United Notebook
D.C. United has four 2-packs to the 2013 Shamrock Fest at RFK that we'll be giving away on our Facebook page tonight and tomorrow. Entering the sweepstakes is easy:
- Login to Facebook
- LIKE the Official D.C. United page
- LIKE the Official Shamrock Fest page
- Cross your fingers and hope your name is randomly selected!
There will be four winners randomly selected at 6:00 P.M. on March 14. Each winner will receive two tickets to the big event.
Shamrock Fest Details:
Saturday, March 16
RFK Stadium - 1:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.
Congratulations to Private First Class Andrew Calvert and his fiance, D.C. United wishes you all the best as you start your lives together.
The Black-and-Red had a special guest in the locker room after tonight's match. Lorenzo Alexander, a linebacker for the Washington Redskins attended the game, and joined the team after the match to celebrate the 1-0 victory.
United captain Dwayne De Rosario snaps a pick with Alexander in the team hallway:
With Lorenzo Alexander of @redskins After our home opener win at RFK @onemangang97 twitter.com/dwaynederosari…
— Dwayne De Rosario (@dwaynederosario) March 10, 2013
Last year, the Black-and-Red visited a Redskins summer training session in Ashburn, VA. In December 2012, Pontius, Jakovic, White and Scouting Coordinator Kurt Morsink hit FedEx Field for Monday Night Football game versus the New York Giants.
D.C. United captain Dwayne De Rosario will not be available for tonight's match, but the midfielder and team leader will be at RFK to support his teammates.
See u all tnite @dcunited home opener at RFK Stadium #washingtonDC Kick-Off 7pm. Vamos United...
— Dwayne De Rosario (@dwaynederosario) March 9, 2013
Midfielder and newfound weatherman Chris Pontius keeps it simple.
Game day #DCU
— Chris Pontius (@ChrisPontius13) March 9, 2013
Midfielder Kyle Porter is ready for his first home opener as a member of the Black-and-Red.
Excited for the Home opener... #3points #DCU #RFK
— Kyle Neville Porter (@KylePorter19) March 9, 2013
Managing Partner Erick Thohir is hoping for a United "W" tonight.
Not my day, Satria Muda also lost. Change to soccer ☺, tomorow MLS : DC United vs Real Salt Lake City. Vamos DCU.
— Erick Thohir (@erickthohir) March 9, 2013
Chief Marketing Officer Doug Hicks gives props to the best fans in MLS.
#ff The best supporters in America: @screamingeagles @barra_brava @districtultrasx @lanorte128 #dcu #olsensarmy
— Doug Hicks (@DCUDoug) March 8, 2013
Washington Post beat writer Steven Goff and NBC Sports Network host Russ Thaler dig the time-lapse video of RFK.
So cool. “@soccerinsider: Video: The beautiful simplicity of a soccer field ow.ly/iCMXq @dcutv #dcu #rfk #mls”
— Russ Thaler (@RussThaler) March 9, 2013
Fan Beth Meyers is treating today like a holiday.
Tailgate inventory complete. Off to buy some new chairs and of course, beer. It's the most wonderful day of the year! VAMOS #DCU
— Beth Myers (@DCbmyers) March 9, 2013
Fan Alex Glomb has his tickets ready to go.
Vamos United!!Home opener tonight!#DCU #MLS twitter.com/GlombBomb/stat…
— Alex Glomb (@GlombBomb) March 9, 2013
D.C. United's goalkeeper Bill Hamid knows how to make an entrance. Untied's stellar homegrown product earned the 2013 season's first Save of the Week. The 22-year-old netminder made a spectacular save, denying Giles Barnes' one-touch rocket from inside the six yard box during Saturday's 2-0 loss to the Houston Dynamo.
Hamid earned 25% of the votes, beating Andy Gruenebaum of the Columbus Crew by 1 percentage point. The show-stopping save earned Hamid his first ever Save of the Week after multiple nominations for the honor.
2012 Rookie of the Year Finalist Nick DeLeon added some new, team-sprited ink to his right arm. The 22-year-old standout broke United's rookie regular-season scoring record last year, and now boasts a vintage D.C. United logo tattoo, showing his dedication to and passion for the Black-and-Red.
Do you share his passion? Show us your ink!
Chris Pontius is a man of many talents. His endless work rate and speed are the perfect combination for a midfielder. His finishing is that of a striker. But tomorrow, he wears a completely different hat. Pontius will present the DC Metro Area with their morning weather report on FOX 5.
Tune in at 8:15 a.m., to see the 2012 MLS All-Star MVP give it a go as a local weatherman. Then join Pontius and the rest of the Black-and-Red on Saturday at RFK when the team hosts Real Salt Lake in the 2013 home opener.
This morning, D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen joined DC 101's Elliot in the Morning show, take a listen:
In a Tuesday afternoon blog post on WashingtonPost.com, the Soccer Insider thinks that only 16,000 fans will pack RFK on Saturday night for D.C. United’s home opener. The Insider called a sell out “ambitious,” but I think fans of the Black-and-Red would beg to differ.
Following a run at the MLS Cup last year, D.C. United sold out two of its final three games and took back RFK, putting together an impressive 18 game unbeaten streak. In the Eastern Conference final, held at RFK on a blustery mid-November night, D.C. United had to open up additional seats for the Black-and-Red faithful to cheer on the team. 20,015 packed the house that night, well-surpassing the set capacity of 19,647.
Yesterday, at the club’s 11th annual United for D.C. Kickoff Luncheon, Head Coach Ben Olsen said that “one of the things I’m most proud of from last year is that we became relevant again in this city and we gave our fans and new fans belief that D.C. is ready to compete again for Championships.”
Despite a snowstorm bearing down on the Greater Washington Region, gametime weather for Saturday is expected to be 55 degrees and sunny – perfect conditions to make a trip to RFK with your family or friends. Click here to buy tickets and prove the Soccer Insider wrong.