DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson introduced a bill on July 13, 2026 that would add a climate-controlled roof and about 8,000 seats to Audi Field, the home of the UFL's DC Defenders. The $620 million plan, called the Soccer Stadium Redevelopment and Maintenance Act of 2026, could change how many fans watch the Defenders and when the team can play.
What the Bill Does
The legislation is numbered B26-0769. Mendelson introduced it on July 13, 2026, and the Council referred it to the Committee of the Whole on July 14, 2026.
The bill authorizes the Mayor to enter a public-private financing agreement with DC United to redevelop Audi Field. The core items in the bill text are:
A climate-controlling roof on the stadium
Expanded seating capacity
A new Soccer Stadium Preservation and Improvement Fund for maintenance, repair, and capital improvements
Tax exemptions on excess revenue from the stadium site
An ancillary housing development that includes affordable housing units
The bill states the roof would help the site host more than 100 new events each year. The bill also states that the added revenue would more than triple the District's contribution to the expanded seating.
The Cost and Who Pays
The total price is about $620 million. Under Mendelson's proposal, the District would contribute about $300 million. The remaining cost would be covered through other funding sources.
Audi Field currently seats about 20,000. The bill would add roughly 8,000 seats, which would raise capacity to about 28,000.
How This Affects the DC Defenders
The Defenders play their home games at Audi Field. The team shares the venue with DC United, the Washington Spirit, and DC Power FC. Howard University also hosts its Truth and Service Classic there.
Three parts of the bill matter most for the Defenders:
More seats. A capacity near 28,000 would give the Defenders room to sell more tickets at home games. Audi Field averaged 18,137 fans for soccer in its prior year, which was 90.7% of the 20,000-seat capacity.
A roof for cold-weather games. The UFL plays in spring. A climate-controlled roof would remove the risk of rainouts and cold-weather delays for Defenders home games and give fans an indoor setting.
More events at the venue. The bill targets over 100 new events per year. Audi Field hosted the 2026 United Bowl on June 13, 2026, when the Louisville Kings beat the Defenders. A roofed, larger stadium could position Audi Field to host more UFL events.
The bill does not move the Defenders to a new location. It upgrades the stadium the team already uses. This is separate from the RFK Stadium project, which is a Commanders NFL development and does not involve the Defenders.
The Heat at Audi Field
I was at Audi Field for the United Bowl on June 13, and the heat is a real reason a roof makes sense. Kickoff was 3:00 p.m. ET, a day game. My seats sat in direct sun for the full game. The general seating bowl has limited shade, and sections without cover take the sun the whole way through. The fan-run Beer Snake section, one of the team's signature traditions, sits exposed and got hit with sun for most of the game.
The heat ties back to when the season is played. The XFL kicked off its 2020 and 2023 seasons in February, a week after the Super Bowl. The UFL moved the calendar later. The 2024 season started March 30, the 2025 season started March 28, and the 2026 season started March 27. That pushes the playoffs and championship into June, when DC runs hot. DC's average June high sits near 87 to 90 degrees.
If the UFL ever moves its start date back toward February, spring games would land in cooler weather and the heat issue would shrink. But the league has stayed with a late-March start for three seasons. A roof covers every case. It shades fans from summer sun, blocks rain, and removes cold as a factor if the calendar shifts earlier. Rain, snow, or sun, the cover is not a bad idea.
Would the Stadium Close During Construction?
One open question for Defenders fans is whether Audi Field would shut down for a season or two if the upgrade is approved. The bill text and the reporting available do not state a construction timeline or whether the venue would close during the work. This is not confirmed either way. If the project moves forward, the construction schedule and any closure would need to come from the District, DC United, or the UFL before fans could plan around it.
Where the Bill Stands
The bill is in its early stage. The Committee of the Whole received it on July 14, 2026. The Council has not voted on it. A memorandum from Mendelson's office accompanies the bill in the Council record.
Audi Field continues to draw large events. The US Women's National Team is set to play Spain at the stadium in October 2026.
What's Next
The Committee of the Whole will review B26-0769 before any Council vote. The bill would need Council approval to move forward. For the Defenders, the outcome could set the size of their home crowds and the playing conditions at Audi Field for future UFL seasons.