New Stadium Hints/Details

Discussion in 'D.C. United' started by JoeW, Oct 23, 2004.

  1. JoeW

    JoeW New Member

    Apr 19, 2001
    Northern Virginia, USA
    To make a long story short, while traveling on work this past week (outside the DC area), I bumped into two guys talking about the new stadium plans for DC United. Talk about a bizarre coincidence. Anyway, I couldn't help kibbitizing so I inserted myself into the conversation briefly before I needed to head off to my flite.

    A few details that may prove interesting:
    --the plans for the stadium are supposed to be very far along.
    --the lead designer (or at least the lead person providing stadium design advice to Payne) is a professor/architect at George Mason University (didn't know they had any kind of an architecture program but it could be someone with those credentials in Engineering or Public Policy or some other department).
    --He (the lead designer/advisor) is a long-term season ticket holder (evidently since either "96 or "97) till today.
    --The stadium was described as a "300 day" venue (meaning, they were looking at doing a lot of events in it, getting 300 days worth of use each year). If so, that would make it a cash cow. Which would provide tremendous financial encentive to get it going and make it a reality (rather than a set of blueprints).

    No more details could I garner from the conversation--as much as I wanted more info I needed to get home and couldn't miss my flite.
     
  2. swedcrip34

    swedcrip34 New Member

    Mar 17, 2004
    thanks

    but come on, it would have been worth missing your flight. selfish :)
     
  3. JoeW

    JoeW New Member

    Apr 19, 2001
    Northern Virginia, USA
    Believe me, I was tempted.
     
  4. G Enriquez

    G Enriquez Member+

    Apr 1, 2002
    Tampa
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Thank's for that info Joe W. I can't wait till you guy's get your own stadium.
    D.C.United fan's deserve it.
     
  5. gnat

    gnat New Member

    Oct 1, 2003
    Thanks for the tidbits Joe.

    If that part is true, i'd be a bit worried. One of the best things for us the last couple of seasons is that we rarely had to share our pitch with anyone. The result was arguably the best pitch in all of MLS (i'm sorry HDC is crap, at least as seen on TV).

    While I understand that they have to make money off it, and that means concerts and other events, I hope they don't "overbook" the place to the detriment of the field.

    -dave
     
  6. AndyMead

    AndyMead Homo Sapien

    Nov 2, 1999
    Seat 12A
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    www.gmu.edu

    No Architecture
    No Architectural Engineering

    There is a Public Policy and Management minor, but it has no engineering/architectural coursework.
     
  7. Sundevil9

    Sundevil9 Member

    Nov 23, 1999
    Reston, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    http://www.civil.gmu.edu/

    Civil Engieering.

    It's much easier to spell than Archtectural.
     
  8. AndyMead

    AndyMead Homo Sapien

    Nov 2, 1999
    Seat 12A
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Fair enough.

    Looking at the faculty bios, the most likely candidate seems to be Dr. Tomasz Arciszewski.

    Anybody seen this guy at United games?

    [​IMG]
     
  9. SABuffalo786

    SABuffalo786 New Member

    May 18, 2002
    Buffalo, New York
    If it's true, that's really cool that a fan is designing it.
     
  10. sch2383

    sch2383 New Member

    Feb 14, 2003
    Northern Virginia
    If a fan is designing, he would certainly realize the importence of bouncing stands for DC United fans.
     
  11. Sachin

    Sachin New Member

    Jan 14, 2000
    La Norte
    Club:
    DC United
    There will be a stage at one end of the stadium. No need to worry about "overuse"

    Sachin
     
  12. swedcrip34

    swedcrip34 New Member

    Mar 17, 2004
    But will the moshers be on the field?

    But really, overuse of a MLS operated SSS is the least of my worries. Can't wait until every team is complaining about their pitch then. And judging by US @ Panama maybe learning to play on a substandard pitch could be useful.
     
  13. AndyMead

    AndyMead Homo Sapien

    Nov 2, 1999
    Seat 12A
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    I was there. The field itself wasn't so bad. It was the rain and the light that sucked. I've found the fields in the Caribbean to be far worse.
     
  14. monster

    monster Member

    Oct 19, 1999
    Hanover, PA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Odds are if he's doing a project like this, the guy is an adjunct who works full-time.
     
  15. DigitalTron

    DigitalTron New Member

    Apr 4, 2001
    Arlington, VA
    You Sir ... rock. :) I'm shocked that you couldn't think of a reason to exchange business cards though! OK ok ok, maybe that's a bit much ... thanks man!

    -Digital
     
  16. swedcrip34

    swedcrip34 New Member

    Mar 17, 2004
    But wasn't a problem that the rain didn't drain of the field? That was what I meant by "field". My point wasn't clear (you made it) that a general problem against CONCACAF "minnows" (and some giants!) will be less than perfect field conditions (meant to include wetness and light in my definition). But anyway, my real point was that overused SSS fields are the least of my concerns for the betterment of the future of MLS right now.
     
  17. monster

    monster Member

    Oct 19, 1999
    Hanover, PA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The cool thing about "overuse" is that, with the team holding the keys to the palace, they can make someone else responsible for what happens on the field when soccer isn't being played.
     
  18. AndyMead

    AndyMead Homo Sapien

    Nov 2, 1999
    Seat 12A
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    I could say the same about RFK Stadium. Whenever it rains, RFK is a mosh pit. My contention is that, on the whole, the field will be better next year, even with an infield.
     
  19. Barbara

    Barbara BigSoccer Supporter

    Apr 29, 2000
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    On what do you base that?
     
  20. Lowecifer

    Lowecifer Member+

    Jan 11, 2000
    Baltimore, MD
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Belgium
    Let me just say that if a Civil Engineer is involved, it better just be with the drainage system or the hookups to the utility grid of DC.

    In no universe is a civil engineer qualified to design a building.

    If they want a fan involved, I know of a few architects with season tickets. Ahem.
     
  21. Saltenya94

    Saltenya94 Member

    Jul 29, 2003
    Brooklyn
    Club:
    DC United
    Lowecifer, hope u gave your business card to Mr. Payne
     
  22. GrillMaster

    GrillMaster Member

    Aug 31, 2000
    Alexandria, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Payne has taken a lot of flak over the years about this SSS. One thing to keep in mind is that he genuinely loves and understands the game and the importance of fans. The design will be as good as can be, within economic constraints. I doubt that we'll have bouncing stands, even though KP, PN and the players made a point of mentioning at the Blowout how cool it was to see the stands bouncing last Sunday.

    GM
     
  23. soyinocente

    soyinocente Member

    Nov 26, 2003
    This is a bit misguided, unfortunately. The information you are talking about is a final project for a graduate engineering class in Infrastructure Finance taught by Mason to a group of 15 senior (20+ years experience) engineers. I know, as I'm the season ticket holder since 96 and am the adjunct professor teaching the class. I requested info from Payne on the students' behalf but was unable to get anything that wasn't in the letter to season ticket holders after the Expo announcement. The 300 day thing may be correct, but as far as I know, that is an assumption being used by the student project team.

    To my knowledge, Mason has no official relationship in the design or development. However, I'm sure the Civil, Environmental, & Infrastructure Engineering Department at Mason is thankful for the plug!
     
  24. IncaEnclave

    IncaEnclave Member

    Aug 24, 2000
    Alexandria, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Peru
    well you just had to nip it at the bud didn't you :p
     
  25. JoeW

    JoeW New Member

    Apr 19, 2001
    Northern Virginia, USA
    Oh well...the guy I spoke to represented it a bit differently. Obviously, coming from the source puts it in a different perspective. Egg on my face for sure!
     

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