I hate to keep bringing this back to your perception of Gallery Place/Chinatown/the area around the arena, but you're still way off. You need to remember how abandoned that area was. 8 years ago there was nothing on F street for several blocks. South of Chinatown and H street there was nothing on 7th until you got down to the District Chop House. And then nothing for another block south. There was nothing on F,G, and 9th around the Portrait Gallery. All of it was empty buildings that saw their heyday some years ago. Few people worked, lived, or ventured into that neighborhood unless they were going to lunch with Red Auerbach. The plan for the baseball stadium seems is using the MCI center analogy pretty well, hopefully the soccer stadium and development could be the beachhead on the opposite side of the river to spur on more development.
The MCI Center and RFK have more in common with each other when compared to the Nats in SE and DCU in PP/Anacostia - Transportation - While MCI Center certainly has a lot more nightlife spots around it than RFK does or will have in the future, they're both connected to multilple Metro lines - And RFK definitely has MCI beat on car traffic with easy access to highways and through-streets - These are much better locations than the Nats and PP, which both have only one measly station on a minor line - In fact, even PP will have better access to highways for car traffic than the Nats In the end, the commercial success of the Nats and the PP sites will have less to do with the stadiums and venues then with the supplementary development going in there - Granted, the stadiums are the incentive to put more stuff there (look at the AWC's initial lowball proposal for only a few apartments), buts its the extras that do go in that will determine economic success
Sundevil - I know the area well. Use to work in that area and I am there every Sunday for church. There is more development going on on Mass Ave and H St. The new convention center just went up a couple of years ago (speaking of which, it would be nice to have the SSS built at the old convention center but that would be much too expensive). Building the MCI Center did a lot for that area and spurred growth. And I acknowledge the same will happen on South Capitol Street with the new ball park. I just don't think the impact will be the same for the reasons I stated. The development around MCI improved and extended the downtown area. The development proposed for the baseball park will improve that area but it will still be isolated from the center of DC. If I was to have a restauarant or other retail business in the new ball park, I better not think my business plan will generate the same numbers as the Phone Booth area. I was in the area two Saturdays ago meeting with a friend and had trouble finding a parking place at 11:00 in the morning. There was some equestrian event at the Phone Booth but that was not the reason the area was busy. There are so many activities in the downtown area that attract people other than an event in the arena. I don't see those numbers getting generated in SE.
I know that you were responding to the 2007 groundbreaking post, but I note that all potential locations in the city have challenges. As for what DCU understands, I don't know how they could mollify your skepticism. It's a rhetorical throw-away.
Don't think this has been posted yet. Mostly a restatement of positions. http://www.examiner.com/a-392628~Soccer_stadium_conflict_renewed_over_parkland.html
Stan Kasten, in his chat, referenced the soccer stadium at Poplar Point in his National's chat: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/10/26/DI2006102600582.html Arlington, Va.: Mr. Kasten -- Thanks so much for taking the time out to answer questions. First I'd like to know what will be the fate of RFK after the move in 2008. Secondly, how have you an your family enjoyed the transition to life in D.C.? Stan Kasten: Thanks for asking. RFK will continue to be used for DC United for at least the next couple of years, until they move into their new stadium , across the Anacostia from ours.
Fully agree that all city locations have challenges, not the least of which is money. Poplar Point just has a lot more than that. But it's not unique to DC, and that's why we're seeing SSS's in outer suburb locations. As for the rhetorical throwaway, DCU was active in the community promoting the stadium a year ago. They stopped cold and haven't done anything since, although they have won over other top politicians, like Fenty. As a business owner in this part of town, I can tell you that this is not going to be a hit if there's not a lot of hand-holding and explanation as to what's going on, who's doing it, etc. There is deep skepticism about any type of economic development proposals. A lot of people in the community view this area as their chance to help not only the blighted areas of Southeast but increase exposure to the great historic Anacostia and the role this part of town has played in the city's history. So to mollify my concerns, and I think those of a lot of people who live and work in the area, DCU's owners/managers need to get specific and not just present a "done deal" plan, it won't go over well.
Man, this discussion is fascinating, especially for someone who lives well outside of DC. It's sorta like watching a baseball game. You guys just have too much information. As I understand it, Congress returns today for their Quack Session. Does anyone know if (and when) the Senate will publish an agenda for this session? I'm really hopeful that the Land Swap Bill will be passed sooner than later. With the anticipated announcement of new ownership for DC immanent, some real momentum for the stadium could develop. asitis 4/11...5/12
There were unconfirmed rumors of a hold on the bill, and further rumors that the hold was a mistake and would be taken care of before they came back into session.
An impressive patronizing tone gets your point across all the better. I'm sure the DCU front office is quite thankful for your confidence and your concern. It's great that you've built so many multi purpose stadiums on federally owned land so that you can teach them how to do it. They have a few hints for you on how to run your business, too.
Hmmm... I hope that they're also still considering building some housing at the site. I think that some sort of mixed use development would be a really good thing. I might even look into a condo there myself...
Maybe they stopped woo-ing the (few) businesses down there, but they're still acticve with kids playing soccer there, which is a better investment in my mind for them. They aren't rich enough to do anything to impress business owners (and the city can just tell them to shut up and move anyway) - but they can be nice enough to the local kids which hopefully helps with community support. It's always nice to come back in here after a few days away and see a few more pages of baseless skepticism and doom-and-gloom
I just happened to see this when I signed on to the internet: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15739071/ IF it were to happen, I hope we wouldn't have to relocate until our new stadium is completed.
The chances of this happening any time soon are about that of a celluloid dog chasing an asbestos cat through hell.
What a brilliant idea. Move the Redskins back to the RFK site and demo FedEx Field just because it's inconvienient for the fans? Doesn't matter that this 90,000 seat stadium is less than 10 years old and regularly SOLD OUT.
This a good example of why local news outlets are generally amatuer in their approach to what is "news". This was reported a while ago, months ago, maybe more. I ranted then. I won't now. I'll just leave it at if the Redskins were to leave JKC in the next 5-15 years it would make me want to vomit all over the faces of many imbeciles in positions of authority. Disgraceful. But I'm not too worried about it happening either.
Yeah I thought this story was done a month ago when it was said this guy couldn't even get a meeting with Snyder. I mean this guy really has his head in the clouds doesn't he? I'm really amazed he actually was able to speak to Snyder about this. In the end they would never do it, it just couldn't be a financially sound move for the team or the city, but hey on that note I can think of another stadium deal that would be very financially sound for the city.... what team was that again... hhmmm.... they wanted to build their place at poplar somthing.... ahhh.... ohh yeah and wasn't it all privatly funded too.... hhmmm, well it'll come to me later.
While this story may be nothing, anyone who doesn't think that it kills Snyder to inhabit a stadium built by JKC and that Snyder would love nothing more than to build a monument to himself and attract the Super Bowl has not been paying attention.
By the time Snyder gets done with the Redskins, there wont be a reason to play at FEDEX Field. Snyder has royally screwed the Redskins. This is a franchise on the cusp of salary cap hell. Not only that the Redskins are an aging team with an owner who is more concerned with sqeezing every last dime from a growing disillusioned fanbase. I used to love the Redskins. Now I hope the team loses everytime it plays. There is only one way for this misery to end and that is for Snyder to sell the team.
Add the fact that the Redskins have been the most profitable team in the NFL, it may not make financial sense but it is not as if it is not financially possible for the Danny. And FedEx is not some great stadium that people love to attend for many reasons. The Redskins sell out because they are the Redskins and this town loves them, regardless of how poorly they play. But if he could build a stadium with a dome and bring back that nostalgic feeling of RFK plus bring the Super Bowl to DC, not an impossibility. So the question is can we make FedEx the SSS for DC United?
No, you need a better quarterback, a better line, more consistent defensive play, an offense predicated on success and not the number of pages in the playbook. The stadium isn't the thing, Dan. The people running the show are. But, as a Ravens fan, if you're more concerned about the building than the players, knock yourself out. The comedy is a gift from heaven.
Yeah, the nerve of the woman not wanting Jack Kent Cook to pat it. Maybe if John Wilson had hung around (oh wait...) K