I know this has been discussed a few times over the years, but considering the posibility the thing may actually be built, what would you want to see in the stadium? Perhaps someone could send this list to Kevin Payne when it is finished being compiled. I'd like... 1. Bouncing stands in the supporter's sections 2. Soccer bar open to the public 3. Roof over all the seats 4. A section of stands named after Marco Etcheverry 5. A section of stands named after Bruce Arena 6. DC UNITED spelled out in the seats 7. Seats close to the field (no HDC crap) 8. A second-to-none Public Address System 9. A gift shop 10. Tours of the stadium available to the public 11. Fields at the site, including small-sided fields for the public 12. Training ground for DCU on site 13. A place where huge yellow stars can be very visably placed for each MLS Cup championship 14. Decent dugouts for the players, perhaps even in the stands. Please add your suggestions...then someone can send to Mr. Payne.
Actually, I'd really like us to have a sort of promenade leading to the stadium from the Anacostia Metro stop, sort of like what Wembley had. With red/black/white kiosks selling food, gear, and programs lining it. I just love the feeling of walking with a throng of people to the stadium looming in front of you. Plus it's a great memory for kids attending their first game.
an attractive european style design. no bleacher seating, no grassy knolls for picnicking, no "party areas". i want seats (25,000), a roof, and one hell of an intimidating atmosphere.
Spelling out DC United in the seats is a must, for me. Its a form of cheap (all you have to do is order X number of white seats instead of whatever other color they will be) advertising, and it shows whose home it is, no matter what is being played at the stadium.
I want 22,000 to 24,000 seats in steeply-raked stands (painted in some place with the team's name) that are close to the field, a roof over most (or all) of the stands, a large and wide field, a good beer selection, and an upgrade to the Anacostia Metro station so that it has enough turnstiles to quickly handle gameday crowds. I'd also like to see the team's offices and training facilities there, as well as several (5-10) community playing fields, and a soccer/sports bar and restaurant open on gamedays and non-gamedays alike where one could watch soccer from around the globe. And maybe some sort of bar and in-stadium pre-game happy hour, like I've heard they do at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston.
Excellent point. I do want a better PA system for when it's needed, but I don't want a first-rate PA system to tempt ownership into using it for piped music and in-game chatter.
I want: 30K seats (not bleachers). --We'll be growing in membership. Brick building --a little retro, but it adds atmosphere Roofs over the seats Seats close to the pitch, not like HDC Nice bar open to the public Nice area for the trophies Playing fields available to the general public --kravi
galperin is quite a demanding fellow... i don't see a need for there to be auxiliary fields on the stadium especially since land is pricey in the district...i'd like there to be a promenade as well...i'm not sure whether our possible future stadium would have to have a stage end as the others ones have in carson, frisco, and bridgeview...if so, then maybe there is where we can have the bouncy stands....bouncy stands right behind a goal can be very intimidating and useful for removing for concerts and such.... the letter display on the seats is feasible...i don't see much reason for an in-stadium pub...i'm sure business will pop up around the stadium so it's not much of a walk to get to a pub....i'm still unsure about the capacity...dc has always drawn big crowds (relative to MLS standards) and a new stadium will easily attract a couple thousand more ...i don't know if we want to be seen a top USMNT site as well b/c then a 25k capacity stadium would be rather small....then the dilemma to always have a packed house arises....any architects out there know how much it would be to increase a capacity of a stadium? ....anyways this is a DCU stadium and i'm a DCU fan so 25k sounds good enough just so that everyone who really wants a ticket could get one if they just prepare in time and would also have the stadium full at kickoff rather than walk-ups waiting in line at kickoff
how bout a north end terrace? Or maybe a Dortmund type terrace which has folding seats which can be used depending on the event.
I agree that there should also be some sort of United 'display' room available too the public during gameday, where the trophies are obviously behind glass but people can tour through and see them. It wouldnt take anything but a little extra design and maybe 1 or 2 csc stationed in the room to guard.
No bleachers. No stage at one end. If there has to be a permanent stage at one end, make it retractable. Find the pic in the FC Dallas forum that shows their stadium. I think Uncle Phil will be shooting for the same design here. Also, make the pitch moveable as well. Don't want those mosh-pits tearing up the penatly area. Thx, Jay!
One way to sum up how our stadium should feel: I really dont want KP and all to spare any expense. I know its easy for me to say that, but lets think of a few things: DC United is the best franchise in the league and it deserves a befitting stadium; DC is the Nations Capital, not Frisco or even Chicago; DC fans deserve the stadium as well, especially since we are going to be having to groundshare with baseball for the forseeable future. Anyway, this stadium should have all the amenties without making the actual stadium barebones: this means, it should have: comforatable seating with ROOF over all parts of the stadium, good looking archtechture(maybe brick or stone of some sort), the best groundskeeping crew for a nice wide field, a 'museum' of sorts where our trophies are stored, and of course, top of the line concessions (can anyone say, beer besides budweiser?)
No, I think that design is pathetic. Having your own stadium is nice, but it helps if the stadium is even half decent as well. I mean come on, it's 100 degrees for day games in the summer in Dallas, and they aren't going to cover the stands at all? Ridiculous.
Ok, so far we have: 1. Bouncing stands in the supporter's sections 2. Soccer bar open to the public 3. Roof over all the seats 4. A section of stands named after Marco Etcheverry 5. A section of stands named after Bruce Arena 6. DC UNITED spelled out in the seats 7. Seats close to the field (no HDC crap) 8. A second-to-none Public Address System 9. A gift shop 10. Tours of the stadium available to the public 11. Fields at the site, including small-sided fields for the public 12. Training ground for DCU on site 13. A place where huge yellow stars can be very visably placed for each MLS Cup championship 14. Decent dugouts for the players, perhaps even in the stands. 15. Upgraded Metro at Anacostia 16. Trophy room 17. Promenade 18. Retractable/portable stage
8. Be VERY careful what you wish for. I have thoroughly enjoyed not being able to hear the PA system for nine years. There's nothing a PA system can announce that can't be displayed as text on a message board. An effective PA system is just too damn tempting to your basic blowhard stadium announcer, and eventually we would be subjected to cumblowus crew crap announcements, ads and jock rock. If a PA system must be there for building code purposes, then let's secure it so that it must be unlocked to use in emergencies. In conclusion, an audible PA system will be such a pain in the arse that you'll want the concession on hemorrhoid cream! KP is a futbol fan, so he will take care of business as long as the budget allows. Other necessities that we have discussed before (with KP) include: supporter entrances/gates, a dedicated tailgate area for the supporter groups lighting that does not produce four shadows (as was specifically designed for CCStadium) The trophy room should be a wall in the pub/ club museum. The hardware can be secured behind unbreakable viewing panes. We'll need a ring of stars, or equivalent, to appropriately honor players and suits that have excelled. I want as little upward movement in ticket price as is possible, so I will gladly sacrifice most anything to keep the price down. However, the bouncing stand should be a given, whatever the circumstances, because it is a trademark of DC United We'll need message boards and jumbotron(s) visible from all areas of the stands. The club section must be segregated from us unwashed low-lifes so that moneybag soccer moms won't have to be subjected to seat jumpers. A segregated visiting fan section (with its own gate) is also a must. GM
Dear Santa, I want a roof that will cover all the seats. I want there to be bouncing stands I want the seats to be close to the field, like 2 or 3 yards. I want a bar and grill that I can go to before and after the match, or that will show soccer from all over the world. I want there stadium with steep seating to makes for an enviornment that matches any other place in the world. But most of all, I want it on time.