http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-nationals-stadium&prov=ap&type=lgns The Nationals have broken ground. Was DC building their stadium as part of that complex or are they at a different location along the river?
The plan for United's stadium is to build it across the river from the baseball stadium on Poplar Point. The current situation, in cliff notes form, is that the land they want to build on is owned by the federal government, and it needs to be turned over to the District in a land swap deal before it can be developed. The land swap is currently waiting for congressional approval. We should know something by the year 2035.
FYP The mayor "promised" us one in 2003 or '04 ready by 2007. That was before baseball became a reality... Thx, Jay!
If Nationals will have a stadium, and presumably DCU, what are they gonna do with RFK? parking lot? ridiculously expensive condos? adult video complex?
really? DCU fan arrests in the past 10 years at RFK 2: 12 CFKA Metros fan arrest in the past 10 years for same games at RFK 2: 46
Ok what I dont understand is why cant DC United just renovate RFK once the Nationals move. Won't DC United be the only tenants at that point? I love that stadium. Who owns RFK, the city?? I wish they could work out a deal to make it more soccer specific. Don't blast me just thinking out loud.
the city owns the stadium, and RFK is in such disrepair that renovating it would cost more than building a new one, in fact, the plan is once DCU moves out, RFK will cease to exist the old olympic plan, pre-baseball, had RFK turn into a sss after the 2012 olympics, and RFK would have been the 100,000 olympic stadium, but alas, baseball threw a curveball into the mix, and DC didn't get the olympics
According to the Washington Business Journal, city officials plan to call for a meeting with Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder in order to discuss building a new stadium for the NFL team on the site of the soon-to-be-demolished RFK. However, while Mayor Tony Williams and D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission Chairman Mark Tuohey are enthusiastic about the prospect of pitching Snyder on a new home in the District of Columbia, the Redskins seem less than bowled-over by the idea. In fact, team spokesman Karl Swanson is quoted in the article as saying, "Why would you sit down with a mayor who's about to leave office? We are not meeting with anybody. I don't know why we would." It wouldn't seem to make any sense for the Redskins. FedEx Field is less than a decade old and a certified "cash cow" for the 'Skins.
The DCSEC are run by a bunch of morons. They are the reason why the Redskins are now playing in Maryland.
Seriously. I could also see FedEx as a viable World Cup venue whenever it returns to this country. Wouldn't want to commute out there for United games, though.
We could pretty much kiss whatever atmosphere the fans at RFK create goodbye, too. That place would swallow up 18,000 DC United fans in one bite.
Oh yeah -- another reason why United wouldn't want to play out there. For exhibitions (Chelsea game) and the World Cup, it's fine. The atmosphere was pretty good with 30,000-plus for the Chelsea game, and it would be great with 90,000 for a World Cup game.
Sooo... anybody have any idea about the status of the stadium? Agreeing to terms? Design? .... (gasp) ... groundbreaking dates?
You can be that anyone who knows won't be posting here. This being BigSoccer, however, means that many who know nothing will be
It will look like an alien mothership, with groundbreaking scheduled for March 15, 2008. Source: Nostradamus
As you should be able to figure out by this thread, there are no current agreements to build a stadium for DC United. DC could agree to fix up RFK all nice with bows and a cherry on top, and MLS would not be interested. You see, MLS and AEG are in the venue business, and DC makes all the money from RFK (parking, concessions, all other events.) There is no way MLS will stay in DC with those terms. Bottom line is that DC is at risk to move unless we get an MLS controlled stadium.