Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Where Newbies Go to Get Flamed

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

Well, uhm, yeah ...

"D.C. United never brings anything to the table," one city official told NBC4, speaking on background because he was not authoriized to publicly comment.​

D.C. United's New Home Could Be in SW
NBC Washington

 

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

At this point, so long as it's in the District, a muddy field marked off by traffic cones would do for me. They could even use t-shirts as goal markers like we used to do.

 

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

And by "table" he means the shoe box full of hundred dollar bills in his closet.

 

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

Hence Chang's position on bringing in new investors first.

 

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

Can't say I'm surprised.

If United could bring somethig to the table, a deal likely would have been done a while ago.

I get the feeling that the District officials feel United has a sense of entitlement and wants more from them than they offer in return and that it's off-putting to the city officials.

 

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

"Can't take a piss without say so"

 

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

The major difference being that we won't close the roads around the stadium for walkers.

Just saw games at Emirates and Craven Cottage. A stadium like Craven Cottage would be great.

 

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

I also know that walk, I've done it a few times myself It's not bad and if there are police on horseback and traveling fans getting wasted at nearby bars, it'll be a fun atmosphere!

 

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

And it doesn't help that very few (percentage-wise) of the constituents of the members of the city council care at all about soccer. In this country it's not an urban sport.

As has been discussed ad nauseum, between that lack of interest among many DC voters, the sweetheart stadium deal for the Nats, the national economic crisis, DC's financial situation, Chang's lack of (big time) wealth, Fenty, RFK's property complications and the scarcity of old industrial spaces in need of redevelopment in the DC area it would almost be surprising if the stadium had been built yet.

The answer, as it has always been, is obviously money.

In my dreams I see in my RSS feed a Goff post with a headline such as: "Will Chang and DC United welcome new majority partner, announce stadium deal with DC government."

If they ever do get a deal done, it would not shock me if they were announced simultaneously. Any new partner is going to want to know that a stadium can be built in the District with reasonable local government support, and without a major contribution from DCU there won't be any deal at all.

 

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

I wish I was a billionaire.

 

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

Now we know how much all of those trophies are really worth.

 

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

So freaking bad?

 

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

"D.C. United never brings anything to the table," one city official told NBC4, speaking on background because he was not authoriized to publicly comment.​

D.C. United's New Home Could Be in SW
NBC Washington

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Isn't the real problem that Major League Baseball took the table?

 

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

buy all of the things we never had?

 

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

No, not really. At least, I don't think so.

We saw this with the PG deal that fell apart, too. The Stadium that KP outlined would have been fantastic - it would have given Red Bull Arena a run for the money. What the DC Officials are saying, however, is that DCU comes in and wants a new Lexus but they really are only worth a used Carolla - and they're not even willing to pay for all of that.

The Buzzard Point location is interesting to me because Akridge and the various other landowners down there need something to get people down there. They need a hook. A stadium could provide some of that.

 

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

I think you are missing my point. Here we have an unnamed city official complaining about DC United not bringing anything to the table but I don't recall Major League Baseball doing so either. In fact, they got a pretty good deal, hence, the table missing.

 

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

I have visions of a "Fan avenue" almost, where, almost as if by clockwork, 20K DCU fans march down the avenue to watch the game.

 

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

Well, make that a 4 hour stroll (er, stumble!

 

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

I know this is not as simple as a math problem.. Ive read every post on this thread, but I do have a couple questions about the financial aspect:

- How much is DCU worth and how deep are Chang's pockets? Would $60million make someone a majority owner?
- How much would it take to facilitate the construction of a basic, cookie cutter stadium while requiring 0% financing from the district on a relatively unused piece of land like Buzzard Point? $200million?

 

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

I get this argument from the chip-on-the-shoulder, DCU fan perspective, but come on.

Baseball brought the opportunity to have a team with them. Kudos to the Nats for framing their contribution to "the table" in non-monetary terms.

Not only that, but their project promised far more in terms of overall attendance, sales tax revenue, etc.

 

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

That's right. United doesn't exactly promise a massive economic impact on the surrounding area. Not on the scale of the Natinals.

 

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

Natinals, what's that? A cream puff pastry? (Natilla is spanish for custard, but some dialects spell it natina)

ps-I would argue that the World Cup, Olympics, International games, etc. could have as big an impact if not bigger. Just saying.

 

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

Because the Nats are such a financial success story for Washington, DC that the city is looking to build other stadiums. The statement made from the city official is true but let's not ignore that Major League Baseball got a very good deal because the mayor and some members of the city council wanted a baseball team here at all costs. Let's also not ignore that if not for DC United, RFK is pretty much sitting empty for the last 15 years. In fact, I doubt the Expos would have played any games in DC without a new stadium built first. If you think RFK is bad now, imagine what it would be like collecting cob webs over those years. So while DC United may not have much to bring to the table, that table got ripped out with the dealings for the Nats and basically DC United is being asked to bring in a new table.

 

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

Yes, the city got hosed on the Natinals Park deal.

What I'm saying is this - even if they didn't get hosed, I don't know that it would change DCU's situation all that much.

 

Re: Stadium News and Speculation XXIV: Vote for a New Front Office!

By all means, put in your $60 million. I think you would be much more than just a majority owner - I think you would be the Saviour of Soccer, DC Edition.