Doesn't the Charge have to find a new home with a grass field after this season? Anybody know what the potential scenarios are?
where did you hear that? Comcast paid for half of the new nextgen turf that Villanova put down on their field so the Charge could play on it too. I dont think that they are going anywhere. Nova is a perfect location for them. A nice midsized stadium located in the burbs. If your implying that they are going to play at the new football stadium, forget about it. Its too big. Ask the Washington fans about playing in a 3/4 empty RFK. Maybe they could hold the Founders Cup at the LINC, but not Charge games. KSP
We love it. Yes, it's a bit big, but the partial roof holds noise in very well-- RFK with 6,000 in it is a helluva lot louder than Villanova Stadium was with more people for the Penn-Villanova football game last fall. RFK is chock-full of history, including some of the greatest moments American soccer has ever witnessed. It's right on top of a Metro station and is easily accessible from the suburbs as well. Doubleheader days with United are always electric because everybody in the area can get there so easily. I don't deny that Villanova Stadium is easy to get to, but RFK is easier. Also, the team really is the Washington Freedom, instead of the Bethesda Freedom or the Arlington Freedom. There is an emotional element to having the team playing within the city limits that a lot of people cherish. And RFK has grass...
I thought I remembered at the outset of the WUSA that turf fields were allowed for a couple of years until the teams were established, at which point grass was expected. Is this simply wishful thinking on my part?
The nexgen turf at Nickerson Field in Boston and Philly have been approved by FIFA (?) for world cup qualifying games. I think that the artificial turf field will be around for a while. I just read that the meadowlands is extremely unhappy with their natural grass situation. With the Giants and Jets both playing on it every weekend it just doesnt hold up. Since they are the major users of the Stadium, I think that the MetroStars are going to be playing on some sort of nexgen turf soon as well. KSP
IIRC, Nickerson Field is FieldTurf, which is FIFA-approved, but Villanova Stadium is NexTurf, which is not FIFA-approved. As far as I know, the new surface at Giants Stadium is not FIFA-approved either.