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Audi Field opened to rave reviews and brought excitement to soccer fans in Washington, D.C. Wayne Rooney made his MLS debut and D.C. United used the energy of opening their new stadium to a sellout of 20,504 fans with a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps. All things were right, all except one hitch. Metal railings fell inside the new stadium, grazing reporter Lindsay Simpson on her head and hitting her shoulder , according to ABC 7’s Erin Hawksworth.
DC United sideline reporter Lindsay Simpson she was hit by a railing at Audi Field and treated by medics. Hope she feels better soon. pic.twitter.com/9bnkXcy1aW
— Erin Hawksworth (@ErinHawksworth) July 15, 2018
It fell and grazed her head and landed on her shoulder according to DC United officials https://t.co/mS5oHFUmsY
— Erin Hawksworth (@ErinHawksworth) July 15, 2018
D.C. United confirmed the incident, while Steven Goff of the Washington Post said she is okay and thankfully was not seriously injured although it could have been worse.
Lindsay Simpson, D.C. United’s communications dir who handles TV sideline reporting, was injured by faulty railing at @AudiField. A source say: “She is OK. Thank goodness nothing serious. It could’ve been really bad if she was positioned few inches over. Freak accident.”
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) July 15, 2018
Officials resorted to using duct tape to temporarily fix the issue with the falling rails. Both Simpson, other fans and media in attendance and the club dodged a huge bullet that there was not a more serious situation from the clear mishap.
