the venue says each guest may bring one sealed water bottle up to 20 ounces.

Bike, Scooter, Rideshare & Accessibility

Audi Field runs a free bike valet at the southwest corner of the stadium at 2nd and T Streets SW. It opens with the gates and stays available for at least an hour after a D.C. United match. There are also bike racks and scooter docks around the venue, making Capital Bikeshare or a permitted rental scooter practical if you already know how to ride in city traffic. Park only in a marked dock or corral — do not leave a scooter across a sidewalk.

Rideshare pickup and drop-off are pushed toward the Nationals Park area because the blocks right around Audi Field clog quickly. For eligible guests at D.C. United matches, the club advertises a complimentary ADA shuttle from 55 M Street SE beginning two hours before kickoff; reservations should be made at least 48 hours ahead, and service may differ for non-United events. Accessible entrances include Gate A, Gate B, and the Premium Entry, while Guest Services at Gate A handles accommodations inside.

Parking & the Best Pregame Plan

Parking inventory and prices change by event, so this is not the venue to arrive at and hope a cheap lot appears. Use the event's official transportation instructions and reserve a space before leaving home if driving is unavoidable. On normal matchdays, Metro is simpler and usually faster than joining the line of cars squeezing through Buzzard Point.

The cleanest plan is Green Line to Navy Yard-Ballpark, a meal around Half Street or the Yards, then the walk south with the crowd. Check the current schedule in our DC Live Events guide, and use the broader DC Sports Guide if you are deciding between soccer, baseball, basketball, or hockey during the same trip.

Frequently Asked Questions