View Full Version : Stadium News XIII: Contact the Media & your Councilmembers Now, Vote is Tuesday June 3
Stan Collins
15 Mar 2008, 01:19 PM
Somebody asked in part XII about the "State of the District" speech.
http://dc.gov/mayor/news/release.asp?id=1260&mon=200803
Nothing in there relevant to us. Mentions Poplar Point, but no stadium references.
sitruc
15 Mar 2008, 10:57 PM
Somebody asked in part XII about the "State of the District" speech.
http://dc.gov/mayor/news/release.asp?id=1260&mon=200803
Nothing in there relevant to us. Mentions Poplar Point, but no stadium references.
Thanks. I'm that somebody.
//too lazy to make four clicks to subscribe to the thread yet not too lazy to respond...
JoeSoccerFan
16 Mar 2008, 12:30 AM
In summary, I see the options as the following:
new soccer stadium in PP
new soccer stadium in DC (besides PP)
new soccer stadium in DC suburbs (probably MD, but could be DC)
DCU moves to a new city with a stadium
While I'm hoping for something besides the last option, one of these options is inevitable.
sitruc
16 Mar 2008, 12:47 AM
In summary, I see the options as the following:
new soccer stadium in PP
new soccer stadium in DC (besides PP)
new soccer stadium in DC suburbs (probably MD, but could be DC)
DCU moves to a new city that says they will build a stadium
While I'm hoping for something besides the last option, one of these options is inevitable.
FYP
Another extreme is the team folding...
seahawkdad
16 Mar 2008, 08:08 AM
And, sitruc, your fixed post would mean St. Louis.
That's what I was thinking, since its the only city that is ahead of us on stadium promise and behind us on having a team.
Our owners moving to St. Louis would certainly fix the ownership problem there, wouldn't it?
Not probably, but anything is possible.
On a serious note, I wonder how much progress is going to be made on the whole PP development given the current turmoil in the financial sector. Looks like institutions are just a tad hesitant to make loans these days.
Funkfoot
16 Mar 2008, 11:29 AM
In summary, I see the options as the following:
new soccer stadium in PP
new soccer stadium in DC (besides PP)
new soccer stadium in DC suburbs (probably MD, but could be DC)
DCU moves to a new city with a stadium
While I'm hoping for something besides the last option, one of these options is inevitable.
Yeah, people don't want to consider the last one but I think it's a real viable option, especially for owners with no roots in the community. I've seen it happen before.
Stan Collins
16 Mar 2008, 02:58 PM
In other news, I happened to be watching the DC channel again today, where they were showing the presser for the move of some DC government offices to the Poplar Point area. Fenty Spoke first, and Barry followed thereafter:
I'm glad to be standing here next to the Nationals Stadium. . .AND THE SOCCER STADIUM. We've got 8 votes, Mr. Mayor, so don't you worry about that.
(Emphasis was Barry's. There was a little chuckling after he said the first sentence, but got serious quickly to deliver the second one.)
Now, I don't take him at his confidence level any more than the rest of you. Just nice to know he won't let the mayor forget about it.
Okay, let's have some serious speculation in here.
Thank ye all.
tab5g
17 Mar 2008, 11:47 AM
the link at the close of the "Stadium News and Speculation XII" thread is to the "Journalism" thread. perhaps that link should be updated to go to this thread. a separate link could remain for those interested in the "Journalism-centric/non-stadium" discussion.
and as for the stadium -- it's nice that Barry says the council has 8 votes for a soccer stadium at Poplar Point.
relevant info from another thread:
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?p=14131020#post14131020
----------
A few things, off the top of my head:
The team feels that it has the mayor on its side in the stadium situation, but that there are key councilmen that aren't totally on board yet. The Eagles will send out info on action - we intend to take the lead and be very active on this.
The team is pursuing both one men's and one women's national team match this year, with the men's match being a first-round WCQ.
...
seahawkdad
17 Mar 2008, 12:32 PM
...and as for the stadium -- it's nice that Barry says the council has 8 votes for a soccer stadium at Poplar Point......or at least the threat of 8 votes to kill approval of a development plan that doesn't have one in it.
Remember, all, no Council approval, no land transfer.
tab5g
17 Mar 2008, 12:35 PM
...or at least the threat of 8 votes to kill approval of a development plan that doesn't have one in it.
Remember, all, no Council approval, no land transfer.
is there a timeline on the "council approval" of Clark's plan?
when is a "stadium at Poplar Point" decision (likely) to be made (by the DC City Council, i'm assuming)?
WFU03
17 Mar 2008, 05:16 PM
I am so glad we have Barry on our side in this battle. Love him or hate him, he's a pain in the @*$ who won't let anything go.
MattMathai
17 Mar 2008, 05:47 PM
So, with all this momentum, we're going to have a new stadium in time for our home opener on April 5th, right?
Right?
(Is there an echo in here?)
Winoman
17 Mar 2008, 05:56 PM
......Is there an echo in here?
If not, you must be a duck! :D
Stan Collins
17 Mar 2008, 06:29 PM
...or at least the threat of 8 votes to kill approval of a development plan that doesn't have one in it.
Remember, all, no Council approval, no land transfer. Funny thing about that comment, and I just thought of this today, is that, unless I'm misssing something, you only need 7 votes to pass legislation through the council.
Nerroth
17 Mar 2008, 07:01 PM
How many of the D.C. locals/fans/guys-who-live-within-catchment-range-of-RFK have sent a message to Mayor Fenty or another D.C. politician to speak on behalf of the Poplar Point bid?
It would be interesting to note what kind of feedback they are getting from United fans - and a stack of letters or bunch of calls can do much - as opposed to a stack of emails, which do little...
sitruc
17 Mar 2008, 07:48 PM
Has a deal even been reached for United to use RFK this year? I'm going to be pissed if I find out tomorrow's match has been relocated to a public park.
Stan Collins
17 Mar 2008, 10:15 PM
I imagine that's just about leverage. As in, DC United doesn't want to pay more than they have been, and they know RFK won't be kicking them out because what are they gonna do, let it rot? So this month-to-month thing works out just fine.
Doctor Woo
17 Mar 2008, 10:45 PM
I am so glad we have Barry on our side in this battle. Love him or hate him, he's a pain in the @*$ who won't let anything go.
I still shake my head in wonderment. I suppose as he walked on the Damascus Road, he was blinded by a sudden light. Seeing the stadium arise from Poplar Point, he spreads the good news to the gentiles.
What a conversion that man had! Didn't he used to hate us?:confused:
tab5g
18 Mar 2008, 07:13 AM
What a conversion that man had! Didn't he used to hate us?:confused:
perhaps, previously, he had just failed to understand what United is all about.
the proposed Metro Soccer Area within Poplar Point (including a United Stadium) is certainly a good idea -- and Barry fully recognizes that.
Hopefully the city council will vote for a public/private partnership on the funding necessary, as clearly VM seems to be interested in putting in his fair share of funds to make the stadium a reality at Poplar Point.