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DC United "ushered in a new era" by opening Audi Field against the Whitecaps last night, and the opening night was a "successful one" overall as the team drew 20,504 fans. The "intimate environment created by stands that are positioned at an angle as steep as 35 degrees and close to the field was quite a contrast from the larger-than-necessary RFK Stadium." The game also marked the DC United debut of Wayne Rooney, who entered in the 58th minute and was "greeted with a standing ovation" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/15).
A railing "hit sideline reporter Lindsay Simpson before the match, and medical staff had to treat her." Stadium workers "responded by using duct tape to reinforce several railings." Other glitches included "unwrapped paper towel dispensers in bathrooms" and "uneven concession lines" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/15). Some fans "encountered poor cellphone and Wi-Fi reception outside the stadium, which prevented the loading of mobile tickets." Some journalists "were able to access the network supplied by the team, others were not" (ESPN.com, 7/15).
