Isn't this the 3rd year in a row something like this has been announced? Speaking as a resident of Baltimore I would prefer they didn't, why? I would rather drive an hour to see them play at RFK than to go to a baseball field in my own town, to see a friendly.
Exhibitions - no problem Regular season games - no way Also - Camden Yards? I can't imagine the sight lines would make for a good game. I think Eric tried to lay a soccer field in there before and it was pretty bad. M&T - Field turf - so while not horrible I still would not want it to happen. Want to expand your influence in Baltimore (which is an indirect acknowledgement they are concerned about Philly getting an expansion team) - try some advertising. Set up a relationship with CP USA. Hold events up here.
I'd hate to see us purposefully pick a baseball field, but that would be better than FedEx in my opinion. -dave
And Goff delivers again - in his blog he says this may be for the Superliga matches we can't play in RFK b/c of the Nats.
Depending on the event (USOC?), Homewood Field might work well. It seats about 8500. Apparently it has "Sportexe Momentum Turf" though, and I have no idea how well that would work for soccer. When I played there they had some brutal astroturf stuff that finished off my knees for good, but the current turf is pretty new. Parking's a bear in that neighborhood though. Train to Penn Station + taxi would probably be your best bet if they had a game at Homewood during the week. I don't think I'd like a game at either Camden Yards or the football stadium though. Don't get me wrong- I love Camden Yards, I just don't think it would work very well. Any DCU game would be the most interesting game played in Baltimore since USA-Ecuador at Memorial Stadium though, wouldn't it? Too bad Memorial Stadium isn't still around.
Ludwig would be an awesome venue - like a better version of the soccerplex - but it would be too small. And I don't know if Byrd would work. Does anyone here have any experience with Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium? Are the seats close enough to the field for it to be a worthwhile soccer venue?
How many games have been played in Baltimore since then? That Memorial Stadium game was weird from a fan perspective. The hardcores were put in the right field bleachers.
i was thinking byrd....ludwig would be awesome! for navy, its alright, im gg to try to catch a crystal palace match there just for the hell of it, im in annapolis alot visiting friends anyway, so might as well check it out
Well there's Johnny U. stadium at Towson. But its got a track around it, which will make the crowd less of an issue. But its got artificial turf, which may be an advantage against Mexican teams.
I have been on the field. The field is actually sunk into the ground the seats are pretty damn close. Field turf though.
Well a majority of my games, which must be terribly popular because I never hear about anyone being able to find tickets to them.
BINGO! I do believe there is a guy up here in baltimore that works for DC that is doing his best to promote the team up here. He does post on BS and he is very motivated, in time I believe these sorts of things will improve. (side note) I saw a lady with ehr child in Target in Towson wearing one of those winter DC coats the kind Soehn and Nowak always wore. Love seeing DC gear up here. BITE YER TONGUE! I live four hosues from the old stadium grounds and things are FAR FAR better than they were in this neighborhood. Drunks constantly pissing and passing out on your lawn parking being all but impossible 3-4 days a week during the Baseball/ Football overlap. No thanks! Although, I must say the tailgating in my backyard and the walk from my house to the game and post game would be excellent. Lord knows I have seasoned my neighbors to my brand of drunken debauchery, so I wouldn't feel too bad about upsetting them.
Exactly. Baltimore has some of the best amateur and youth teams in the country but we rarely get any top-level games here. I think Loyola has the only men's D1 program in the city (Morgan and Coppin don't have programs, UMBC and Towson are both in the County), and Hopkins has a pretty good D3 program. The pickup games in Patterson Park can be pretty fun to watch though.
Hey, you remember what I do for a living, right? I definitely understand about Memorial not being a good neighbor, particular during football season. I also certainly commiserate about both drunks and parking- I live in Upper Fells Point. That being said, that was a pretty decent stadium with a lot of history and it was a disgrace the way the Memorial part of the stadium wasn't preserved in any way. Any decent architect could have put all of the new functions of that space in and around the existing structure in a sensitive way. In fact, I have drawings representing just that idea right here in my office... Sorry to go OT.
I understand and respect your opinoin on that. Preserving the "Memorial" in Memorial Stadium was poorly passed over, but the stadium not being there has actually helped grow the neighborhood. The less than spectacular "memorial" they have put there is nice but doesn't do the original plans any justice. And isn't Northern Fells Point simply referred to as Butcher's Hill?
Pints thanks for the kind words. I have been with DCU for one year today. I live in Baltimore (White Marsh to be exact) I am trying to push for more DCU info. in the Baltimore Market. I feel that I am doing an ok job at getting into the Baltimore Community and I am hoping that the reception we are doing will be a giant leap. The article was wrong in some aspects. We will never play a regular season match anywhere, but RFK. International Competitions and friendlies are the only way a DCU game will be played in Baltimore. My toughest roadblock in getting more Baltimore fans out is that they feel DC is in another world. The drive is not as bad as people make it out to be especially on game day. If wants to contact me or has any plans on watching DC on the 28th please let me know. I would love to get together with more Baltimore-area fans. 410-302-3613 or pletts@dcunited.com
Don't forget Goucher & Villa Julie (DIII) in the County. Our problem here in Baltimore is the lack of a good venue. Memorial had the potential to be outfitted properly, but of course it's not around any longer.
Another world! Ha! Don't know if you remember, but it was nice meeting you at the tailgate Pat. You can feel free to use me as an example to people who think its a "long drive".
Play the Superliga matches here in Baltimore... I wouldn't mind seeing top flight football here in Charm City. Besides having the match at Camden Yards - you have tailgating lots plus plenty of good pubs within walking distance (Fed Hill, Inner Harbor).
The trouble is we don't know what kind of game it will be, even if its supposed to be for a possible SuperLiga playoff game - If its against another MLS team, then it'd be for the reserves, and we wouldn't need a big place and would be far better off in something modest But if its against a Mexican team, regardless of what we and the other team field, the pro-Mexican crowd will be big - And we would need something like M&T or even Camden - Can you imagine the joy of the Nats, while DC United and their opponents chew up the Orioles field on a wet, rainy night?