DC United Attempts to Engage Baltimore Fans Amidst Another Defeat
The pregame atmosphere outside Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday was reminiscent of Lionel Messi’s tenure in Major League Soccer. Supporters gathered, displaying a vibrant mix of Inter Miami pink, Argentina’s national team light blue and white, and the purple of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. Others wore various soccer jerseys, including those of the Baltimore Blast, the city’s closest representation of top-tier soccer.
However, there was a noticeable scarcity of black and red, the colors of DC United. Despite Baltimore’s proximity to Washington, D.C., the city is not traditionally a stronghold for DC United. The club viewed this as an opportunity. They relocated the Miami match from their usual 20,000-capacity Audi Field to Baltimore to maximize ticket sales and showcase themselves to potential fans in Charm City, a market they have sought to engage for years. DC United is in the process of launching an MLS Next Pro team in Baltimore and has partnered with the local government to build a stadium for this club.
This relocation follows a trend among MLS clubs when facing Inter Miami. Last year, the Columbus Crew moved their home game against Miami to Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, home of the NFL’s Browns. Sporting Kansas City kept their match closer to home by moving a Miami visit to Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Chiefs.
Inter Miami won both games played at NFL venues, and Saturday was no exception as they defeated the home side 2-1 with goals from Messi and Rodrigo De Paul. While relocating matches has upset some longtime fans and season-ticket holders, especially when moved out of town, there are valid reasons for these decisions. For DC United, few stadiums in the region can accommodate larger crowds; the only alternative to Baltimore would have been Northwest Stadium, home to the NFL’s Washington Commanders, a venue widely disliked by locals.
Unfortunately for DC United, the loss likely did little to attract new supporters or satisfy existing fans. Conversely, Inter Miami probably expanded their growing fan base.
DC United’s Ongoing Rebuild and Coaching Changes
DC United has been rebuilding for nearly a decade, undergoing frequent changes in coaches, players, and front office personnel. Their current strategy involves head coach René Weiler, a Swiss coach on his 12th appointment in 15 years, and Dr. Erkut Sogut, a former lawyer and sports agent now leading the sporting department for the first time.
Weiler was appointed late last year following the dismissal of Troy Lesesne, former head coach of Red Bull New York. Sogut joined this offseason, offering limited data on his impact. Early results have been disappointing. On Saturday, DC United’s deficiencies were evident in a poor first half where Miami secured the match. The home team was defensively vulnerable and lacked creativity in attack, traits that have recently characterized their play. The 2-0 halftime scoreline was generous to United.
In the second half, DC United improved significantly but only posed notable threats twice: a near-miss overhead kick by Romanian forward Louis Munteanu and a goal by attacker Tai Baribo 15 minutes before the final whistle.
Inter Miami’s Style Evokes DC United’s Glory Days
Fans familiar with DC United’s success in the mid-to-late 1990s might have seen echoes of the past in Inter Miami’s performance. Miami’s rapid four- or five-pass sequences near the penalty area recalled the creative, free-flowing soccer associated with United legends Marco Etcheverry, Jaime Moreno, and Raúl Díaz Arce, a style absent in DC for over a decade. While Miami showed tactical and technical imperfections, they remained entertaining, leaving few of the 72,026 attendees dissatisfied.
Beyond their star trio—Messi, De Paul, and Luis Suárez—Inter Miami boasts a roster of young Latin American talent who would be exciting additions to any recent DC United lineup. Although United cannot afford Argentinian stars like Messi or De Paul, they could benefit from discovering players akin to Telsaco Segovia or Mateo Silvetti. Miami reportedly paid transfer fees for these two players only slightly exceeding the club-record $7 million spent on Munteanu, who has yet to score this season.
Marketing Success Overshadowed by On-Field Struggles
DC United’s front office succeeded in relocating and marketing the match, resulting in a sold-out stadium. However, the team’s performance on the field failed to captivate casual fans or convert them into supporters. Once again, Inter Miami capitalized fully on the opportunity.
