D.C. United Stadium

D.C. United Stadium
Location	Washington, D.C.
Broke ground	TBD
Opened	TBD
Construction cost	$180 million–$195 million
Capacity	24,000
Tenants
D.C. United (MLS)

D.C. United Stadium is an informal name that has been given for several soccer-specific stadium sites in the Washington, D.C. area. Ever since the initial proposal in 2006, D.C. United has had two additional stadium proposals that have failed to form. The present proposal is a stadium in Buzzard Point, seating an unconfirmed amount of people.

The first proposal, colloquially known as "Poplar Point Stadium" would have been built in the new Poplar Point neighborhood, south of the Anacostia River, with the stadium overlooking Nationals Ballpark, the home ballpark for the Washington Nationals baseball team. The stadium, expected to seat 24,000–30,000; was to be part of mixed housing and development in one contractor's bid. That bid, however, stalled, when there were financial arguments as to how much of the stadium would be funded by the city, the contractors and the club itself. The initial proposal fell through in the summer of 2007. Despite the failed bid, then-mayor of D.C., Adrian Fenty opted to have a closed door meeting in February 2008 to discuss the city funding $150 million for the club. However, despite a short-lived renowned interest, when Council took recess in July 2008, the plan never was brought up, and ultimately failed.

After the failed first bid, the second stadium plan involved constructing a stadium in adjacent Prince George's County, Maryland. In mid-February 2009, United co-owner Victor MacFarlane, announced the club had been in discussions with the Prince George's County Board of Supervisors to discuss the possibility of a new stadium for the club. Two months later, the legislation for a new stadium failed to pass the board, leaving the club without a stadium plan.

Finally, after a two year wait, talks emerged in January 2011 about the possibility of unused land in Buzzard Point serving as the main ground for the club.

Poplar Point

Originally, D.C. United proposed building a stadium at Poplar Point on the Anacostia riverfront in Washington, D.C. It would have been part of a planned 110-acre (0.45 km²) mixed-use development that would have included a hotel, offices, housing, and retail.^[1]

On July 21, 2007, the Washington Post reported that talks had stalled between the team and city officials. There were disputes over the financial arrangements proposed by the team, which would have the city providing $200 million in subsidies and development rights while the team assumed construction costs.^[2] In January 2008, the team announced it was looking at other possible sites in the area for construction of the new stadium.^[3]

On February 14, 2008, Washington, D.C. mayor Adrian Fenty suggested at a closed-door city council meeting that the city might offer as much as $150 million towards the costs of building a soccer stadium at Poplar Point. There was apparently renewed interest on the part of the city in providing public funds for the stadium at Poplar Point.^[4][5] However, in July 2008, the D.C. Council recessed without considering the proposed stadium plan.

Prince George's County

D.C. United co-owner Victor MacFarlane announced on February 12, 2009, that the team would instead seek a new stadium in Prince George's County.^[6]

On April 7, 2009, the Prince George’s County Council voted to outline its concern to the Maryland General Assembly about a proposed state legislation that would authorize a feasibility study for the new stadium. The legislation stalled in the Statehouse and died without the support of the Prince George's Council.^[7]

Baltimore waterfront

On March 23, 2010, commissioner Don Garber criticized politicians of Washington, D.C. for how long it has taken to find D.C. United a permanent home stadium.^[8]

In October 2009, the Baltimore Sun reported that Baltimore mayor Sheila Dixon has asked the Maryland Stadium Authority to explore the possibility of building a 17,000- to 20,000-seat soccer stadium that could serve as D.C. United's permanent home, as well as host concerts, lacrosse games and other events, to woo D.C. United to Baltimore. The proposed stadium complex, according to Dixon's letter, would be part of a "green mixed-use project" with access to light rail, Interstates 95 and 295. A potential location mentioned for the stadium is in the 42-acre (170,000 m²) Westport Waterfront project.^[9] A feasibility study has been commissioned by the Maryland Stadium Authority was expected to be released in December 2010.^[10]

Buzzard Point

In January 2011, it was reported that the club was looking into building a stadium in the Buzzard Point neighborhood in the city.^[11] The project, backed by the developing company Akridge, would be adjacent to Nationals Park in replace an old, underused parking lot in-between 1st and 2nd Streets SW.^[12]

Four months later, in May 2011, Akridge Properties published a website stating the potential use of the land. Both Akridge and D.C. Council have raised the possibility of the land being partially used for a new United stadium, but the club itself has declined to comment on such a stadium possibility.^[13] At the same time the team had considered a stadium at the current site of Capital City Market.^[14]

Notes

1. ^ Drobnyk, Josh (July 14, 2006). "D.C. land swap could get kicked to the curb in '06". Washington Business Journal. http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2006/07/17/story4.html?t=printable. Retrieved 2006-07-17. 
2. ^ Nakamura, David (July 21, 2007). "Talks Fall Apart On Stadium for D.C. Soccer Team". Washington Post: p. A01. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/20/AR2007072002470.html. 
3. ^ Wiggins, Ovetta (January 23, 2008). "Md. Weighs Stadium for D.C. United; Study Will Gauge Pr. George's Benefits". Washington Post: p. B01. 
4. ^ Stouffer, Craig (February 15, 2008). "United is poised to make a move". Washington Examiner. http://www.examiner.com/a-1222539~United_is_poised_to_make_a_move.html. 
5. ^ Nakamura, David (February 14, 2008). "Fenty Eyes Public Funds for Soccer Stadium". Washington Post: p. A01. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/13/AR2008021303412.html/. 
6. ^ Helderman, Rosalind; Nakamura, David (February 13, 2009). "P.G. United?". Washington Post: p. B01. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/12/AR2009021203509_pf.html. 
7. ^ Castro, Melissa (April 7, 2009). "Prince George's vote likely kills D.C. United stadium deal". Washington Business Journal. http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/04/06/daily49.html. 
8. ^ Blum, Ronald (March 23, 2010). Commissioner Garber and D.C. United New Stadium "Garber criticizes DC for lack of soccer stadium". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2010-03-23-3935654495_x.htm Commissioner Garber and D.C. United New Stadium. 
9. ^ Van Valkenburg, Kevin; Mirabella, Lorraine (October 7, 2009). "Dixon eyeing soccer arena". The Baltimore Sun. http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/blast/bal-sp.soccer07oct07,0,7674752.story. Retrieved October 22, 2009. 
10. ^ O'Connell, Jonathan (December 23, 2010). "D.C. United to Baltimore = revenue". The Washington Post. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-breaking-news/dc/study-dc-united-move-to-md-rev.html. Retrieved May 28, 2011. 
11. ^ Weber, Erik (January 19, 2011). "DC United eyeing Buzzard Point, Florida Market". GreaterGreaterWashington.com. http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8882/dc-united-eyeing-buzzard-point-florida-market/. Retrieved October 19, 2011. 
12. ^ Sherwood, Tom (January 17, 2011). "D.C. United's New Home Could Be in SW". NBCWashington.com. http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/sports/DC-DC-Uniteds-New-Home-Could-be-in-the-SW-113912519.html. Retrieved October 19, 2011. 
13. ^ Goff, Steven (May 26, 2011). "Exploring Washington’s Buzzard Point, a potential stadium site for D.C. United". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider/post/exploring-washingtons-buzzard-point-a-potential-stadium-site-for-dc-united/2011/05/25/AGCQxhBH_blog.html. Retrieved October 19, 2011. 
14. ^ Goff, Steven; O'Connell, Jonathan (May 12, 2011). "Struggling with crumbling RFK Stadium, D.C. United is desperate for a new home". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/struggling-with-crumbling-rfk-stadium-dc-united-is-desperate-for-a-new-home/2011/05/11/AFiiNb1G_story.html. Retrieved May 28, 2011. 

External links

• Washington Post Article by Steven Goff
• D.C. United press release regarding Prince George's stadium

Coordinates: 38°52′7″N 76°59′56″W / 38.86861°N 76.99889°W / 38.86861; -76.99889