Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
D.C. United history
D.C. United company history timeline
On June 15, 1994, Major League Soccer selected Washington, D.C. out of twenty-two applicants to host one of the first seven teams, with three more added before the league's launch.
1995: Billionaire investor George Soros, backing Washington Soccer LP, wins the ownership rights for D.C. United as Major League Soccer is being created.
On April 6, 1996, D.C. United played in the league's inaugural match against the San Jose Clash in Spartan Stadium in San Jose, California.
D.C. United has played in Major League Soccer since it was founded in 1996.
The league launches in 1996.
D.C. repeated its MLS Cup victory in 1997 against the Colorado Rapids, in front of a home crowd at RFK Stadium.
The team also experienced early success in CONCACAF competitions, winning both the Champions' Cup and the Interamerican Cup in 1998.
When a potential deal with a New York investment group collapses in the fall of 2000, MLS takes stewardship.
2001-06: Anschutz Entertainment Group, headed by Colorado billionaire and conservative financier Phil Anschutz, adds United to its growing list of MLS properties.
United's attendance record at RFK Stadium is 54,282, in a match against the Tampa Bay Mutiny in 2001.
January 2002: Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), founded by billionaire Philip Anschultz, buys D.C. United.
The team did not, however, fare much better under Hudson, and Piotr Nowak replaced him before the start of the 2004 season.
In July 2005, AEG finds one, or so it thinks: Global Development Partners, which hopes to oversee a stadium project at Poplar Point in Southeast D.C. The investment agreement is formally announced at the National Press Club, the same day United hosts English titan Chelsea FC at FedEx Field.
In 2005, the club again made MLS history by becoming the first United States-based team to participate in Copa Sudamericana, entering in the Round of sixteen.
On December 11, 2006, D.C. United traded Adu and goalkeeper Nick Rimando to Real Salt Lake in exchange for a major allocation, goalkeeper Jay Nolly, and future considerations.
In addition, the 2006 MLS All-Star Team, which included eight United players and was managed by United's manager Piotr Nowak, defeated English champions Chelsea.
Since 2006, United has played well against international competition, beating Scottish champions Celtic F.C. and drawing Real Madrid in Seattle.
The pro soccer team has called RFK Stadium its home for all of those years but owners have been working since 2007 to strike a deal with D.C. or another jurisdiction for a new publicly financed stadium.
2007: Victor MacFarlane and Will Chang, San Francisco-based businessmen, purchase United’s operating rights.
During this stretch, United's lone major title came in 2008, when they won the United States Open Cup.
They had a poor 2010 MLS season, winning only six matches, drawing four, and losing 20.
In 2011, United again failed to qualify for the playoffs in the second to last week of the campaign.
In 2012, United returned to the playoffs for the first time in five years, clinching a berth in the second-to-last week of the season.
D.C. United tallied a total of only three wins in the 2013 season, setting a record for fewest wins in league history.
In 2014, D.C. United executed a historic turnaround by clinching first place in the Eastern Conference, which also earned the team its second consecutive Champions League berth.
In December 2015, D.C. United revealed their new team logo.
In 2015, D.C. United qualified for the 2015 MLS playoffs.
D.C. United qualified for the MLS playoffs again in 2016, but were knocked out early by the Montreal Impact in the first round.
In 2017, D.C. United missed the playoffs and finished last in the eastern conference.
D.C. United's 2017 season was its last season in RFK Stadium.
Rate D.C. United's efforts to communicate its history to employees.
D.C. United jobs
Do you work at D.C. United?
Does D.C. United communicate its history to new hires?
D.C. United competitors
| Company name | Founded date | Revenue | Employee size | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Union | 2008 | $3.3M | 236 | 4 |
| FC Cincinnati | 2018 | $6.0M | 190 | 23 |
| Nashville Predators Foundation Empowered by SmileDirectClub | 1998 | $8.4M | 149 | - |
| North Carolina FC | 2006 | $8.6M | 122 | - |
| Battery Solutions | 1992 | $120,000 | 5 | - |
| Major League Soccer | 1996 | $210.0M | 839 | 39 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 1992 | $2.1M | 35 | 5 |
| Chicago Fire FC | 1997 | $7.8M | 321 | 8 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 2000 | $11.0M | 294 | 1 |
| LA Galaxy | 1994 | $3.3M | 23 | - |
D.C. United history FAQs
Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of D.C. United, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about D.C. United. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at D.C. United. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by D.C. United. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of D.C. United and its employees or that of Zippia.
D.C. United may also be known as or be related to D.C United Partners LLC, D.C. United, D.c. United and DC Soccer, LLC.