On the up-side, having a SSS built subsequent to Columbus, HDC, Frisco, and Bridgeview will at least produce a lot of pressure to out-do them. (trying to be positive)....
no, that is the name of the new Metro stadium. If one of the choices was "before NJ" I'd have picked that one for sure Until someone pulls out a "60-90-days"-ish quote I have no reason to doubt it will be 2007. Ask me again in August of 2005 Patience grasshopper. Geez, you people kill me.
Plain and simple, we get NO RESPECT in D.C. Baseball is the most important thing right now for Washington. Since Abe Polin ponied up alot of his own $$$ for the MCI Center, the district was cool with that. I just don't see how the D.C. Sports commission and D.C. United will ever get this thing worked out. I hate it that the most prestigous team in Washington, D.C. as well as MLS has to go through this! I predict about another 5 to 6 years minimum before we see anything. God, I hope I'm wrong!!!!!
If it is past 2008, we don't even need one, just a deal allowing AEG to lease and operate RFK and the DCSEC being disbanded
I think there are alot of behind the scenes things going on. Kevin Payne (On behalf of Uncle Phil, who's our ace in the sleeve) is working this just right. Obviously the Mayor and the Council won't address this issue before the baseball stadium fiasco is finalized. The upside of DC United's stadium is that the site is part of the overall Anacostia Waterfront Project. Funding won't be the nightmare the baseball people are facing. The property has already taken lightrail into consideration. Once the okay is given, then it's just a matter of sticking a shovel into the dirt and getting busy. I can see it getting done by 2007.
I'm betting not before 2008. I'm thinking the baseball plan doesn't go through in DC, so we won't get a stadium as currently planned. I really wish DCU didn't have to pin its stadium hopes on baseball and the DC government's ability to put a plan together. That's my .00000002 cents (about what it's worth).
Those two really shouldn't be that hard. Frisco is a large step forward for the Dallas organization, but it's a step backward from any other SSS in the country.
I say that when the baseball stadium gets built and once again the Stadium Authority has just United as the tenants at RFK, they will say, sorry, we have a perfectly fine stadium here. Take it or leave it. DCU will take it and will remain a tenant for a loooong time. 2020 at the earliest.
Does anybody know when Bridgeview was officially given the go ahead to build? Because think about it this way. If we are having a groundbreaking ceremony at this time next year, we'll be right on track (assuming our stadium takes as long as Bridgeview). Approximate the amount of time between approval and construction and we should know when the deadline to have a stadium by 2007 will be.
Unfortunately, that sounds just about right. I’ll believe a SSS the first time I sit in my new quite side seat.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-expos-washington&prov=ap&type=lgns Mod's Note - When posting a copyrighted article please quote a short blurb only.
Crap - promise to spend $440 Million, and it turns out to be $630 Million - only goverment can think that way - I'd have capped it at $500M. Hell, what they accounted for in cost overruns would pay for our stadium and offices, and practice fields, and maybe a limo for the SE and Barra bigwigs to take from the Metro stop .......
It's hard to be optimistic when it comes to DC and the Sports Commission in particular, but the deal needed for the soccer stadium should not pose the sort of problems that the baseball park has. My understanding is that DC is being asked to contribute the land and, probably, help getting all the planning approvals. DC United and a developer will pay the construction and other costs. And the costs involved are much less than for baseball. The sticking points are more likely to relate to the developer's perceptions of DC's seriousness about redeveloping the Anacostia side of the river -- not about the soccer stadium itself. If DC is not serious about the overall development plan, no developer will want to risk his money. Of course, it doesn't help that many members of the DC Council think that Mayor Williams gave away the store with the baseball deal. Another proposal for a sports stadium will get increased scrutiny. I have always wondered why DC United management has been so willing to play along with the Sports Commission and not seek out other partners. The DC area offers fewer possible partners than, say, the New York or Chicago areas, but you would think that one of the other counties could be convinced to make a deal. Obviously there's a lot going on here that we fans don't understand.
I think the answer is not soon enough. At the championship celebration, didn't the mayor or the stadium person promise one by a certain year?
Whatever this number turns out to be: (Day of fan celebration) + (no. of calendar days for the cornerkick drought)=(Groundbreaking day)
I have a friend who is a player on DC and he told that the stadium would be ready for 2007 as part of the river project. He was given the news after the celebration at RFK stadium. Don't give up hope because Saint Phil will do whatever it takes to get it done. We of the FC Dallas clan have the stingy owner of MLS and we got a stadium done.