DC "Very Likely To Get Expos" Part II

[United_Caps_Fan]

Maximim reply count approached in first thread, so its closed. Continue on here if you like.

MOD request: Could we please yellow card and remove inflamatory trolls? Thanks.

[JoeW]

Maximim reply count approached in first thread, so its closed. Continue on here if you like.

MOD request: Could we please yellow card and remove inflamatory trolls? Thanks.

FedEx field has been mentioned as an option by a couple of folks. Here's a consideration: I suspect it would be an extremely costly rent for DCU. Afterall, it's not as if Daniel Snyder is begging for tennants--he can charge whatever he wants and get away with it (b/c he's already so profitable with the Skins).

[Bill-DC]

FedEx field has been mentioned as an option by a couple of folks. Here's a consideration: I suspect it would be an extremely costly rent for DCU. Afterall, it's not as if Daniel Snyder is begging for tennants--he can charge whatever he wants and get away with it (b/c he's already so profitable with the Skins).

Having United play at Danny World would be costly. I would like to see them play at U of MD.

[fatbastard]

I was thinking George Mason ....

[Lowecifer]

I was thinking M&T Bank Stadium...

:D

[beltwayrob]

Here's the link to George Mason Stadium http://gmusports.collegesports.com/facilities/gmu-stadium.html

Nice but way too small for DCU games. Only seats 5K in the grandstands. We'd be much better off probably at UMD or building a temporary stadium.

[JoeW]

I'd love GMU b/c it's so close to where I am. PLUS, I bet an arrangement could be worked out with GMU for DCU to train fulltime at the University (what with the fields, fieldhouse, locker rooms, weights, pool, potential office space, etc.).

And, given enough time, I think there could be an effort to expand the field in which the University might participate (b/c after it's all over they'd have a larger stadium to host other events--concerts, NCAA soccer tournament, etc.).

But right now it is definitely too small. And the larger issue is traffic. If the stadium could be expanded to handle 15K-20K you'd just have a disaster at that intersection of 123 and Braddock--even if the games were later or only on weekends and avoided rush-hour. For instance, mid-week in the Fall or late Spring there would be no parking during the evenings (mid-week games) b/c of night courses.

[Th4119]

I'd love GMU b/c it's so close to where I am. PLUS, I bet an arrangement could be worked out with GMU for DCU to train fulltime at the University (what with the fields, fieldhouse, locker rooms, weights, pool, potential office space, etc.).

And, given enough time, I think there could be an effort to expand the field in which the University might participate (b/c after it's all over they'd have a larger stadium to host other events--concerts, NCAA soccer tournament, etc.).

But right now it is definitely too small. And the larger issue is traffic. If the stadium could be expanded to handle 15K-20K you'd just have a disaster at that intersection of 123 and Braddock--even if the games were later or only on weekends and avoided rush-hour. For instance, mid-week in the Fall or late Spring there would be no parking during the evenings (mid-week games) b/c of night courses.

A few points on this post.

Mason is trying to expand the stadium, much like UMD did with Ludwig recently. Right now there is only 5k in the grandstand, but with temporary seating that would come with DC United it could easily be expanded to the 15,000+ range.

There are, as Joe points out, some serious issues though. It's not all that close to the Vienna Metro stop first of all. It's not entirely far but probably about a 20 or 25 minute bus ride on the Cue bus system.

Secondly, and more importantly, the area just couldn't handle the traffic. It's bad enough in the Fairfax/Burke area most days anyway, and this wouldn't help much at all. The 123/Braddock intersection is already a mess, and that's the way most people would probably travel because of the Beltway.

Also, parking immediately around the stadium is small to say the least, which would force people to try and park on campus. There are a lot of spots that aren't too far from the stadium, but again as JoeW points out with Mason being about 75% off campus students, most of these spots are taken throughout the week.

I go to Mason so for me it would be great to have United play there, and the training fields are kept in top shape, but again there are some more problems. I know that Mason has a reputation for charging an exorbanent amount for their training facilities, as the US Men's and Women's teams used to train there, along with other teams that were in the area, but have since stopped for the most part and looked for other places in the area. Potentially a deal could be worked out because United would be increasing GMU's revenue by playing at the stadium, but frankly I don't see it happening.

Furthermore, the fields would be tough to keep up in the Fall because that's when Mason's mens and womens teams are using the training fields and the game pitch. I don't think the game field would hold up very long with, depending on scheduling, 4 or 5 games a night on it per week.

Again, I'd love more than anyone to have United playing within walking distance from me, but I'd be the last person to say it's a good idea for the team.

[MattR]

With the competition between Northern VA and Washington DC over the stadium deal, we need to realize this: there is going to be one big pissed-off group of losers.

If the team ends up in NoVa or in DC, we're going to have some creative scheduling with RFK, or we're playing somewhere else for a few years.

If we can hook up with the 'losers' of baseball, either NoVa or DC, we can play them off one another like baseball has been doing for years. Maybe promise a stadium on the future Metro by Dulles, or at DC. Hopefully.

DCU Management is probably going to have to get off their a$$ and do something, however. Constantly complaining about getting raped by RFK, while simultaneously doing nothing about it, is getting old.

[Pints]

I was thinking M&T Bank Stadium...

:D


here here! That's two for M &T !

[JoeW]

I think there's another factor here. Unfortunately, baseball's success (or mediocrity) problem has significant impact on the chances of a SSS. For instance, if the Expos come to DC and are a dude--failing to draw well from the start, that may have at least 2 impacts.

1. It delays development of a baseball stadium (yikes--should we spend all this money on a new baseball stadium if the team isn't drawing?) and
2. If the team does poorly and can't draw (especially after the first year), it reinforces the argument that "DC is only a football town: baseball, basketball, hockey don't draw so why build a SSS?"

I really don't think there is a way to finess this. DCU's management needs to focus on building a SSS and move forward, regardless of what happens with the Expos. They could be another 2 years before they come here. Or never.

[Bill-DC]

I was thinking M&T Bank Stadium...

:D


Lowecifer United sounds good :)

[JoeW]

I'm going to offer another option for a temporary stadium: George Mason HS. It's near the U.Va/Va. Tech extension campus and is on Metro. There it has a lot of parking (but is on Metro anyway). Worst case--you could drive to another metro stop (Dunn Loring, whatever--park, and then Metro one or two stops to the game). It's right off of 66. Mid-week games during school season would be a mess--b/c of night classes at U.Va/Va. Tech. But during the summer, parking isn't as bad--especially on Saturdays (afternoon and evening).

You'd need to upgrade the field and increase the size of the stands substantially. It wouldn't offer the additional facilitaties (training, lockers) that GMU does. But traffic and parking would be substantially better. And, like doing something with GMU, it would always work than as a "second home." For instance, let's suppose a SSS isn't in the cards. Which means DCU moves back to RFK. Than the smaller field is available for mid-week games during the summer, USOC games, stuff like that--where we'd be looking at 8K-10K max.

The key is, that while the field upgrade and stands are do-able, it would have to involve starting soon. But the rest of the pieces of the puzzle (something that is still not that far to DC, near major transportation arteries, already has some infrastructure available)--those pieces of the puzzle are already there.

[owendylan]

Other venues in the area has been discussed so many times before, but realistically Byrd Stadium is the only viable alternative besides FedEx Field to RFK if the Expos move and DCU doesn't want to share RFK and an SSS is not being built. While Ludwig Field is nice it currently on site 1,850 according to the UMd website and looking at a picture of that site there isn't much room for significant expansion. You might be able to squeeze in another 4-5,000 fans by adding bleachers to the two end of the place but that's pushing it and just under 8,000 seats just won't cut it. With GMU, besides the traffic issue, I don't think they have the room to expand that place much with out actually moving the soccer field and stadium somewhere else on campus. The stadium currently seats 5,000, one end has the scoreboard and no extra space for seats, so maybe you can get capacity up to around 12,000. That wuoldn't be too bad but I bet GMU charges a bunch. Add to that the men's and women's soccer, women's lacrosse and both track teams and you'd have a scheduling nightmare or a field so cut up the players would wish they were on FieldTurf. No other area school has a facility worth looking at. With Byrd stadium you have a large stadium with somewhat close metro access. The cons for Byrd are you would have to deal with football and maybe lacrosse lines on the field. Because of football and lacrosse getting good dates once school starts would be hard. Who knows what the rent might be. Given UMd need for money and the success of the football program they would probably charge a lot. For those who care to imbibe while at a game, do they sell beer at Byrd?

[writered21]

I'm going to offer another option for a temporary stadium: George Mason HS. It's near the U.Va/Va. Tech extension campus and is on Metro. There it has a lot of parking (but is on Metro anyway). Worst case--you could drive to another metro stop (Dunn Loring, whatever--park, and then Metro one or two stops to the game). It's right off of 66. Mid-week games during school season would be a mess--b/c of night classes at U.Va/Va. Tech. But during the summer, parking isn't as bad--especially on Saturdays (afternoon and evening).

You'd need to upgrade the field and increase the size of the stands substantially. It wouldn't offer the additional facilitaties (training, lockers) that GMU does. But traffic and parking would be substantially better. And, like doing something with GMU, it would always work than as a "second home." For instance, let's suppose a SSS isn't in the cards. Which means DCU moves back to RFK. Than the smaller field is available for mid-week games during the summer, USOC games, stuff like that--where we'd be looking at 8K-10K max.

The key is, that while the field upgrade and stands are do-able, it would have to involve starting soon. But the rest of the pieces of the puzzle (something that is still not that far to DC, near major transportation arteries, already has some infrastructure available)--those pieces of the puzzle are already there.

For what it's worth, if we're going to consider high school fields, I'd look at Woodson or West Springfield before I'd consider GMHS.

But count me as Vote 3 for M&T. :p

[beltwayrob]

Oh lord! Please not anywhere near 66! That damn freeway is a ZOO 24/7!

[owendylan]

I'm going to offer another option for a temporary stadium: George Mason HS. It's near the U.Va/Va. Tech extension campus and is on Metro. There it has a lot of parking (but is on Metro anyway). Worst case--you could drive to another metro stop (Dunn Loring, whatever--park, and then Metro one or two stops to the game). It's right off of 66. Mid-week games during school season would be a mess--b/c of night classes at U.Va/Va. Tech. But during the summer, parking isn't as bad--especially on Saturdays (afternoon and evening).

You'd need to upgrade the field and increase the size of the stands substantially. It wouldn't offer the additional facilitaties (training, lockers) that GMU does. But traffic and parking would be substantially better. And, like doing something with GMU, it would always work than as a "second home." For instance, let's suppose a SSS isn't in the cards. Which means DCU moves back to RFK. Than the smaller field is available for mid-week games during the summer, USOC games, stuff like that--where we'd be looking at 8K-10K max.

The key is, that while the field upgrade and stands are do-able, it would have to involve starting soon. But the rest of the pieces of the puzzle (something that is still not that far to DC, near major transportation arteries, already has some infrastructure available)--those pieces of the puzzle are already there.
And people are complaining about the size of the field at FedEx! This would need to be a multi-million dollar renovation to become acceptable to everyone. Could you imagine trying to recruit a player to play for DC.
q:"What's your stadium like?"
A: We play at a renovated high school field. We share a locker room with the football, and soccer team from the school.

We would worse of a laughing stock than dallas was at Dragon. We already have a nice small stadium for Open Cup games where attendance is small anyway, the stadium at MSC. We currently average more than 8-10K for midweek games so now we're turning away paying fans. Mid-week games would be a mess because traffic on 66 sucks.

[mcontento]

I'm going to offer another option for a temporary stadium: George Mason HS. It's near the U.Va/Va. Tech extension campus and is on Metro. There it has a lot of parking (but is on Metro anyway). Worst case--you could drive to another metro stop (Dunn Loring, whatever--park, and then Metro one or two stops to the game). It's right off of 66. Mid-week games during school season would be a mess--b/c of night classes at U.Va/Va. Tech. But during the summer, parking isn't as bad--especially on Saturdays (afternoon and evening).

You'd need to upgrade the field and increase the size of the stands substantially. It wouldn't offer the additional facilitaties (training, lockers) that GMU does. But traffic and parking would be substantially better. And, like doing something with GMU, it would always work than as a "second home." For instance, let's suppose a SSS isn't in the cards. Which means DCU moves back to RFK. Than the smaller field is available for mid-week games during the summer, USOC games, stuff like that--where we'd be looking at 8K-10K max.

The key is, that while the field upgrade and stands are do-able, it would have to involve starting soon. But the rest of the pieces of the puzzle (something that is still not that far to DC, near major transportation arteries, already has some infrastructure available)--those pieces of the puzzle are already there.

They are building a parking deck at West Falls now, will be finished by next summer adding many more spaces.

[mcontento]

I was thinking M&T Bank Stadium...


Where is that? And DON'T say Baltimore!!! :mad: ;)



What about GU? I know their stadium is small but it is IN the city. I'm sure there are many problems with commuting there but as far as retrofitting a stadium goes its no different than the half dozen other sites mentioned.

[Freestyle2000]

Where is that? And DON'T say Baltimore!!! :mad: ;)



What about GU? I know their stadium is small but it is IN the city. I'm sure there are many problems with commuting there but as far as retrofitting a stadium goes its no different than the half dozen other sites mentioned.

1) Do you want to drive and try and park in Georgetown? GU is a bit of a walk from any metro stop, and shuttles can only do so much.

2) DCU will never, ever get a college inside the district to upgrade athletic facilities in order to host sporting events on Saturday nights. The town-and-gown tension at nearly all of these campuses is higher than in most other cities.

RS