The Washington Business Journal reported on Friday that D.C. United has selected Turner Construction Company to build the stadium at Buzzard Point. The team confirmed to the Washington Business Journal that the building contract has been awarded, though further details are apparently still to come.
Turner has worked on larger sports venues recently such as Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL, and the new Yankee Stadium for baseball’s New York Yankees. They also worked on CenturyLink Field for the Seattle Seahawks and later, the Seattle Sounders. They have also worked on soccer specific stadiums for the Portland Timbers (Providence Park), Real Salt Lake (Rio Tinto Stadium), Colorado Rapids (Dick’s Sporting Goods Park), Sporting Kansas City (Children’s Mercy Park) and Chicago Fire (Toyota Park). Children’s Mercy Park was also designed by Populous, the same firm employed by the Black-and-Red for their future home at Buzzard Point.
Along with the existing renderings and 3-D prints that have been floating around the internet and at DCU’s preview center at Union Market, Turner appears to be familiar with the general concept of what D.C. is attempting combined with what has already been built at structures for the Rapids, Fire and RSL. Additionally, D.C.’s downtown location and proximity to commercial/residential structures and public transportation may be reminiscent of Turner’s work in renovating Portland's home, which was formerly PGE Park.
The city is expected to turn the land over to the team for construction later this year, with construction beginning shortly afterwards.