Stadium Hearing TODAY (3/10), Looking for people

[K]

DCU would like some supporters out at the stadium hearing TODAY. (Sorry for the late notice, I'm just passing along what I just got from the team. :rolleyes:)


Here's the address:

Prince Georges County Administration Building
14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=14741+Governor+Oden+Bowie+dr+upper+marlboro,+md&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=50.424342,73.125&ie=UTF8&z=16&iwloc=addr)
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

The hearing starts at 2. Doug Hicks will be there at 1:30. If you can come, send me your real name to kim@screaming-eagles.com and I will pass on your name to Doug.

Thanks

[NattyBo]

This team really, really needs to get better PR staff. This meeting has been known about for at least a week, they couldn't ask for people to schlep out there sooner than the morning of? :rolleyes:

[K]

This team really, really needs to get better PR staff. This meeting has been known about for at least a week, they couldn't ask for people to schlep out there sooner than the morning of? :rolleyes:

Oh I'm with ya, believe me!

K

[NattyBo]

For all the money they spent on trying to get Poplar Point, if they'd spent a fraction of that on a decent community organizer for this project....ah, nevermind, I'm making too much sense. ;)

[gocaps]

For all the money they spent on trying to get Poplar Point, if they'd spent a fraction of that on a decent community organizer for this project....ah, nevermind, I'm making too much sense. ;)
You're right Natty, I got this call at around 11 AM this morning when I was in a meeting, and luckily I was able to slip out, call back, and get the information to K to send out.

That said, the time for kvetching about this stuff comes later. This is obviously a short-turnaround thing and the team can use as many people as possible today. If you can, bring a scarf or some other kind of DC United paraphernalia with you to show off.

And if you're a Screaming Eagle, look for a message in your mailboxes later today on how you can do more. The next seven days are very critical.

[onefineesq]

I just returned from the meeting. I was able to stay for the first hour before i had to leave for work reasons. PEOPLE, CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES IMMEDIATELY!!!!! If you think that this thing is a done deal, you are very sadly mistaken. There is some serious opposition to this, from the people who are serious parts of the political process.

One thing to note though is that we are apparently down to 2 sites:

Morgan Boulevard
Brightseat Road

But again people, get on the phones, write letters, leave messages on the website of your representative! This is going to be a dogfight!!! Trust me when I say this. The council, outside of Will Campos, is no great friend of ours.

[VioletCrown]

I just returned from the meeting. I was able to stay for the first hour before i had to leave for work reasons. PEOPLE, CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES IMMEDIATELY!!!!! If you think that this thing is a done deal, you are very sadly mistaken. There is some serious opposition to this, from the people who are serious parts of the political process.

One thing to note though is that we are apparently down to 2 sites:

Morgan Boulevard
Brightseat Road

But again people, get on the phones, write letters, leave messages on the website of your representative! This is going to be a dogfight!!! Trust me when I say this. The council, outside of Will Campos, is no great friend of ours.

Not a local here, but follow the stadium stuff for all MLS as close as I can.

Hitting google maps, Brightseat Rd looks like it could be good, or could be bad (as far away from the metro as FedEx). Couldn't find Morgan Blvd. ...oh, wait. I see a Metro stop named that. That looks positive.

Got my fingers crossed for y'all.

[roadkit]

I just returned from the meeting. I was able to stay for the first hour before i had to leave for work reasons. PEOPLE, CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES IMMEDIATELY!!!!! If you think that this thing is a done deal, you are very sadly mistaken. There is some serious opposition to this, from the people who are serious parts of the political process.

One thing to note though is that we are apparently down to 2 sites:

Morgan Boulevard
Brightseat Road

But again people, get on the phones, write letters, leave messages on the website of your representative! This is going to be a dogfight!!! Trust me when I say this. The council, outside of Will Campos, is no great friend of ours.

Yes. I just got an email from KP that basically said: "General Quarters! All Hands to the Pumps!"

And the most chilling point of the email: "A failure in this effort could have far-reaching effects -- the bottom line is we cannot remain long-tern at RFK, and this is the only stadium option..."

Which means: no stadium in PG County, we're moving.

[scruggs45]

Which means: no stadium in PG County, we're moving.

well thats what you do when nobody wants you around

[DangerMouse37]

What a mess. Are they completely averse to spending money on PR and lobbying? I'm no lobbyist, but I know there are people who help make these things happen...

[Stan Collins]

But again people, get on the phones, write letters, leave messages on the website of your representative! This is going to be a dogfight!!! Trust me when I say this. The council, outside of Will Campos, is no great friend of ours.

Holy crap, that's awful news. Wait until the opposition gets a load of the "prime beneficiaries"--through no county funding by the way--oppose the damn thing.

[fatbastard]

What a mess. Are they completely averse to spending money on PR and lobbying? I'm no lobbyist, but I know there are people who help make these things happen...
They spent a ton lobbying Congress to help get Congress to transfer the PP land to the District. That deal probably doesn't even happen without DCU's help. They probably swore off lobbyists after that :)

This was an important hearing. The hearing on 3/17 is more important.

[Stan Collins]

Gazette report on the meeting:
http://www.gazette.net/stories/03102009/prinnew173737_32515.shtml

[NattyBo]

The longer this goes on the more I get that sinking feeling that this deal is going to fall through and the team is going to move to St. Louis.

[jgildea8]

Gazette report on the meeting:
http://www.gazette.net/stories/03102009/prinnew173737_32515.shtml

Ouch... We need more Maryland residents to step up and make sure that it is clear that jobs are on the line.
If they do not believe that we will go to the games we need to make sure that they believe we vote.
Keep writing. Have your friends write. This may be to keep DC United in the DC Metro area now!

[seahawkdad]

Interesting. What will be even more interesting is how The Post will treat it tomorrow.

Look for the anti-stadium series of stories and editorials to begin...now.

I didn't realize that $51M of the bonds were to be PG County bonds. They have the right to ask these questions and to be worried about the potential political consequences.

I certainly would want them asked if this were Loudoun County being asked to kick in $51M of bond obligations.

Too bad we don't have a Paulson to guarantee the bonds like Portland does.

I've got a feeling we'd better really enjoy the next two seasons.

[NattyBo]

Ouch... We need more Maryland residents to step up and make sure that it is clear that jobs are on the line.
If they do not believe that we will go to the games we need to make sure that they believe we vote.
Keep writing. Have your friends write. This may be to keep DC United in the DC Metro area now!

Everyone needs to write, not just MDers

[jgildea8]

Everyone needs to write, not just MDers

I wrote everyone already, but I think our lack of representation in the county (5%) if KP is to be believed is certainly not a help.
I know we will get good #s from NOVA and DC...

[seahawkdad]

Hell, we're even getting them from Utah.

[CHICO13]

Hell, we're even getting them from Utah.

I think we should post the stadium letter link on every MLS teams forum on BigSoccer and ask for help.