About RFK Stadium
RFK Stadium, originally named D.C. Stadium, was a multipurpose venue on the banks of the Anacostia River that served as Washington's primary sports facility for over four decades. It hosted the expansion Washington Senators from 1962 until their departure to Texas after the 1971 season.
After 33 years without baseball, RFK Stadium welcomed the Montreal Expos when they relocated to become the Washington Nationals in 2005. The return of baseball to the nation's capital was a celebrated event, and RFK served as a temporary home for three seasons.
Renamed in honor of Robert F. Kennedy after his assassination in 1968, the stadium was known for its bouncing upper deck during exciting moments — a phenomenon caused by the cantilevered design that made the concrete stands sway visibly.
Fun facts
- The upper deck would visibly bounce and sway during exciting moments due to its cantilevered design.
- When the Senators left in 1971, fans rushed the field and stole bases, literally — they took the base bags.
- RFK was the first stadium built with moveable stands to convert between baseball and football.
- President John F. Kennedy threw out the first pitch at the stadium's 1962 opener.
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