Baltimore United gaining traction

by Martin Shatzer on Jan 21, 2010 6:27 PM EST in Stadium "News" Comment 4 comments

Craig Stouffer from the Washington Examiner wrote a must-read article today on his conversations with Kevin Payne regarding a soccer stadium in DC or Baltimore. The impression that Payne is giving is that this is now an even contest between the two cities.

Wow.

If the US is awarded either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup on December 2, 2009, the USSF will begin to narrow down the list of cities that will host matches from 18 to 12. It's expected that Baltimore and DC will not both be included on that final list. So maybe whichever city shows more of an effort to the USSF will also wind up with the United franchise as part of the package. If "effort" will be the deciding factor, I don't have high hopes for DC. Not at all. Not with Fenty in charge.

Match Fit USA rattles off another idea about how the Redskins could even play a role in this situation. If the 'Skins do indeed seek to move back into the District, a new stadium for DC United could share some land with the Redskins, and it could all be done before 2022.

So is this real news? Or just more zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz?

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Comments

As a Washingtonian, I NEED the team to stay in the DC area. Do you know if there’s any way to help out in the DC WC bid?
I’d still be a fan if they moved to Baltimore, but it just wouldn’t be the same.

"My face is my mask."

by Jake Shapiro on Jan 21, 2010 6:42 PM EST reply actions

The Baltimore United sound soo ewww lol … now DC UNITED just has that ring to it ….
MLS cant let this happen we have such a strong base here in DC

by eltacoman on Jan 21, 2010 8:05 PM EST reply actions

Time for someone to get visionary...

Does Garber have any pull with his old NFL ties to get Payne into a room with Dan Snyder, and Ted Leonsis? Someone needs to pitch them this: Build United a new (and expandable) stadium in one of the lots at RFK, implode RFK, the build Redskins SUPER DOME (retractable roof, and playing surface) to also be used for a World Cup Opener and Final. Perhaps group play happening in DCU’s new digs?

This kind of arrangement has seemed to me the only hope for building on the RFK “campus” because of the deal with the federal government in regard to who “owns” the land. I mention Leonsis, because I feel like United needs another major investor to bolster DCU’s clout. Leonsis loves soccer, and he’s done great things with the Caps as far as I can tell. United needs to get the funds up themselves to fund most of the build. Public funding for stadia just doesn’t seem to be out there. Or at least not in DC.

by DadRyan on Jan 21, 2010 9:39 PM EST reply actions

"United needs to get the funds up themselves..."

Unfortunately, that’s the deal. It seems unlikely that any local jurisdiction, with all the budget cuts going on (Virginia is even cutting education), is giving us a cent in the next couple years. There isn’t money for anything, much less poor ol’ soccer. It seems more and more like this is going to have to be an entirely private venture.

by ChestRockwell on Jan 21, 2010 10:04 PM EST up reply actions