Carlini Field - District Elite FC

Photos courtesy of Gregory Koch

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86

Carlini Field

4900 Bates Rd NE Washington, DC 20011

District Elite FC website

Carlini Field website

Year Opened: 2019

Capacity: 1,000 (estimated)

Elite Soccer in the District

District Elite FC is a semi-professional soccer team who joined the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) in 2025. Their home games are played at Carlini Field on the campus of the Catholic University of America (CUA) in Washington, D.C. During the academic year, Catholic's soccer and lacrosse teams call Carlini home, but over the summer, it is home to District Elite.

The NPSL, together with the UPSL and the confusingly named USL League Two, comprise the fourth division of American soccer. They are the highest level that is not fully professional, and consist mostly of current college soccer players and recent graduates.

The pay is structured in a way that allows current athletes to retain their amateur eligibility if they are competing in the NPSL over the summer. However, occasionally some aging former professional who just wants to continue playing somewhere will show up in the NPSL as well.

Like many teams at this level, the District Elite FC organization includes not just the NPSL club but also a club in the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL), the women's equivalent of the NPSL, as well as several youth development teams of various ages. It is not uncommon to see kids from District Elite's youth program in the stands for an NPSL game, and the team regularly plays doubleheaders with the WPSL club.

Food & Beverage 4

There is no permanent concession stand at District Elite FC games. Instead, there are several food trucks and other local vendors in the parking lot outside the stadium. Fans can exit and re-enter to purchase food. El Jefe Wood Fired Pizza serves up made-to-order pizza in their wood oven. In addition to a classic pizza with cheese and tomato sauce, various specialty pizzas are available, including a unique one topped with sweet corn, mozzarella and cotija cheese, cilantro, and chipotle aioli. The pizza only takes a few minutes to make, but you may have to wait on line, so we suggest getting it before the game. If you go at the beginning of halftime, you should be back in time for the second half. This vendor also sells bottled water and soda cans. Prices for a whole, personal-sized pizza range from $13-$17, which for the quality of the food is pretty much what you'd expect.

There was also a Kona ice truck when we visited.

Atmosphere 3

There are several places at Carlini Field where fans can watch the game. Entering the stadium from the parking lot will put you on a plaza of sorts, with various patio-like furniture fans can sit on and watch the game. You will have to arrive early if you want to sit here, as it is first-come, first-served. You can move the chairs around, but there are very few places that won't be at least partially obstructed by trees.

You can also walk down the steps from the plaza to a path, then walk down the path and up to a more conventional seating area. The middle section here consists of plastic chairbacks, while the two outer sections are metal bleachers. These seats will put you up close to the action. However, there is no shade in these seats until the sun goes behind the plaza and the trees, which will not happen until around 7:30 or 8 PM depending on when in the summer you are seeing a game. The plaza is in the shade, so many fans will hang out there to stay cool.

A scoreboard on the far side shows only the most basic information and can be hard to see in the bright light.

There is not much going on here other than the game itself. Before the game, staff will go through the stands looking for children to work as ball kids. Many of them are eager for the chance to go down on the field and be with the players and will jump at the opportunity. Overall, this is a relatively basic experience, about what you'd expect for a game at this level.

Neighborhood 4

Catholic University is located in the Brookland neighborhood of Washington, D.C. This neighborhood is sometimes called "Little Rome" due to the large number of Catholic institutions. In addition to CUA, there are several other Catholic high schools, colleges, and other institutions, as well as the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

There are certainly other places to go in Brookland as well. Busboys and Poets is a popular bookstore, coffee shop, and restaurant located across Michigan Avenue from the south side of campus. The Brookland Pint is a popular bar serving beer and burgers. The Brookland Grill on 12th Street is a more affordable option.

Fans 3

District Elite FC will draw about 100-200 for a typical home match. As most of their opponents are located close to the District, a good portion of them will be there to cheer on the visiting team. Many of them are friends and family of the players on the field, and as noted above, many of them are families with kids participating in District Elite's youth system. Only a few have no personal connection whatsoever to either of the teams.

Those in attendance are deeply knowledgeable about the teams, players, and even the referees working the game. They can get loud at times, and one or two of them will bring flags and wave them during big moments, but for the most part, this crowd is standard for this level of play.

Access 5

There are many options for arriving at Carlini Field. There is a lot next to the stadium with free parking, and if that fills up, fans can park in the much larger DuFour Center lot. However, this is unlikely to be necessary. Parking for District Elite games is free.

Fans can also take Metro's Red or Green Line to Fort Totten or the Red like to Brookland-CUA. Despite having CUA in the name, the Brookland station is a slightly further walk to Carlini Field. Although the Brookland station is closer to the center of campus, Carlini Field is on the northern edge, putting it closer to Fort Totten to the north than Brookland to the south. That being said, the difference is so marginal that riding the extra stop on the Red Line to Fort Totten (if you are coming from that direction) would take longer. In either case, the walk should take about 15-20 minutes.

Restrooms are available on the plaza by the entrance - the men's room is on one side of the building, and the women's room is on the other.

Return on Investment 5

Tickets to District Elite FC games are just $12, with children getting in for just $8. The concessions are decently priced for the quality of the food. Overall, a District Elite FC game is an outstanding value.

Extras 3

One extra star for the many vantage points from which to watch a game including the plaza seating area.

Look for the merchandise tent by the entrance selling District Elite FC merchandise.

A third and final star for a chance to see multiple games on a single ticket, a WPSL and NPSL game. Not all matches are doubleheaders, but if you plan right, you can spend an entire afternoon or evening watching soccer.

Final Thoughts

If you're a soccer fan in the DC area looking for a chance to watch a soccer game at a great price, a District Elite FC game is worth a visit. It's not the most elaborate or fancy experience you will find at a soccer game, but it's still something a whole family can enjoy in a fan-friendly environment.