The MLS Stadium Thread

I don't like the open corner, which appears to accommodate a bar. Wrap the stands around and create some real atmosphere.

 

It's open for nonexistent views of the Capitol Building.

 

Another design cliché.

 

I like open corners, but that of the DC rendering is absurd.

 

Although it was obvious to many without even knowing the area, even the PUD details show there will be no view of the Capitol.

 

I can talk about the Los Angeles stadium site. It's literally in the shadow of the Coliseum (right next to it, closer to the street, but further from the parking lot). It's doubtful they'll be able to hold events on days the Coliseum is in use due to lack of parking (The Coliseum doesn't even have enough parking for itself). It's also across the street from USC - not sure if any students will attend professional soccer games, but its a huge student body. There is a train stop nearby, which is beginning to actually mean something here in L.A. (especially to hipsters, which seems to be the target audience for LAFC). It's also next to the Science Center (space shuttle) and Rose Garden, so it's in a relatively touristy area. Not really a party area though.

I think LAFC's goal is to become LA's soccer team, and make the Galaxy the team for the OC and South Bay, but I don't know why they are building such a small stadium.

 

The only remaining Olympic facilities in that cluster are now the Coliseum and the outdoor swimming pool. I haven't heard anything about playing big games at the Coliseum, though it would make sense. The only problem is that the Coliseum seats 93k and with weird sightlines (being a track stadium originally). I did hear they are reducing it to a more manageable 74k starting next year with the Rams moving in, which would be more manageable.

 

From what I am reading, the Rams plan to tarp off up to 25,000 seats per game

 

Another key fact for the LAFC stadium location - its only 15 minutes up the 110 Freeway from the Stubhub Center. Any Galaxy fans from the east side will literally go right past the LAFC stadium on their way to Galaxy games...

 

there I fixed it...

how long that takes can vary in a Huge way!.

 

Nah, that part of the freeway is rarely very busy. I've taken that route ~20 times and it always takes 15-20 minutes from the coliseum to the stub hub center.

 

Grass as far as I know. Also a bit of research reveals that LAFC does plan to play some games at the Coliseum in the near future. One of their owners said he envisions Galaxy-LAFC selling out the Coliseum (which will be at 78k capacity by the time LAFC comes to be)

 

Blame Snyder is popular, but he didn't add "some corner seats." Several rows were added in front of the original first row. That was done well before United began to limit capacity of RFK... and there's the matter of RFK always being capable of seating more than normal attendance so why move to a different venue for the ******** of it? There has only been one regular season game at FedEx and that was because SUM had to convince the absent FO that would be good for them financially.

 

The biggest problem with the Coliseum is that it's very far from a modern stadium. It's a single level giant bowl, where even 50k would look desolate. That place needs to either be packed, or it looks empty.

I suppose the $250 million renovation might improve some of that by 2019.

 

This is a very wrong statement. First off, every front office caps season ticket sales for the express purpose of having single game tickets available to expose a larger percentage of the market to the game day experience. The younger generation is likely only going to come to one or two games a year with their family or friends anyway. Which do you think is going to make a greater impression on a young fan - going to a game in a 20-25k sold out stadium that is absolutely crazy, or going to a game in a 70k seat stadium that is 1/3 empty on a night where half the fans there were given free tickets and have no real attachment to the team?

 

I doubt this, though I hate to speculate. The Galaxy, which is one of the most if not the THE most expensive ticket in MLS, still has $25 single game tickets available. San Jose, which is one of the more expensive markets in the league and has a small capacity of 18K still has single game tickets available for $28.

Now, if your belief is that DC's cheapest ticket is going to be nearly double that of what is already some of the most expensive ticket prices in the league, in some of the most affluent markets in the league, then you are entitled to that belief. I personally am HIGHLY skeptical that the cheap seats are going to go up by that much. (That would be a 60% increase) Especially considering that in most instances its the premium seats that see the greatest price increase in a new venue (luxury suites, sideline, midfield).

Lets say I'm wrong about the cheap seats remaining around $25 and you're wrong about them skyrocketing to $40. Split the difference and say they're around $32. Still not cheap. That said, every single team in the league has group sale discounts starting at 10 tickets. Those discounts can be as high as 28% off the ticket price. Lets assume a 15% group rate discount at a $32 ticket would be roughly $27 per ticket. Carpool to save on parking, and that's a lot easier of a pill to swallow for your kid's teammates' parents. (and I still believe that the actual starting price will be cheaper than the discounted price in my example).

I'm not saying that LAFC won't play any games at the Colosseum. I'm arguing against your point that in order to bring the next generation of fans to the stadium MLS teams need to give away free tickets or sell them as loss leaders at grossly discounted prices. That simply isn't true anymore.

There is a very good reason why more and more teams have severely scaled back the AYSO marketing strategy. It doesn't work and it isn't necessary.

 

United's ticket prices came down a little on some sections in the past two years. Likewise, many sections were re-zoned. Some ticket prices may not increase by much technically, but that will be due to labeling of sections in the new venue versus RFK. I do not expect United tickets to stay at the price they are now. They won't double though. As for parking, there won't be much in the immediate area. I believe RFK lots are $20. It's more for many remaining areas near Nats Park. Regardless, it's a hike that may be longer than the Metro stations. Metrorail isn't exactly cheap when going as a group.

//I have my plans already, but I'm not sharing because ******** all y'all