Mayor Williams, are you listening?
Real Salt Lake (Ray-al) are a new team in MLS that began play this season and already they have secured a deal to have a stadium built in Sandy, Utah (see right for artists rendering.) 
DC United have been a part of MLS since the beginning, now in season 10 of operation and United have been left out of the stadium shuffle. Observe what clubs have done what with regards to stadiums: (note, all clubs are originals from '96 unless noted)
Columbus Crew: opened soccer-specific Crew Stadium - first major stadium of its kind in the US
Colorado Rapids: recently broke ground on new soccer-specific stadium
Metrostars: recently sealed deal for new soccer-specific stadium
FC Dallas: recently opened soccer-specific Pizza Hut Park
LA Galaxy: opened soccer-specific Home Depot Center
Chivas USA (new this season): plays in Home Depot Center also
Real Salt Lake (new this season): recently sealed deal for new soccer-specific stadium
Chicago Fire (1999-present): currently constructing new soccer-specific stadium
San Jose, DC, New England, Kansas City are all original teams without stadiums. More than half of the league, including 3 teams who have come into being within the last 6 years are either playing in soccer-specific stadiums or have deals to construct them. Mayor Anthony Williams indicated a want to have a soccer-specific stadium built along with his pet-project baseball stadium. So, Tony, where's the soccer deal? Be glad I don't reside in the District and don't have a vote.
DC United have been a part of MLS since the beginning, now in season 10 of operation and United have been left out of the stadium shuffle. Observe what clubs have done what with regards to stadiums: (note, all clubs are originals from '96 unless noted)Columbus Crew: opened soccer-specific Crew Stadium - first major stadium of its kind in the US
Colorado Rapids: recently broke ground on new soccer-specific stadium
Metrostars: recently sealed deal for new soccer-specific stadium
FC Dallas: recently opened soccer-specific Pizza Hut Park
LA Galaxy: opened soccer-specific Home Depot Center
Chivas USA (new this season): plays in Home Depot Center also
Real Salt Lake (new this season): recently sealed deal for new soccer-specific stadium
Chicago Fire (1999-present): currently constructing new soccer-specific stadium
San Jose, DC, New England, Kansas City are all original teams without stadiums. More than half of the league, including 3 teams who have come into being within the last 6 years are either playing in soccer-specific stadiums or have deals to construct them. Mayor Anthony Williams indicated a want to have a soccer-specific stadium built along with his pet-project baseball stadium. So, Tony, where's the soccer deal? Be glad I don't reside in the District and don't have a vote.
posted by I-66 at 5:41 PM
5 Comments:
Seriously, I-66, are these games drawing crowds?
I admit to being ignorant when it comes to soccer - personally I have no interest in it at all - but I suspect I am in the majority in America.
Is the MLS drawing enough folks to warrant construction of a stadium?
part of the construction of stadiums is to ensure crowd drawing - a strange idea but let me explain...
DC United draw between 15-20k on weekend games (less during the week). Before last season, they sold tickets utilizing as much of RFK Stadium as they could -- I believe RFK seats 60k or so. United brass decided to close off the upper level and only sell tickets in the lower level, which actually made for more sales - since less tickets were available, more people bought them in advance as opposed to the past when you could just walk up and buy them anytime.
With teams in their own 20k or so seat stadiums, there's a more intimate atmosphere and less tickets available, not unlike United closing off the upper level.
Wow - if they're getting 15-20K, that's more than I would have guessed. A lot more.
Definitely would make the experience more enjoyable with a smaller venue that looks full than a stadium over half empty.
What a sad state of affairs really. I have only been to a few games, but always have fun. Yes, they could use a new stadium, but isn't much more fun when the fans are cheering and the stadium feels like it is going to fall down around you :) HA!
Don't get me wrong, Robin, I've loved RFK and I love the bouncing stands. DCU is the only reason, I believe, that the stadium still stands today. I'm historically one of the bouncing chanting people that have made the soccer atmosphere at RFK so enjoyable. But seriously, RFK is no spring chicken among stadiums. We need a new stadium - for the team and for the fans.
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