This is what I want. Wilt and the Fire are so great. Their third kit for the upcoming season looks great, now this. Read it and start thinking about a road trip. http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dsindex/30-ds1.htm
Thanks for the link Bryan.... They're definately going about it the right way. Atmosphere is a big part of the game day experience and I think Wilt knows that. Just think back to the days when we used to envy Crew stadium. The bar's been set. Hope KP and the gang are taking notes.
How is it that the Fire, who came into the league after us, gets a stadium before us? Is it a matter of city politics?
I feel the same way about the proposed DCU SSS that is seats only 24,000. I wonder if these stadiums are designed to be expandable?
Too small, maybe, but it also gets into the supply and demand, and raising prices on a commodity. Imagine the advance ticket sales if people are worried about not getting a seat.
See I think it is better to setup a 28,000 seater that fills for the big events (MLS Cup, Olympics, Playoffs, USMNT Matches) rather than create "false" supply and demand.
IIRC, they are. With the built in stage at one end that cuts off the crowd potential. However they can add temporary stands on the stage and add a few thousand more people.
Exactly. Guess that we DCU fans should start saving our money for the inevitable PSL & ticket hike. Even so, as Barbara June pointed out, 20,000 does sound a bit small. Is the stadium designed to be at all expandable without major construction?
While I wish most of the SSS being built were capable of seating a few thousand more, I still think at this point in time it's not a bad way to go. For almost a decade now most of the teams have been playing in stadiums far too large, and the teams are trying to create a more responsive demand. The most important thing to remember is that if the teams are selling out their 20,000-24,000 seat stadiums regularly, then they can make the argument that more fans are watching the games on TV and try to eventually get media contracts that don't suck. If you look at the modern sports industry, so much of the revenues are generated from television deals--just ask the NFL. Needless to say, it's a lot easier to expand a stadium when the demand is great enough than to contract it because it's never more than 65% full on a regular basis.
Honestly for the forseeable future, too small > too large. Sellouts will look/sound great, and it will create a demand for tickets, which in turn will create a buzz. A demand for tickets will also help with any future expansion efforts.
that stadium is awesome. someone said in the chicago forum that those still arent the offical ones that are being released today. they dont show the player entrance in the middle of field or the "dugout" style player boxes. i cant wait to see the offical ones and i cant wait to see dcu stadium when it gets going. we all know that dcu is going to have the best stadium in mls!
I love the exterior images of the stadium with the brick facade. Wonderful. The roof design, where it is used, is superb looking. However, I believe that what you have is essentially a stadium with less roof coverage than the Home Depot Center. Fully 1/3 of the seats (and those with the supporters'). Don't get me wrong, it's a wonderful stadium. However, in terms of atmosphere, if the supporters are not under the roof, you are loosing a HUGE part of the atmosphere potential. As I've said in other threads and places, the most critical design element for a DC United stadium is that the supporters be under the roof, which means that the majority of the seating area be covered. In fact, I believe that the entire stadium should be covered if possible. I realize that this is likely cost prohibitive. Hence, there should be some recongnition of this in the design. Perhaps you've got to leave an entire sideline of seats uncovered or an entire end, who knows, but the main section of loud fans need a roof overhead to create the atmoshpere. You keep seeing the cantilevered roof designs, which are great. However, this has got to be pretty costly. Even though it's antiquated, I'd like to see a design consider the old-fashioned (old-Tiger stadium style) post and beam roofs. This could keep costs down, and if done for a single stand behind a goal would really truly be a supporters section worthy of DC fans. Cheers, Tim
20,000 is perfect. Until the league averages 20 grand, we do not need to start thinking about expanding stadiums yet. The way things have been planned, however, I would bet there is a plan in place for expanding the capacity of the stadium. Best of all, 20,000 seats will encourage a ticket shortage, thus making a Fire ticket that more valuable and "presitigious"; especially when it comes to really big games. A great demand for tickets will put the Fire in the spotlight later on. Finally, I can be proud of Chicago sports again!
Can someone please explain to me what constitutes a cantilevered roof? I think I have an idea, however, would like to be better informed on it.
A cantilevered roof is one where the entire roof is support on one side. http://www.engineersedge.com/beam_bending/beam_bending8.htm Run some quick calculations if you'd like
"As I've said in other threads and places, the most critical design element for a DC United stadium is that the supporters be under the roof, which means that the majority of the seating area be covered. In fact, I believe that the entire stadium should be covered if possible. I realize that this is likely cost prohibitive. Hence, there should be some recongnition of this in the design. Perhaps you've got to leave an entire sideline of seats uncovered or an entire end, who knows, but the main section of loud fans need a roof overhead to create the atmoshpere." The Riot squad and the Galaxians in the HDC aren't under the roof. We still make a ton of noise, but the fans that are under the roof are far more apt to make noise than they would have been otherwise, thus creating even more loud fans. So maybe those rowdy Screaming Eagles and Barra Brava types can merely serve as inspiration to the fans that will be amped up by the roof...I think you guys just need bleachers that bounce!
Arrrggghh!!! All this talk and viewing of other teams stadiums is killing me! I want one now for DCU!!! I have a sinking feeling that we'll be waiting longer than 2007 for a SSS for D.C. United. We seem to be the red headed step child in MLS and in D.C. when it comes to talk of a stadium for our beloved . While I would be happy to remain in RFK forever (if there were no baseball team coming) but, since we'll be sharing RFK with a baseball team, I want to get a new stadium asap.
The best news about the Chicago stadium? They're claiming it will take 17 months to complete, and be ready for games during 2006. This means that 2007 is still well within the realm of possibilities for DC United.
I dunno about being the redheaded step child of MLS. 4 championships, Freddy Adu, and the best fans in the league can attest to that. I just think it's harder to build in Washington DC than somewhere like Bridgeview, IL. There is no conspiracy out there against DC. I think it's about 50-50 that our stadium will be done in 2007.