Sideline reporter hit with falling debris in D.C. United's first game at Audi Field

Jim Reineking | USA TODAY

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D.C. United played its first game at its new stadium, Audi Field, on Saturday. While the result on the field was ideal — a 3-1 drubbing of the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps that included Wayne Rooney's debut with the team — the stadium itself might not have been completely ready for its inaugural game.

Before the start of Saturday night's game, stadium railing fell and struck D.C. United sideline reporter Lindsay Simpson.

Simpson was hit in the head by an object and was unable to be on the game broadcast, D.C. United later confirmed to ESPN. Simpson also serves as D.C. United's director of communications.

A DC United spokesperson has confirmed that sideline reporter Lindsay Simpson was hit in the head by an object and is no longer doing the broadcast tonight. No data yet as to what it was she was hit by. #DCU #DCvVAN — Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) July 15, 2018

NEW: A railing at Audi Field hit D.C. United sideline reporter Lindsay Simpson shortly before today's broadcast.



A team spokesman says Simpson was hit, possibly in the shoulder. Medics treated her on-site.



Staff later seen using duct tape to secure railings around the stadium. pic.twitter.com/yaBpvqnePQ — Kevin Lewis (@ABC7Kevin) July 15, 2018

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 (@ABC7Erin) July 15, 2018

So they’ve had a couple of incidents here at the stadium where sections of railing have fallen - in one incident someone got struck by falling debris. They’ve resorted to duct tape as a temp fix. pic.twitter.com/mgPtckTL4x — Pablo Maurer (@MLSist) July 15, 2018

Rooney signed with D.C. United last month after a successful career with the English Premier League's Everton and Manchester United. Rooney entered Saturday's game as a substitute in the 58th minute and assisted on Paul Arriola's second goal of the game, a strike that gave D.C. United a 3-0 lead in the 80th minute.

D.C. United had spent more than a decade trying to build a new soccer-specific stadium after playing its games in historic, yet crumbling, RFK Stadium.