The Spirit will honor Pride with a comprehensive approach blending signature Spirit entertainment with education and community building
Washington, D.C. (06/24/2024) – The Washington Spirit celebrates Pride all night long this Saturday as the team faces off against the North Carolina Courage at 7:30 p.m. EDT. From the time fans enter Audi Field until the final whistle blows, Pride-focused activations, entertainment, and education will highlight the evening.
Saturday will be the last match at Audi Field until August when the Spirit hosts the Washington Spirit International Friendlies. This means that Pride Night will be the final chance to watch the Spirit at Audi Field before the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Considerable care and intention have been dedicated to this year’s Pride Night celebration. Planning for this theme night began last summer in small one-on-one conversations with Spirit LGBTQIA+ contacts throughout DC. The Spirit then dug deeper, including a wider spectrum of identities and organizations that represented and embraced the many intersecting identities within the LGBTQIA+ community to help plan what Pride Night could look like. What fans will experience Saturday night is a display of inclusivity and intention, blended with the hallmark entertainment that Spirit games always deliver.
This starts immediately upon entry. The first 5,000 fans will receive a special edition Pride bucket hat giveaway. Stop by Spiritville to customize your bucket hats with Pride-themed pins and paint. Game programs featuring a special article from Spirit player Anna Heilferty will also be available.
As always, the Spirit Stage will provide the energy as fans enter. On the stage, DJ Kidd Fresh will accompany a drag show with multiple kings and queens. Signage for gender-neutral restroom locations will be visible throughout Audi Field, while the Community Zone will be anchored by Spirit community partner, SMYAL (Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders), offering LGBTQIA+ education and fostering a sense of allyship. The LGBTQIA+-centric supporter group, 202 Unique, will table on the East Concourse for anyone who wishes to learn more.
Also on the East Concourse, Spiritville will remain with a soft play area for kids, meet-and-greet opportunity with PK, EAFC stations, face painters, caricature artists, and more. ESPN 630 AM will also table, offering its exclusive custom Spirit jersey giveaway.
Be on the lookout at merch stands for the Spirit’s new Pride Collection that dropped earlier this month. The clothing line features multiple Pride-themed items, including new replica Pride jerseys, t-shirts, and scarves. 15% of proceeds from purchases of Pride Collection merchandise will be donated to the DC Center for the LGTBQ+ . Ticketholders should be on the lookout for an email later this week for the opportunity to place an online order for pick-up in-stadium on Saturday.
The fun doesn’t stop there. Growing off the success of last year’s drag show performance, which was the largest halftime drag performance in NWSL history, the Spirit will look to entertain the crowd with a Pride Parade on field. Fans interested in participating in the halftime Pride parade with their group can register here.
As fans leave Audi Field after the final whistle, the Spirit wants for everyone – regardless of identity – to have felt a sense of safety, community, inclusion, and, most importantly, fun on this special Pride Night.
Concessions will also have new items to help fans beat the heat, as well as a few more vegetarian/vegan/pescatarian options. Some of these new items include ice cream cups, milkshakes, vegan BBQ sandwiches (made with jackfruit), and teriyaki salmon with quinoa and bok choy.
Tickets Still Available
Fans should be sure to secure tickets to Saturday’s game as soon as possible. Last home match, the Spirit broke its all-time home attendance record when 19,897 fans were on hand to witness the team’s electrifying match against San Diego. Tickets start as low as $15.
The Spirit will also offer a $15 ticket-and-a-drink special for this match. Fans will have the choice of a prickly pear margarita, Blossom ready-to-drink cocktail, water, or soft drink.
Guest Services
Introduced last season for the first time at Audi Field, the Washington Spirit, in partnership with D.C. United, installed a Mamava nursing pod for parents near Guest Services inside Gate A. The private, sanitary space provides comfortable seating and power outlets for pumping equipment. Keyless entry and vacancy alerts are available by downloading the Mamava app.
Fans can communicate with Audi Field officials via text with any questions, concerns or emergencies at the following number: 202-918-3838. All ticketed fans will also receive a post-match survey following each game to allow the club to offer continual improvements on the matchday experience.
Parking will be made available for guests at the GEICO Parking Garage on 1500 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C, 20003. The garage will open at 5:30 p.m. and will close approximately one hour after the event. There will be 600 spaces available on a first come, first serve basis and will cost guests $50. No tailgating will be allowed, and only credit/debit is accepted.
Fans are encouraged to use public transportation on matchday, disembarking at either the Navy Yard-Ballpark or Waterfront Metrorail Stations. The Navy Yard Station has more capacity and is located just one stop away on the Green Line from the Anacostia Metrorail Station where parking is also available. Fans can also use the ADA shuttle that runs from Navy Yard Metro to Audi Field starting pregame and running through postgame.
About The Washington Spirit
The Washington Spirit is the premier professional women’s soccer team based in Washington, D.C. and plays at Audi Field in Buzzard Point. The Spirit was founded on November 21, 2012 and is an inaugural member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) the fastest growing sports league in the US. The club is home to some of the best players in the world who have won championships for both club and country. In 2024, the Spirit drafted an epic class of rookies who are already breaking records and wowing fans. For more information about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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