Goldwater doesn't want to do anything because RFK is bringing in money. There was a WP article a few years ago saying that with soccer as its tenants, soccer was bringing in about a $3 million profit. Whereas, it had normally lost money with the Redskins there. Why would he change that? Especially when there is DC United who seems to play this waiting game for eternity. DC United, as far as I can remember, has never considered anything but going along with Goldwater. While DC United probably, in fact, has to have Goldwater to build anything in the city, it is time DC United started to get stronger and take a now or never stand. If Goldwater loses DC United and baseball goes to VA, which seems the most likely scenario, there isn't going to be anything for Goldwater to manage.
Every year. They sign one year agreements. I think they played most of last year without an official contract, just more of an arrangement of how much would be paid.
The problem with this logic is that it implies, perhaps even assumes that this all a zero sum/mutually exclusive issue. It also implies that AEG and DCSEC haven't thought through and talked about these issues. Let's keep in mind that DCSEC doesn't hold all of the cards on this. If DCU/AEG develop a plan to move outside of the city, DCSEC is screwed. Period. Goldwater knows this. In addition, DCSEC is surely hip to the following: * Frisco. PUBLIC funding of a soccer stadium. Whoa. * The Home Depot/Carson experience. Yeah, AEG is footing a major portion of the bill. Why don't we think they'd do the same here? Why not create the East Coast mecca/cathedral/whatever goofy word they want to trot out? * Columbus. Already in the books as profitable. All of these are locations out and away from the city center. (columbus is a lame example, but it still stands). The point is that DCSEC would be pretty short-sighted (perhaps a given) to attempt to stiff-arm AEG. The writing is on the wall. MLS/AEG has their ************ together on the stadiums and they're not going to sit around indefinitely waiting on a baseball decision. At least that's what I read into Mr. Zack's comments above. I'm reading a lot into that, but I'm assuming that ongoing discussions means that these issues and many more are being rolled around.
Also good to note - and possibly a reason for speedier negotiations - is that AEG bypassed the Jersey Senate when they monkeyed with things. Phil needs facilities. Facilities for soccer and facilities for concerts.
As I've said before, Phil is, internationally, in the facilities business. Thankfully soccer is a niche that has been ignored in the US as a way to fill facilities and he was smart enough to seize it. In England he's using hockey as the filler. Soccer is all locked up by others.
Not much more I can add other than to state we are still looking specifically at building a stadium on the RFK campus and that the DCSEC has now stepped up to move the process forward (a trip to the Home Depot Center will do that). The past is past. We are very happy with their current level of interest and cooperation.
Re: MCI Center Someone might have pointed this out but I didn't see it: Part of the deal (which is absolutely GOLDEN for Abe Pollin) is an aggreement (made by Marion Barry, surprise) to have the entire bill for all District Police assinged for events at MCI Center to be picked up by DC and its tax payers. The opposite is in effect for DC United. So, basically, the 10,000 to 20,000 bones to cover police staffing for every event at MCI is paid by DC residents while DC United pays that much every event at RFK for these police to "protect" us fans. Tim