Stadium News and Speculation XII: A New Hope... Alas, the Sky is Falling!

beltwayrob · Feb 14, 2008

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XII: A New Hope

Someone wake me when we break ground!

Riz · Feb 14, 2008

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XII: A New Hope

QPR Kevin H said: ↑

As a Rockville resident - I think you have a very deranged, self-obsessed, grandstanding mayor. Just my .02 cents from outside the District.
Click to expand...

Yeah well, he didn't campaign on that platform, let me tell you.

PJohnson · Feb 14, 2008

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XII: A New Hope

SavannahFan said: ↑

My point is that this is a non-announcement, that has prompted little to no response from DC United, and comes after a year long process that has stripped control over the development of, and profit from the Poplar Point project from MacFarlane.
Click to expand...

I agree this is a non-announcement. But DC United HAS responded. Within an hour of this "news" leaking, United took down the Poplar Point proposal and stadium renderings. That's a pretty swift response in my opinion. And the lack of ANY actual comment since by DC United speaks volumes to me.

dcchelseafc · Feb 14, 2008

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XII: A New Hope

Riz said: ↑

Yeah well, he didn't campaign on that platform, let me tell you.
Click to expand...

yeah no kidding, i didnt think we would of done 90 percent of what hes done when he was campaignin

revelation · Feb 14, 2008

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XII: A New Hope

Riz said: ↑

Yeah well, he didn't campaign on that platform, let me tell you.
Click to expand...

Actually, that is pretty much his campaign in a nutshell. He made his name solving one-off problems for constituents rather than looking for systemic solutions or even lasting solutions. He also made sure to appear on TV and in the Newspaper to support or oppose ideas based on polling.

I hate to say "I told you so" but there are reasons that I didn't vote for Adrian... and nothing he has done in office has been any different from how he did things as a council member.

joshdcu · Feb 14, 2008

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XII: A New Hope

revelation said: ↑

Actually, that is pretty much his campaign in a nutshell. He made his name solving one-off problems for constituents rather than looking for systemic solutions or even lasting solutions. He also made sure to appear on TV and in the Newspaper to support or oppose ideas based on polling.

I hate to say "I told you so" but there are reasons that I didn't vote for Adrian... and nothing he has done in office has been any different from how he did things as a council member.

Click to expand...

Spot on.

Riz · Feb 14, 2008

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XII: A New Hope

Fair enough.

I didn't get that impression of Fenty at the time, and I consider myself a fairly intelligent voter. I'm also an optimist at heart, so take that for what it's worth.

SavannahFan · Feb 14, 2008

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XII: A New Hope

PJohnson said: ↑

I agree this is a non-announcement. But DC United HAS responded. Within an hour of this "news" leaking, United took down the Poplar Point proposal and stadium renderings. That's a pretty swift response in my opinion. And the lack of ANY actual comment since by DC United speaks volumes to me.
Click to expand...

Bingo.

Which leads to the question why...?

Simply, there is a reason DC United does not want to appear to endorse the Fenty position at this time.

Before anyone accuses me of speaking out of my ass, I just want to clarify why this move by Fenty strikes me as a negative, because IMHO it allows Fenty to do an end-run around what support exists for a DC United stadium at Poplar Point.

Put it this way, if you were Fenty, and you wanted to move Poplar Point forward (without making enemies of all of Ward 8), how would you do it...?

Quite simply, you create a win-win situation for yourself, in which you propose a deal to DC United that so favors the District, that if they agree to it, you win... Or if DC United declines (and moves elsewhere), you can still claim that you were doing what was "best" for the District and cannot be faulted for developing Poplar Point without a stadium (and you still win).

It kinda explains the confusion over the numbers involved. If you want to get DC United to pay too much (or scuttle a deal altogether), then you would inflate the figures used.

Either way, IMO this is meant to help Mayor Fenty, and not necessarily DC United. That is why I am not so optimistic, sorry...

Marco10 · Feb 14, 2008

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XII: A New Hope

It is Valentine's Day, right?

Seems more like April Fool's Day for some reason.

MeridianFC · Feb 14, 2008

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XII: A New Hope

revelation said: ↑

Actually, that is pretty much his campaign in a nutshell. He made his name solving one-off problems for constituents rather than looking for systemic solutions or even lasting solutions. He also made sure to appear on TV and in the Newspaper to support or oppose ideas based on polling.

I hate to say "I told you so" but there are reasons that I didn't vote for Adrian... and nothing he has done in office has been any different from how he did things as a council member.

Click to expand...

I voted for him largely based on his record as Council Member. I've learned my lesson.

revelation · Feb 14, 2008

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XII: A New Hope

Riz said: ↑

Fair enough.

I didn't get that impression of Fenty at the time, and I consider myself a fairly intelligent voter. I'm also an optimist at heart, so take that for what it's worth.
Click to expand...

I talked to people from his district and everyone that I ever heard say anything positive about him was that he "made things happen to solve constituent problems - need your garbage collected, Fenty would get someone there - need your street light turned on, Fenty would get someone there". Never saw him do anything to get "better trash collection" or "improved lighting in the District". Simple one-off solutions for consitutents. That and his press conferences bashing the Nationals' stadium deal - in which it was "I" "I" "I"...

But I'm a cynical voter and believe that every politician is out to promote themselves and their friends.

SavannahFan said: ↑

Either way, IMO this is meant to help Mayor Fenty, and not necessarily DC United. That is why I am not so optimistic, sorry...
Click to expand...

Totally. This is all about how Fenty can look good. My bet is that he is hopeful that DC United will pull out and he can then say that they "betrayed Ward 8" because he offered them a sweatheart deal and they didn't take it.

song219 · Feb 14, 2008

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XII: A New Hope

I'm having a hard time remembering why i voted for Fenty other than that Cropp who had been on the council 10 plus years seemed to be part of the problem than the solution.

nobletea · Feb 14, 2008

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XII: A New Hope

I'm all for anti-Fenty conspiracy theories, but the only problem I see with the current one is that although he can "say" he gave United an offer for a stadium in the District, how can he reconcile that this is better when he goes from asking the club to pay for it themselves, to paying for it for them?

Nobody can accuse United of wanting to do it that way. It seems to me the smokescreen is too thin, and even passively interested parties can see what he's up to with this, and his sly politics can too easily be unveiled.

Or is he counting on his constituency being that remarkably uninformed or indiscriminate?

At any rate, at least we can all clearly agree on the overwhelming size of his unit.

revelation · Feb 14, 2008

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XII: A New Hope

I didn't vote for Fenty but I doubt if the candidate I voted for would have supported a stadium for DC United paid with public money. I just don't think she would have negotiated in bad faith and then pulled the rug on the deal. I just think it would have been a non-starter from the begining or at least the idea of public funding - she may have been willing to work with MacFarlane on the whole deal though...

I'll never know.

Sundevil9 · Feb 14, 2008

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XII: A New Hope

revelation said: ↑

But I'm a cynical voter and believe that every politician is out to promote themselves and their friends.
Click to expand...

You're cynical?

revelation · Feb 14, 2008

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XII: A New Hope

Sundevil9 said: ↑

You're cynical?
Click to expand...

You are just saying that to get on my good side so that you can become Moderator instead of Sachin...

roadkit · Feb 14, 2008

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XII: A New Hope

fatbastard said: ↑

Victor has denied this to be the case on many occassions.
But since you think it is true, I guess we should all just change our minds and believe you instead.
Cool.
Hand me the razor blades, United will be back on the market by the time the season starts.
Click to expand...

You don't have to believe me. As a matter of fact, I could care less what you believe. I'm no more or less an expert on what the DC United ownerships motivations are than anyone else on these boards.

And I never said they would sell the team if they didn't get to develop PP. Read what I posted - I said development was the end - the team was the means.

If you really think Mcfarlane and company would have bought DC United without the expectation that they would be able to develop a SSS and make some money through development, then that's great. Good luck with that.

Detective40oz · Feb 14, 2008

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XII: A New Hope

roadkit said: ↑

You don't have to believe me. As a matter of fact, I could care less what you believe. I'm no more or less an expert on what the DC United ownerships motivations are than anyone else on these boards.

And I never said they would sell the team if they didn't get to develop PP. Read what I posted - I said development was the end - the team was the means.

If you really think Mcfarlane and company would have bought DC United without the expectation that they would be able to develop a SSS and make some money through development, then that's great. Good luck with that.
Click to expand...

Damn, and all this time I thought they bought the team so they could finally get their hands on that ever illusive CONCACAF Champions Cup! How could I be so naive??

Sharkbait · Feb 14, 2008

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XII: A New Hope

revelation said: ↑

Totally. This is all about how Fenty can look good. My bet is that he is hopeful that DC United will pull out and he can then say that they "betrayed Ward 8" because he offered them a sweatheart deal and they didn't take it.
Click to expand...

One option for United is to beat Fenty to the punch and announce their Maryland plans now.

seahawkdad · Feb 14, 2008

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XII: A New Hope

roadkit said: ↑

...If you really think Mcfarlane and company would have bought DC United without the expectation that they would be able to develop a SSS and make some money through development, then that's great. Good luck with that.
Click to expand...

I'll go one step further.

I think it is bigger than DC United. Consider that in 2005 Clark Construction was building the N o k i a Theater in LA for AEG and it was $10M over budget in a larger development project that was $250M over. Then comes MacFarlane:

The project, launched in 2005, has had its hiccups. Residential builder KB Home bailed out of the condo development in December amid a softening real estate market. AEG then went it alone until Macfarlane Partners LLC came in as a partner in April.
Click to expand...

My guess is that AEG looked like a source of potentially good investment opportunities, not to mention the single entity MLS. My guess also is that to the single entity MLS, MacFarlane and his advisee, CALPers, looked pretty good too. I wonder if this also wasn't the start of the Clark/MacFarlane business relationship.

Those are my guesses about how it started, and if you were that pool of MLS owners, wouldn't you want MacFarlane to be part of the club? I'm assuming that DC United became the invitation. And the fact that MacFarlane and Forest City were already developing the side of the Anacostia opposite Poplar Point couldn't have hurt. He already knew the economic and political territory. He was already a player.

That doesn't mean he doesn't love United and isn't willing to invest in the team itself. But I'm with roadkit...if you can have the fun of owning a sports team and make money by what you do best...investing in development...why not?

Also, remember the location: Ward 8. MacFarlane has been successful by investing in less-than desirable underdeveloped communities. So building a development at Poplar Point also fits his values

flippin269 · Feb 14, 2008

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XII: A New Hope

beltwayrob said: ↑

Someone wake me when we break ground!
Click to expand...

That may not be for another two-three years...

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2008/02/11/daily32.html

The federal government still controls the land, and D.C. estimates that it will take 12 to 18 months to transfer National Park Service facilities on Poplar Point to another location. The U.S. Secretary of the Interior will then have to certify plans for the site before it is transferred to the city.

Construction is not likely to begin until 2010 or 2011.
Click to expand...

I thought DC United needed to play in a new stadium BEFORE the 2011 season. This all may make for a stronger selling point for Maryland

seahawkdad · Feb 14, 2008

Fenty: No Deal for Poplar Point Soccer Stadium

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty said today that no deal has been struck to use public funds to build a professional soccer stadium in Southeast Washington. He also said his talks with D.C. United about a partnership do not represent a drastic departure from his stance against public financing of the Nationals baseball stadium.
Click to expand...

Thanks to The Post's David Nakamura updating his piece from this morning's paper.

And a bit more of relevance from the updated Nakamura piece:

"No one ever said there could not be public dollars" for baseball, Fenty said. "We said it had to be a fair deal. The baseball deal was completely one-sided. I would never support a deal that is 100 percent city-funded. I would support a deal that is a public-private partnership. Have we seen that deal yet? No."

Sources close to D.C. United said that under the latest stadium proposal, the team would contribute "significant equity" to the project.
Click to expand...

QPR Kevin H · Feb 14, 2008

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XII: A New Hope

UPDATE: Nakamura-Fenty-No Deal...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy...02/14/AR2008021401819.html?hpid=moreheadlines

Fenty: No Deal for Poplar Point Soccer Stadium

By David Nakamura
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, February 14, 2008; 2:07 PM

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty said today that no deal has been struck to use public funds to build a professional soccer stadium in Southeast Washington. He also said his talks with D.C. United about a partnership do not represent a drastic departure from his stance against public financing of the Nationals baseball stadium.

The proposed stadium would cost as much as $190 million in public money -- $150 million in construction bonds and $40 million in land leased to the D.C. United soccer franchise, according to government sources.
Click to expand...

QPR Kevin H · Feb 14, 2008

seahawkdad said: ↑

Fenty: No Deal for Poplar Point Soccer Stadium

Thanks to The Post's David Nakamura for this update.
Click to expand...

Fenty's quotes in the article...

At a morning news conference today in Anacostia, Fenty played down the stadium discussions, saying: "We're not at that point yet. Nothing has been finalized."

When asked how he would square supporting public dollars for a soccer stadium with his previous stance on baseball, Fenty said his position had been misrepresented.

"No one ever said there could not be public dollars" for baseball, Fenty said. "We said it had to be a fair deal. The baseball deal was completely one-sided. I would never support a deal that is 100 percent city-funded. I would support a deal that is a public-private partnership. Have we seen that deal yet? No."

Sources close to D.C. United said that under the latest stadium proposal, the team would contribute "significant equity" to the project.
Click to expand...

skippy · Feb 14, 2008

The terms of this no deal are completely unfair to DC United. How can they make money this way?