The MLS Stadium Thread

Discussion in 'MLS: News & Analysis' started by fairfax4dc, May 20, 2016.

  1. fairfax4dc

    fairfax4dc Member+

    Dec 5, 2008
    Fairfax, Va
    The news out of Minnesota is the that state legislature has approved necessary tax breaks for a new stadium. So that makes three new stadia to be completed in 2018 for LAFC, DC United and Minnesota Also United. You are invited to compare and contrast their designs, locations, immediate surroundings, and whatever else you want to comment on. As a DC United supporter I'll begin by acknowledging that our project is on paper the most modest of the three. But as they stay in real estate, location is everything, and our Buzzard Point site projects some attitude.
     
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  2. sitruc

    sitruc Member+

    Jul 25, 2006
    Virginia
    Meh.
     
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  3. whiteonrice04

    whiteonrice04 Member+

    Sep 8, 2006
    Don't forget Orlando are also building a new stadium. What is the expected completion date of theirs?

    Also, has DC started construction yet?
     
  4. fairfax4dc

    fairfax4dc Member+

    Dec 5, 2008
    Fairfax, Va
    I believe Orlando's is scheduled for completion in 2017. It's capacity will be 26K and supposed to be a nice project. Maybe an Orlando support can update.

    The LA, DC and Minnesota stadiums are all smaller, in the 19-22K range. In DC the city, which owns the land, is clearing and prepping it and will turn it over to DCU by September 30 for construction. I'm pretty sure the LA and Minn projects will begin construction before the end of 2016 too. In LA the LA Sports Arena must be torn down first.
     
  5. Boloni86

    Boloni86 Member+

    Jun 7, 2000
    Baltimore
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Gibraltar
    The stadium might end up being crap, but the DC site will have some sex appeal. It'll be telegenic with shots of the US Capitol and Nationals Park ... The dimensional limitations will make the stadium feel very compact and intimate. And DC fans will give it some decent atmosphere inside.
     
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  6. Zoidberg

    Zoidberg Member+

    Jun 23, 2006
    Might be able to add Sacramento to this list when the miami beckham's farce runs it's course.
     
  7. sitruc

    sitruc Member+

    Jul 25, 2006
    Virginia
    Meh. Slightly better accessibility would be sexier.
     
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  8. Mattbro

    Mattbro Member+

    Sep 21, 2001
    Gotta say this is disappointing for a team that looks like it could regularly draw 30k.
     
  9. Bluecat82

    Bluecat82 Member+

    Feb 24, 1999
    Minneapolis, MN
    Club:
    Minnesota United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  10. fairfax4dc

    fairfax4dc Member+

    Dec 5, 2008
    Fairfax, Va
    Here's the latest DCU rendering. Final plans are not coming until the fall, I think. It's a very small site, about 10 acres. Looking on a DC map, it's right about where the Anacostia River flows into the Potomac, an area know as Buzzard Point. Stadium design is heavily influenced by a power line right of way that runs underneath and parallel to the stands on the right, that prevents the stadium from being further right on the site, thus limiting the size of the stands on the left. I believe that capacity is estimated to be 19K sitting and another thousand standing, lathough that may change with the final plans.

    [​IMG]
     
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  11. fairfax4dc

    fairfax4dc Member+

    Dec 5, 2008
    Fairfax, Va
    Have to admit, this looks a bit nicer than the DC project....

    [​IMG]
     
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  12. fairfax4dc

    fairfax4dc Member+

    Dec 5, 2008
    Fairfax, Va
    Might as well line them all up.

    [​IMG]
     
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  13. SierraSpartan

    SierraSpartan Member+

    Jan 25, 2007
    Placer County, CA
    Club:
    Sacramento Republic FC
    [​IMG]

    Well heck. If we're gonna do vaportecture, here's Sacramento's entry into the contest.
     
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  14. fairfax4dc

    fairfax4dc Member+

    Dec 5, 2008
    Fairfax, Va
    What's the status of Sacramento's expansion bid? That's a nice looking stadium. What's the planned capacity?
     
  15. Boloni86

    Boloni86 Member+

    Jun 7, 2000
    Baltimore
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Gibraltar
    Couple questions about LAFC. What's their capacity? And what's that structure attached to the stadium?
     
  16. 4four4

    4four4 Member+

    Nov 13, 2013
    Land of 10,000 Lakes
    Of all the new stadiums this one reminds me most like European stadiums.
     
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  17. Simster

    Simster Member

    May 16, 2002
    London
    Club:
    Brighton & Hove Albion FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    If the capacity is only 19k then that is the very definition of a first world problem. Let's be clear about this, DC United have had a great fanbase down the years, but attendance has stagnated whilst the rest of the league moved on. But if there is ever a MLS 1.0 club that is nailed on to regularly fill a modest downtown stadium, it is this one. Their attendance is down to 12-13000 at times, so 19000 would still be a massive improvement.
     
  18. Rahbiefowlah

    Rahbiefowlah Member+

    Oct 22, 2001
    Las Vegas
    Michael Jackson munching popcorn gif
     
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  19. rocketeer22

    rocketeer22 Member+

    Apr 11, 2000
    Oakton,VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The SafeTrack work on metro should be completed by then, so I say that will allow for slightly better accessibility ;)
     
  20. fairfax4dc

    fairfax4dc Member+

    Dec 5, 2008
    Fairfax, Va
    As a DCU season ticket holder I basically agree. Apparently the stadium can be easily expanded to about 22K with additional seats behind the goal(s). I would prefer that it be built at 22k now to permit more outreach to youth clubs with discount tickets, behind the opposite goal to the supporters clubs. My understanding is that at our current stadium the rent is at least partially based on attendance, which discourages discount tickets. Getting kids to the stadium is a good long-term investment, but at 19K capacity I doubt we'll see much ticket discounting for anyone.

    LAFC stadium capacity is 22K - I'm not sure what the attached structure is.
     
  21. SierraSpartan

    SierraSpartan Member+

    Jan 25, 2007
    Placer County, CA
    Club:
    Sacramento Republic FC
    Status of expansion bid: Still waiting for Miami-Beckham to step on its collective wang enough to convince MLS they're much more trouble than they're worth. Failing that, probably team #25.

    Stadium capacity ~~ 20K with 2K SRO potential.
     
  22. Bubba1971

    Bubba1971 Member+

    Nov 12, 2010
    Los Angeles
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Not necessarily. The LAFC stadium will be just east of where the Sports Arena is, so they could demo and start excavation simultaneously. If they choose to.
     
  23. fairfax4dc

    fairfax4dc Member+

    Dec 5, 2008
    Fairfax, Va
    So that probably explains the late 2016 construction start date. I imagine that demolition of the Sports Arena and site prep for would have taken longer than that. Below is a photo of another impressive demolition project, for the DC stadium, in late April. I think it took about an hour.

    [​IMG] Follow
    [​IMG]Steven Streff‎@streffsoccer
     
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  24. MuchoTakeItEasy

    MuchoTakeItEasy Member+

    LAFC
    United States
    May 16, 2015
    Land of the Free
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    very much looking forward to the 5 new stadiums we'll be seeing in MLS over the next few years. (thinking of Atlanta, Orlando, DC, Minnesota, and LAFC). No longer having to watch games played at RFK is just an added bonus :D
     
  25. Bubba1971

    Bubba1971 Member+

    Nov 12, 2010
    Los Angeles
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    All that's left is NER. So I'm just going to hold my breath until that's all done.
     

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