OT: DC United Moves to Baltimore?

[Kyle Cactus]

Apparently this is a possibility. I doubt it's probable, but I for one would be enthralled to have a professional outdoor soccer team come to Baltimore.


A few details:
The Maryland Stadium Authority commissioned a study on building a stadium for either a pro or semi-pro soccer team in Baltimore. The study concluded that building a stadium in Westport for a pro soccer team would be the best option. I believe the study was specifically considering the possibility of bringing DC United to Baltimore.

DC United currently plays at RFK, but they desperately want a new stadium. There is little reason to believe it could happen in or around DC anytime soon. The have acknowledged the study and intend to


From the President and CEO of DC United:
"We appreciate the interest that Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and the City of Baltimore have shown in our team and potential stadium, and will continue our conversations as we work toward the best possible long-term home for D.C. United."


Check out the links below for more info.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/loc...to-md-rev.html

http://www.dcunited.com/press-releas...y-of-baltimore


I know there are probably some political hurdles for this as well. I'm not too knowledgeable on the politics of something like this. Anyone else have additional information or insights?

[HoustonRaven]

The friendly's that Baltimore has hosted have been a wild success, but I am not sure that will translate into butts in the seats at a 3rd downtown stadium in an area that has yet to be developed.

There has been the occasional rumor that the Ravens are not all that happy with M&T. Maybe a partnership with both teams to lobby for a new downtown stadium perhaps?

Yes, admittedly, it's probably a long shot but at least T might get his escalators.

[The Fanatic]

There has been the occasional rumor that the Ravens are not all that happy with M&T.
Yes, admittedly, it's probably a long shot but at least T might get his escalators.

Just curious as to where you've heard this rumor at?

Personally, I've never heard or read anything regarding their displeasure with the place.
Kind of hard to be unhappy when the building you make your money at is funded by the public dollar for the most part.

The place is only 13 years old or so.

I'd be shocked if there were any serious discussion regarding replacing it anytime in the next 10-15 years if not more.

Hell, these jack wads can't even figure out how or why to replace that crap hole downtown the blast plays in.


For shits and giggles though regarding T.

Escalators or Roof?

Which would be more important?

[HoustonRaven]

Just curious as to where you've heard this rumor at?

I certainly could be incorrect, but I recall some rumblings 2-3 years ago about seating capacity. When I get a free second, I will do some searching.

[Mista T]

Anyone else have additional information or insights?

Neither, but (surprise!), I do have an opinion. Actually, three opinions:

(1) The idea of a soccer stadium in downtown Baltimore is merely a shill to get one built in Montgomery County or Northern Virginia. DC and PG County have already nixed spending public funds on this folly.

(2) There aren't enough Mexicans in this area to create a fan base to support a Baltimore team. Sure, we have a few Limeys and Irishmen, but nothing close to the number of Mexicans in Virginia who constitute a large part of United's fan base, who won't drive 50 miles per game.

(3) I like soccer. I played it in high school. But it will never catch on as a mainstream spectator sport in the US. Not enough scoring, or finesse (like a no-hitter 18 strikeout job in baseball), or violence (see any Ray Lewis hit). Anyone remember "Back the Bays"? Pro soccer failed here with the Baltimore Bays due to these reasons.

I certainly could be incorrect, but I recall some rumblings 2-3 years ago about seating capacity. When I get a free second, I will do some searching.

I would be astonished to see Maryland taxpayers springing for another stadium because Mr. Bisciotti wanted more club seats. To merely add capacity, our stadium could be retrofitted to move the end zone video boards to add more club seats, and add a few thousand general admission seats in the notches.

I doubt that we going to see a replacement football stadium in our lifetimes, unless the NFL resurrects the idea floated in the 80s of a Columbia or Laurel-area mega-stadium shared with the Virginia team, and finds a way to pay for it without State tax funds.

For shits and giggles though regarding T.

Escalators or Roof?

Which would be more important?

Smart-ass!

I gave up on the escalators a few years ago, moving down a few decks. (Just so I can get my shot in: I still think it's a freakin' embarassment to have a "modern" stadium requiring fans to make a massive hike on ramps to get to their seats. In that regard, it's the poorest designed stadium in the NFL.)

Roof would be nice, especially if/when the NFL goes to the 18 game season. When I lived in New Orleans, every Saints game I attended was pleasant, regardless of the weather. Theater-style cushioned seats were great. If we were to get a roof, on this stadium or on top of Houston Ravens' new stadium, I would prefer a movable roof, to allow sunshine for late September through early November games.

Neither is going to happen.

[TLaMana]

We lose the Bullets to them and we get a soccer team in return? Bleck!

[purplepoe]

The friendly's that Baltimore has hosted have been a wild success, but I am not sure that will translate into butts in the seats at a 3rd downtown stadium in an area that has yet to be developed.

There has been the occasional rumor that the Ravens are not all that happy with M&T. Maybe a partnership with both teams to lobby for a new downtown stadium perhaps?

Yes, admittedly, it's probably a long shot but at least T might get his escalators.

Acutally, the one friendly 2 years ago was a huge success.

The one last year was a disaster. Far less tickets sold, terrible quality of play, and an overall bad experience.

PP

[HoustonRaven]

The one last year was a disaster. Far less tickets sold, terrible quality of play, and an overall bad experience.

I stand corrected.

But going back and reading the news reports makes it seem it was so-so and not a total disaster.

I will defer to you since I was 1500 miles away at the time.

[Kyle Cactus]

(1) The idea of a soccer stadium in downtown Baltimore is merely a shill to get one built in Montgomery County or Northern Virginia. DC and PG County have already nixed spending public funds on this folly.

I'm sure DC United is hoping that the interest from Baltimore will get them a new stadium, but I'm still holding out hope that if it doesn't happen they would be willing to come here.

(2) There aren't enough Mexicans in this area to create a fan base to support a Baltimore team. Sure, we have a few Limeys and Irishmen, but nothing close to the number of Mexicans in Virginia who constitute a large part of United's fan base, who won't drive 50 miles per game.

I think we could support a team. Apparently ratings for the World Cup were huge in Baltimore. And there's defeinitly a strong soccer community in Maryland.

(3) I like soccer. I played it in high school. But it will never catch on as a mainstream spectator sport in the US. Not enough scoring, or finesse (like a no-hitter 18 strikeout job in baseball), or violence (see any Ray Lewis hit). Anyone remember "Back the Bays"? Pro soccer failed here with the Baltimore Bays due to these reasons.

I will grant you that there is not as much scoring as major American sports, and it's certainly not as violent as football or hockey, but no finesse? This is not a complaint I've ever head about soccer? Also, I'd contend it's more violent than baseball and about equally as violent as basketball, both of which have managed to be succesfull.

The one advantage that soccer has over all of these is continuous play. Addmitedly I haven't watched the MLS in a long time (mostly because there's no team in Baltimore), but when I have watched soccer from other leagues or events there are no commercials breaking up the action. I get my food and my beer, sit down, watch 45 minutes of continuous action, get more food and beer, and watch another 45. It's great.

When I watch the NFL, they play for 7 seconds at a time. Most of the time is watching players milling around or watching commercials. When I watch baseball I spend half the time watching people spitting or scratching themselves or watching the pitcher nod his head while the batter fidgets with the bat. When I watch soccer I watch soccer almost the entire time I'm at my TV.

Plus, so many people have played soccer growing up. I think soccer can become a major US sport, but I do think it will take a long time (decades).

[Greg]

Is there a reason they couldn't play at M&T?

[Kyle Cactus]

I would think that would be a reasonable solution, but they seem bent on getting their own facility.

[Greg]

Soccer in this country does not merit building stadiums strictly for them. If they can't be happy with M&T then I wouldn't want them to move here.

[Purpleguy]

Is there a reason they couldn't play at M&T?

That was the first thing that popped in my head. Other than the 60,000 empty seats they will have to look at for every game, I think M&T is more than sufficient.

[ursula]

Soccer in this country does not merit building stadiums strictly for them. If they can't be happy with M&T then I wouldn't want them to move here.

There are either soccer specific stadiums or stadiums with an MLS team as the primary tenant in: Los Angeles, Portland, Vancouver, Salt Lake City, Denver, Kansas City, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Columbus, Philadelphia, northern Jersey, and Toronto. The only MLS teams without a stadium to call their own are New England, where the team is jointly owned with the Pats (and the soccer fans hate the stadium), Seattle, and DC.

All of those teams have such stadiums because they make the soccer teams more money. That DC United has not been able to secure its own stadium is one of the enduring ironies of MLS. And they lose tons of money each year because they do not own their stadium.

[HoustonRaven]

Houston does not have a soccer stadium yet.

They just broke ground in February and it wont be done until June, 2012.

And I think we have some folks here who not understand the popularity of soccer in the US. Ted's borderline intolerant Mexican comparison not withstanding, the MLS has enjoyed quite a big and cross cultural success. Plus, they have shown profits each year in existence.

Go to Slainté in Fells Point this Saturday morning at around 7 and you will quickly get an appreciation of how popular soccer is in the states.

[WxKevin]

I would probably get into a Baltimore MLS team. The only thing that hasn't gotten me into soccer is the lack of a team to root for. I love watching the World Cup. I appreciate how tough the game is, how fast the game can be, how much finesse is involved, etc...

That being said, I would still prefer an NHL team first. Until Baltimore gets a team, I will stick with being a Caps fan.

[RavensNTerps]

I'm sure DC United is hoping that the interest from Baltimore will get them a new stadium, but I'm still holding out hope that if it doesn't happen they would be willing to come here.



I think we could support a team. Apparently ratings for the World Cup were huge in Baltimore. And there's defeinitly a strong soccer community in Maryland.



I will grant you that there is not as much scoring as major American sports, and it's certainly not as violent as football or hockey, but no finesse? This is not a complaint I've ever head about soccer? Also, I'd contend it's more violent than baseball and about equally as violent as basketball, both of which have managed to be succesfull.

The one advantage that soccer has over all of these is continuous play. Addmitedly I haven't watched the MLS in a long time (mostly because there's no team in Baltimore), but when I have watched soccer from other leagues or events there are no commercials breaking up the action. I get my food and my beer, sit down, watch 45 minutes of continuous action, get more food and beer, and watch another 45. It's great.

When I watch the NFL, they play for 7 seconds at a time. Most of the time is watching players milling around or watching commercials. When I watch baseball I spend half the time watching people spitting or scratching themselves or watching the pitcher nod his head while the batter fidgets with the bat. When I watch soccer I watch soccer almost the entire time I'm at my TV.
Plus, so many people have played soccer growing up. I think soccer can become a major US sport, but I do think it will take a long time (decades).

Nailed exactly why it won't ever take off here. America is by far the most commercial country in the world, and without the opportunity to advertise, there's no value in the product.

The money is in television.

[Kyle Cactus]

Nailed exactly why it won't ever take off here. America is by far the most commercial country in the world, and without the opportunity to advertise, there's no value in the product.

The money is in television.

That's why soccer clubs put sponsorships on jerseys and display them on banners around the field.

Some of the wealthiest sports franchises in the world are soccer clubs so clearly they have effective ways of making money.

According to Forbes
(In billions of dollars as of last July)
1. Man U - 1.83
2. Dallas Cowboys - 1.65
3. NY Yankees - 1.6
4. Washington Redskins - 1.55
5. NE Patriots - 1.36
6. Real Madrid - 1.32
7. NY Giants - 1.18
8. Arsenal - 1.18
9. NY Jets - 1.17
10. Houston Texans - 1.15

FYI - 15. Baltimore Ravens - 1.08

[festivus]

I find this:

That's why soccer clubs put sponsorships on jerseys and display them on banners around the field.

Some of the wealthiest sports franchises in the world are soccer clubs so clearly they have effective ways of making money.

According to Forbes
FYI - 15. Baltimore Ravens - 1.08

absolutely fascinating. I strongly suspect that figure includes a *huge* amount of money for the sale of Ray Lewis jerseys. How far, I wonder, would the Ravens fall on that fascinating list if it weren't for Ray's influence?

[NCRAVEN]

Sure are quite a few replies for a "game" I didn't think people in America cared about. I mean I know it's popular around the world but I thought that was only people act like we do at Preakness, Football games etc..