Good morning. This is The Washington Sun Metro newsletter for Oct. 26, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!
In today’s newsletter: A roof for Audi Field, Turnstile on the Mall and the Marine Corps Marathon.
Capital Weather’s Daily Digit — 9/10. A little early fog and frost are the only blemishes on an otherwise spectacular fall day. Read the full forecast.
THE LATEST
Trending
D.C. United’s new goal is to add 8,000 seats and a roof to Audi Field, but a key part of the deal — public money to help cover the costs — won’t be an easy score.
The D.C. Council is now considering a bill that would contribute $300 million to the project, with the team kicking in $320 million of its own for the expansion of the stadium and construction of more than 400 units of housing on an adjacent parcel of land, The Washington Sun’s Martin Austermuhle reports.
Team officials and boosters of the proposed deal say it would turn Audi Field into a year-round venue able to host more sporting events, as well as concerts. Along with D.C. United, the venue already hosts the Washington Spirit, Power FC and D.C. Defenders. Proponents say more seats and a roof would both facilitate Major League Soccer’s upcoming schedule change and grow the number of teams able to play there.
Critics say the deal is unnecessary and poorly conceived, even more so in an era where D.C. is facing a slowing economy and leaner budget. The opponents — which include Mayor Muriel Bowser — say Audi Field is only eight years old, was built in part with taxpayer dollars and could cannibalize events at Capital One Arena, which is itself being renovated with $515 million from the city.
The proposed deal faces plenty of obstacles, but a big one is the Spirit. The popular women’s team is currently renegotiating its lease to use Audi Field, and team officials have made little secret of wanting to use the bill as leverage to win things like increased signage, their own locker room and more. “It’s very hard for us to be supportive if you’re not able to bring the Spirit on-side,” said Ward 3 council member Matt Frumin at a hearing last week.
D.C. United has been playing smart politics, though. The team says it has reached an initial agreement with labor unions to ensure that union workers are used on the stadium and housing, nailing down a detail that’s important for many D.C. lawmakers — and is often fought out at the last minute.
FROM THE DISTRICT
Organizers estimated 60,000 attendees gathered at the Washington Monument on Saturday for Baltimore hardcore band Turnstile’s free show, where donations went toward humanitarian efforts in Palestine, Sudan and Lebanon.
Frontman Brendan Yates asked the crowd to be “loud enough for the White House to hear.”
“Free Palestine. Free Sudan. Free Lebanon. And always, always, keep it moving,” Yates shouted, giving moshers the go-ahead. The Sun’s Paige Huffman witnessed men kicking each other and then hugging gleefully seconds after, Turnstile Orioles shirts, a kid-friendly mosh pit in the back, and mounted Park Police. As of Sunday morning, the show had raised $225,000 for Canadian relief group Human Concern International.
Gretchen Evans was one of thousands who ran the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday. The 66-year-old’s military career came to an abrupt end in 2006, when a mortar blast in Afghanistan left her with a traumatic brain injury and total hearing loss, but that didn’t take away her love of running. The Sun’s Yasmeen Khan writes that Evans wants to run into her 80s, or, “until the wheels come off.”
The new neighborhood joints: With drinking on the decline, Washingtonians are finding community within cannabis dispensaries, The Sun’s Torrie Herrington reports. Thanks to a 2023 law, D.C. allows licensed medical cannabis retailers to offer on-site consumption areas for patients. The result: an alternative to the traditional bar.
Mind the gap. WMATA is facing a $79 million to $114 million funding gap in its fiscal year 2028 budget, The Sun’s Will Hofmann reports. Despite plans to increase fares by 11.1% in the coming year, higher fuel and paratransit costs have driven up the agency’s expenses, said Chief Financial Officer Dave Rickard during a board meeting. Boosting bus fare compliance — which currently sits at just 37% — could be one way to help close the deficit, Rickard said.
There are more than 1,600 outstanding housing code violations across the buildings Buwa Binitie’s companies own or operate in D.C., including life-threatening issues that have gone unaddressed for years, City Cast D.C. reports.
The landlord made headlines last month after being sued by D.C.’s attorney general for “extreme and pervasive disrepair” at one of his properties, and after his attorney — former AG Karl Racine — crashed a protest to defend him. Tenants living in Binitie’s properties have organized, filing complaints and lawsuits, The 51st reports.
FROM VIRGINIA
The family of a Northern Virginia man who died while in police custody is suing the city of Alexandria and two of its police officers, FOX5 reports.
FROM MARYLAND
Prince George’s County got back the $7.6 million it had awarded to a nonprofit organization after weeks of scrutiny over the circumstances surrounding the award,WUSA 9 reports.
Earlier this month, County Executive Aisha Braveboy requested that the Edward Charles Foundation, a California-based organization that serves as a fiscal sponsor for the nonprofit Community of the Frontline, return all its county-awarded funds after council members Jolene Ivey and Sydney Harrison accused council chair Krystal Oriadha of directing the money to the nonprofit because of personal ties to its leadership.
FROM THE DINING ROOM
Veteran New York restaurateur Danny Meyer (Gramercy Tavern, The Modern, Shake Shack, Union Square Cafe, etc.) is coming to D.C. on Tuesday to talk to Sun food correspondent Tom Sietsema at the Sulgrave Club about his new, best-selling book, “What Could Possibly Go Right?” Ahead of his visit, we asked the visionary behind Union Square Hospitality Group a couple of questions.
What do you wish more diners knew about your industry?
There’s a perceived adversarial relationship between customers and restaurants, especially regarding places that are hard to reserve. People should understand we’re on the same team.
What three New York restaurants that aren’t yours do you tend to frequent?
Borgo, Claud and Elio’s, for Italian, bistro French and Italian, respectively. The first two are headed by USHG alums and the last is where I decided I wanted to be a restaurateur, in 1984.
(His happiest place, though, is home, eating a chicken picked up from Daily Provisions, his all-day cafe and bakery.)
TRIVIA
Which of the following has not been proposed as a major stadium site for D.C. United?
- Fort Totten
- Westport, Maryland
- Poplar Point
Email us the answer — the first reader who gets it right gets a shout out. The answer will be at the end of the newsletter tomorrow.
SPORTS
After Sunday’s XXXXX against the Kansas City Current, the Spirit have just one regular season game remaining. One of the most underrated reasons for Washington’s success this year? Goalkeeper Sandy MacIver. When longtime keeper Aubrey Kingsbury announced she was going on maternity leave this season, MacIver was thrust into a starting role for the first time in three seasons. She has proved more than capable, contributing to a franchise-record 11 shutouts this season. Nicky Wolcott profiles MacIver for The Sun.
Tonight is Game 3 of the World Series, with the Brewers holding a 2-0 lead over the Rays. The Sun’s Thomas Boswell writes that this year’s series should be called “the Brainiac Classic,” as Tampa Bay and Milwaukee are two of the league’s most analytics-minded teams. Although they represent small markets, both franchises have spent heavily on baseball science and that investment has paid off.
What to Watch Today
NBA: Wizards at Hornets, 7 p.m. (Monumental)
NFL: Cowboys at Eagles, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN)
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The newsletter was produced by Jaden Amos, Michael Errigo and Gaby Morera Di Núbila.
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