Amongst the interesting news: http://washingtontimes.com/sports/20040729-121708-8310r.htm A new stadium sounds a whole lot more definite than I thought it was judging from those remarks. The Expos moving to DC sounds a whole lot more definite too ... Nonetheless, we'll see ...
Woh. I hope they use Lot 8- lord knows all of the blood, sweat, tears and beer we have shed there in hopes of United victory. It can only be good vibes for the team. And yes, this does sound encouraging, thanks for the heads up Knave.
I like how Malek offered to make RFK a completely baseball facility and Tony W said, "No thanks, I gots me 800,000 people that'll pick up that check." Again. All this goes in the believe-it-when-I-see it file. I am glad to see that higher-up people are recognizing that RFK, despite all the great times, is ready to meet its friends Three Rivers and Kingdome in the afterlife.
Well, it was a nice read, and pretty factual if you ask me. From everything in that article one can say with some confidence that everything that is coming down now, and will in the future will bode well for both Baseball, and D.C. United/ MLS. I know we should only belive it when we see it happening, but when was the last time there was anything more than just a blurb of a mention about our SSS? At least this article seems to indicate that there is more going on that meets the eye. In fact, I would amost wonder about the timing of this article. Its MLS allstar "break" if you will. The allstar game is being held here, so MLS is giong to be very high profile (relatively speaking of course) in the general public's and sports world's eyes, as is RFK, as is D.C. United because its our home stadium. Given all the news the past couple of weeks, and the down time we have all had to stew about what may or may not happen, I just get the feeling that this article may have been researched, and recieved at least a small bit of cooperation from sources in "the know" to at least allow an ever so slightly positive picture of all of this to come to light just before a big day for RFK. Of course this is all speculation, and one could also wonder why it wasnt run in the Post which has a far larger audience too. But still, the fact that certain things like DC almost losing D.C. United, RFK's future viability called into question, and posting the operating losses of DCSEC just seems to me like something is trying to be slowly brought into focus here. Of course if this all does pan out, then D.C. is going to end up looking pretty damn good in the end. Not only will they have baseball back, and a gem of a new stadium somewhere in the metro area, but they will have also kept thier MLS club, and built them a grand new soccer venue to call home, as well as have great new, and much more economicly viable concert venue to boot. Oh well, take it all with a grain of , well.. sugar. Not salt, but sugar. Why? Because no news is good news, however this kind of news, (all be it rather vague) is more than we have gotten in a while, and it is, at least at this point, something sweet for us to savor. At least for a little while anyway.
Personally, I don't want public money wasted on a ballpark, so I hope the bonds are subject to a vote. Same for a SSS. AEG should pony up and the city should only kick in the land or some road improvements. Actually, I hope NoVA "wins" the Expos. I can't wait to see how many people are going to slog out the Dulles Toll Road during rush hour to watch that miserable team after the novelty wears off in a couple years.
Which is why I think it's important to get as many butts in the seats at this game as possible. It's one of the three games that are nationally televised and a good turnout is imperative. I also wonder about the timing of this article thinking maybe that United's front office wanted to re-enforce their stance to their fans. At the various meetings I've attended with the team, they've held steadfast on the stadium issue. I don't think it's in their best interest (or ours) to put out a press release everytime the media jumps on the Expo's story. They KNOW they have great fans, a solid season ticket base and a strong owner to tie it all together. We just need to let the behind the scenes workings unfold and practice a little patience. Now on the other hand, I'll probably cry like a little girl when they tear down RFK
Bingo! We have a winner. I have several friends who don't care for soccer, but are huge baseball fans, and they have no interest in going to more than a game or 2 per year... Besides, how will they staff the security if the team does play at RFK? Aren't the cops going to be busy chasing after the people eating candy bars on the Metro?
From what I recall, the article is a bit misleading on that front. While Malek might have been willing to refurbish RFK, it was Bud Selig, not Tony Williams, who nixed the idea. Selig has insisted on a new ballpark that is publically financed. Williams, if you will, stepped up to the plate. That's a far cry from Williams turning down Malek's offer. One of many such articles reporting on MLB's desire: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A6902-2004May6¬Found=true Of course, if MLB essentially acquires a new stadium for the new owners, they can charge them more for the Expos.
...but logical. Doesn't this approach continue to work for him? What will be interesting to me is whether the plans for a SSS will include a surrounding complex of fields and practice facilities that some of the others are being surrounding by. Doesn't the lot 8 location restrict this? To bad it won't have a few pubs scattered about also...
Well this makes the bitching of the last couple of weeks a moot point. If this article holds even a grain of truth, a lot of work and backroom negotiations are underway. I honestly like the idea of putting the new SSS on Lot 8, there's a good vibe there! But then again the Anacostia site wouldn't be that bad. It would become the most visually pleasing site in all of MLS!
Not to mention practically guranteed development surrounding said site- folks, the DC government has already set up a Coorperation to oversee the Annacostia development. Not only brandishing local District Government support, but enough clout to garner support from PG county (the OTHER side of the river) as well as from the Fed itself, who owning the largest portion of lands indicated, are ensuring the line about the Poplar Point site being the cheapest(strictly costwise, I hope) to develop. It's going to be real nice over the next few years to see the West-side Georgetown waterfront having to compete with not only a south-side waterfront (overhaul of Maine Ave area into National Waterfront) but an east-side waterfront with a metro and/or light rail accessible SSS to boot.
"The D.C. Sports & Entertainment Commission, which operates RFK and receives no city appropriations, posted an operating loss of $5.36 million in 2003, its fifth straight year in the red. That loss also includes operations at the D.C. Armory, auxiliary fields and RFK Stadium parking lots, but comes primarily from the stadium itself." What? Besides maintaining an aging facility, what else is there? DC United isn't earning a profit because of the money required by the DCSEC for rent, concessions and parking. So, the DCSEC isn't earning one either. Or, is it still paying for decisions like the Grand Prix as well?
KP said awhile ago that the SSS will have one grass and one year-round practice facility, much like RFK has at the moment. The latter field will continue to be used by DCUnited and outside associations for games. Also, on the radio show about a month ago, KP said that he has "a strong desire" for any new SSS to have a year-round pub/restaurant set up with a large array of TVs so that it could be used by fans.
No use, IMHO. I'm anxious for a new stadium with good sight lines all around, which RFK does not have. Also, a stadium next to a stadium will look absolutely stupid, especially since in that case, RFK will have no use anymore, FWIU. Time to tear RFK down. I will say, on another note, I'm very sorry to see the GP go. That was a very unique track. Too bad it won't be replicated somewhere else.
Although not quite the situation as an occupied building, performing partial demolition on a facility being used can still be tricky and may not provide any significant savings between having to remobilize. Imagine working around a facility that is being used from essentially March through October.
With all apologies to Columbus, we could be looking at the first big city to have an SSS within its borders??!! I'm just going to keep my fingers crossed on this one. I personally hope its on the Anacostia and not on the lot because I think that there will be much more development around a spot located on the waterfront.
As long as there is a place for me to park and for us all to tailgate, I'll be happy. Oh, and that it is nothing like Columbus' stadium, that thing blows (but at least it got built). Crap - I just wasted post 1,000 on talking about a mythical stadium ........ I like the idea of the waterfront, just because the stadium would be the jewel in the area and we'd get to watch bars pop up around it to try to lure us in ...... Who's gonna have to get balls out of the river when we shoot them over the walls trying to score? I'm joining K and Chico for the demolition. I have alot of great memories at that stadium ....... and in the parking lot