Given all of the talk about negative vibes from the folks in Sully, I'm wondering if any of the DC folks have thought about the Soccerplex as a potential training grounds. Then, right up the road, you have some office space (abot a 10 minute drive). I'm thinking of the shopping area/office building right near Seneca Valley, but I'm sure there are lots of vacant offices up that way... It's the same everywhere with Commercial Real Estate. I guess what I'm getting as it that the Soccerplex folks are looking at ways to meet budget, this wouldn't require any real construction on DCU's part... The fields up there, including the "stadium" field are magic... The surrounding residents are a non-issue. There's a Splashpark and mini-golf. 'nuff said. Just a thought, Mr. Zack.
Part of the MD Soccer Foundation's agreement with the county was that the complex would not become a permanent base for any professional team, unfortunately. In fact, they are limited in the number of paid events they can host per year.
i wonder if DCU would really leave NOVA after so many years. it'd be relatively disruptive to move into MD. personally i think the sports complex in PG near Jack Kent Cooke would be perfect for United and PG is likely to be very interested and accomadating.
And they have plenty of pepper spray. I think PG is a bad idea. Bad connotation, bad access, bad neighboors (the Fed Ex monstrosity)
i don't know what you mean by "bad connotation", and the access to that area isn't really bad, certainly better than some of the other places bandied about.
"bad connotation" It's freakin' PG County. If it weren't for LA Cops, these guys would have the reputation for worst in the country. I work in Suitland, just a couple of miles away. This isn't the general area that United/MLS/US Soccer wants to go to on a regular basis. The advantage though is that they already have an "Arena Drive"
i live in PG county and find it much more pleasant than NOVA where i work or the District. of course i live right on the Charles County border in the country so it is a bit different than Suitland. i am not sure why MLS or DCU wouldn't want to be in that area--it is already set up for training. there certainly can't be any quality of life issues worse in the area around the PG complex than there are at the auxilarly field at RFK.
Remember that the Caps and Bullets pulled chocks a couple of years ago from that exact same area. I think that RFK Aux and PG would be a wash.
The Germantown Soccerplex is taking in far less money than anticipated, so perhaps that agreement with the county ought to be revisited. DCU would make use of only a small portion of the complex; the fields are already there; and the complex is well buffered from housing. However, I doubt DCU could build anything there, even a one or two-storey building. Another idea: How about using Soccerplex as part of a USSF youth soccer training facility for the Mid=Atlantic region, along the lines of the Ballitieri (sp?)complex in Florida? It wouldn't have to be a full residential academy, that is, they would have to house and feed the kids but not necessarily educated them on site. There are two or three nearby high schools where they could take a reduced load of classes.
Don't hold your breath. The local residents are already bitching about the final build-out of two more fields. Kind of ironic when you consider that the morons groaning the loudest over this are the ones who moved into their brick-front mini-mansions after the complex was built.
Of course they are complaining now, they missed all that good complaint time up front and are now making up for the missed opportunity. My quote of the week about the suburbanites: "Help, help, I'm being oppressed by soccer lunatics!" At least in MY neighborhood there is no view to ruin, rats don't count as cuddly wildlife, land prices are astronomical, and we already have traffic problems because people insist on commuting in from the SUBURBS!
Word. Anyone bitching about the Soccerplex is a complete buffoon. 90 percent of those houses didn't even break ground until after the Soccerplex was already up and running.
You know, when I lived in Phoenix, there was a large housing boom, and a lot of people moved to an area near Luke Air Force base. Then they complained about all the noise from the jets. Keep this in mind: The average human is really stupid.
Re: Re: New DCU Office Complex/Training Grounds: Germantown? And we'd have to hear Richie bitch about not being tall enough to go on any of the rides.
PG County pleasant? Hello? Cheverly, Riverdale, and Seabrook? Are we talking the same PG County? PG County is a toilet. I worked in Greenbelt for years, and I lived in Lanham for two weeks. I couldn't get a pizza delivered after sundown. I moved to Howard County after that, and I was happy. A DC United facility near whitebread Columbia would go over well. The Caps practice near Piney Orchard in AA County, so the precedent is there. Of course, hockey is a real sport...
I remember reading last week or the week before that they're relaxing some rules about the soccerplex to allow fundraisers or more events where admission is charged or something. If they're not doing so well monetarily, they'll keep pushing the envelope. I imagine by 2016, DC might have a chance of getting a facility there. Of course, by that time, those brick-front townhouses (which look like they are built cheaply) will probably be slum-like anyway.