View Full Version : New Stadium Hints/Details
JoeW
23 Oct 2004, 03:54 PM
To make a long story short, while traveling on work this past week (outside the DC area), I bumped into two guys talking about the new stadium plans for DC United. Talk about a bizarre coincidence. Anyway, I couldn't help kibbitizing so I inserted myself into the conversation briefly before I needed to head off to my flite.
A few details that may prove interesting:
--the plans for the stadium are supposed to be very far along.
--the lead designer (or at least the lead person providing stadium design advice to Payne) is a professor/architect at George Mason University (didn't know they had any kind of an architecture program but it could be someone with those credentials in Engineering or Public Policy or some other department).
--He (the lead designer/advisor) is a long-term season ticket holder (evidently since either "96 or "97) till today.
--The stadium was described as a "300 day" venue (meaning, they were looking at doing a lot of events in it, getting 300 days worth of use each year). If so, that would make it a cash cow. Which would provide tremendous financial encentive to get it going and make it a reality (rather than a set of blueprints).
No more details could I garner from the conversation--as much as I wanted more info I needed to get home and couldn't miss my flite.
swedcrip34
23 Oct 2004, 03:57 PM
thanks
but come on, it would have been worth missing your flight. selfish :)
JoeW
23 Oct 2004, 04:06 PM
thanks
but come on, it would have been worth missing your flight. selfish :)
Believe me, I was tempted.
G Enriquez
23 Oct 2004, 04:14 PM
Thank's for that info Joe W. I can't wait till you guy's get your own stadium.
D.C.United fan's deserve it.
gnat
23 Oct 2004, 04:16 PM
--The stadium was described as a "300 day" venue (meaning, they were looking at doing a lot of events in it, getting 300 days worth of use each year). If so, that would make it a cash cow. Which would provide tremendous financial encentive to get it going and make it a reality (rather than a set of blueprints).
Thanks for the tidbits Joe.
If that part is true, i'd be a bit worried. One of the best things for us the last couple of seasons is that we rarely had to share our pitch with anyone. The result was arguably the best pitch in all of MLS (i'm sorry HDC is crap, at least as seen on TV).
While I understand that they have to make money off it, and that means concerts and other events, I hope they don't "overbook" the place to the detriment of the field.
-dave
AndyMead
23 Oct 2004, 04:24 PM
--the lead designer (or at least the lead person providing stadium design advice to Payne) is a professor/architect at George Mason University (didn't know they had any kind of an architecture program but it could be someone with those credentials in Engineering or Public Policy or some other department).
www.gmu.edu
No Architecture
No Architectural Engineering
There is a Public Policy and Management minor, but it has no engineering/architectural coursework.
Sundevil9
23 Oct 2004, 04:39 PM
www.gmu.edu
No Architecture
No Architectural Engineering
There is a Public Policy and Management minor, but it has no engineering/architectural coursework.
http://www.civil.gmu.edu/
Civil Engieering.
It's much easier to spell than Archtectural.
AndyMead
23 Oct 2004, 04:54 PM
http://www.civil.gmu.edu/
Civil Engieering.
It's much easier to spell than Archtectural.
Fair enough.
Looking at the faculty bios, the most likely candidate seems to be Dr. Tomasz Arciszewski.
Anybody seen this guy at United games?
http://www.civil.gmu.edu/Faculty%20Pictures/Tomasz%20Arciszewski.jpg
SABuffalo786
23 Oct 2004, 05:03 PM
If it's true, that's really cool that a fan is designing it.
sch2383
23 Oct 2004, 05:20 PM
If a fan is designing, he would certainly realize the importence of bouncing stands for DC United fans.
Sachin
23 Oct 2004, 05:23 PM
There will be a stage at one end of the stadium. No need to worry about "overuse"
Sachin
swedcrip34
23 Oct 2004, 06:03 PM
There will be a stage at one end of the stadium. No need to worry about "overuse"
Sachin
But will the moshers be on the field?
But really, overuse of a MLS operated SSS is the least of my worries. Can't wait until every team is complaining about their pitch then. And judging by US @ Panama maybe learning to play on a substandard pitch could be useful.
AndyMead
23 Oct 2004, 06:24 PM
But will the moshers be on the field?
But really, overuse of a MLS operated SSS is the least of my worries. Can't wait until every team is complaining about their pitch then. And judging by US @ Panama maybe learning to play on a substandard pitch could be useful.
I was there. The field itself wasn't so bad. It was the rain and the light that sucked. I've found the fields in the Caribbean to be far worse.
monster
23 Oct 2004, 06:38 PM
Odds are if he's doing a project like this, the guy is an adjunct who works full-time.
DigitalTron
23 Oct 2004, 06:40 PM
You Sir ... rock. :) I'm shocked that you couldn't think of a reason to exchange business cards though! OK ok ok, maybe that's a bit much ... thanks man!
-Digital
swedcrip34
23 Oct 2004, 07:02 PM
I was there. The field itself wasn't so bad. It was the rain and the light that sucked. I've found the fields in the Caribbean to be far worse.
But wasn't a problem that the rain didn't drain of the field? That was what I meant by "field". My point wasn't clear (you made it) that a general problem against CONCACAF "minnows" (and some giants!) will be less than perfect field conditions (meant to include wetness and light in my definition). But anyway, my real point was that overused SSS fields are the least of my concerns for the betterment of the future of MLS right now.
monster
23 Oct 2004, 07:08 PM
The cool thing about "overuse" is that, with the team holding the keys to the palace, they can make someone else responsible for what happens on the field when soccer isn't being played.
AndyMead
23 Oct 2004, 07:18 PM
But wasn't a problem that the rain didn't drain of the field? That was what I meant by "field". My point wasn't clear (you made it) that a general problem against CONCACAF "minnows" (and some giants!) will be less than perfect field conditions (meant to include wetness and light in my definition). But anyway, my real point was that overused SSS fields are the least of my concerns for the betterment of the future of MLS right now.
I could say the same about RFK Stadium. Whenever it rains, RFK is a mosh pit. My contention is that, on the whole, the field will be better next year, even with an infield.
Barbara
23 Oct 2004, 07:25 PM
I could say the same about RFK Stadium. Whenever it rains, RFK is a mosh pit. My contention is that, on the whole, the field will be better next year, even with an infield.
On what do you base that?
Lowecifer
24 Oct 2004, 02:12 AM
Let me just say that if a Civil Engineer is involved, it better just be with the drainage system or the hookups to the utility grid of DC.
In no universe is a civil engineer qualified to design a building.
If they want a fan involved, I know of a few architects with season tickets. Ahem.