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November 17, 2005

Proposed DC United stadium is more than an investment in bricks and mortar

With Chicago's stadium well under construction and recent announcements from Denver, Salt Lake City, and Toronto coming within weeks of each other, it seems like a soccer stadium is becoming the must-have accessory for any growing metropolis. There have been so many new stadium announcements for MLS recently that we've been getting a bit numb to them lately. But DC United's effort at Poplar Point, on the river in Washington, DC, is more than just another MLS stadium.

Throughout the world, soccer has provided a way out for underprivileged children of all races, creeds, and colors. Some of the most famous soccer stars on Earth have risen from the favelas of Rio de Janeiro and the war-torn streets of Liberia, becoming beacons of hope to new generations of players. Soccer is not typically seen that way in the U.S., where the sport is viewed largely as an activity of suburban children and urban youth frequently lack the playing fields and equipment necessary to play the game.

DC United is making a bid to cross the gap between the haves and the have nots with their proposed new stadium in Ward 8, a section of Washington DC with an unemployment rate of over 13 percent, over 28 percent living in poverty, and a median household income of $28,000 (as of January, 2003). The team has proposed a 27,000-seat stadium as part of a mixed-use development that would include a hotel along with office and retail space as well as housing initiatives for Ward 8 residents. As DC United president and CEO Kevin Payne put it at a community forum on Tuesday night, "Our stadium and mixed-use development at Poplar Point will impact the community of Ward 8 and the District in a way no other project can. It will change the community for the better by providing opportunity for everyone."

The MLSnet story on that meeting continues:

Stressing dreams and opportunity, Payne ensured that the proposed development would be more than bricks and mortar. Following months of meetings and conversations with community activists, leaders and elected officials, United's president and CEO spoke of integrated facilities that would provide fields, coaching, leagues and world-class soccer—all of which would allow local children to dream of becoming the world's best.

While DC United's owners are to be commended for getting out their checkbooks to bankroll an urban redevelopment project of this magnitude, they should also be given a standing ovation for choosing to make an investment in something with an even bigger potential payoff: people.

Posted by Jay at November 17, 2005 08:31 PM

Comments

I don't feel very well. Kansas City and even Boston may end up having their own SSS. But San Jose is looing like a major backward asshat town. The mayor in San Jose talks about bringing some absurd baseball team here, when in fact that team has no need and desire to come here. On the other hand, we've a buyer for 10 year old Earthquakes franchise here, only if they get assurance for getting a stadium from the mayor. This mayor isn't willing to give that assurance to an existing team already in San Jose, instead chasing a team that has never been and never will be in San Jose. Look at that Marion Barry guy in Washington D.C. He has overcome all sorts of criminal problems in the past. But on the issue of knowing what's good for his region, I give him credit for having a clue. Only if the San Jose mayor had as much clue as Marion Barry, Earthquakes would be selling season tickets and looking forward to 2006 season now. Sigh.

Posted by: Nicholas [TypeKey Profile Page] at November 17, 2005 11:41 PM

I'm moving to DC so this is good news, unless the Quakes go away in which case I'm through with MLS...It'll be down to Richmond and Virginia Beach to watch the USL!!!

Funny isn't it that a vote is crucial for a SSS proposal and yet land may be purchased for a baseball stadium...is that being put to a vote? Does it need to be? hmmmm

I'm happy that the City Councils of Santa Clara and San Jose are saying positive things about the Earthquakes and that there seems to be a path to keeping the Quakes in the South Bay despite the AEG sized gorilla standing in the doorway...
If this all works out I don't blame AEG for lighting the match under folks' bottoms to get things moving, but if this all comes apart because of AEG's insistence upon running the entertainment side of any stadium deal then I'm through with MLS because the sport of soccer itself in America is playing second fiddle to the ulterior motives of one of its so-called proponents...MLS's business model appears to be more about lining AEG's pocket than it is about promoting soccer in the United States...They can prove me wrong by simply assisting in keeping San Jose HOME!!!

Posted by: Matthew Martin at November 21, 2005 02:40 PM

The soccer in US should expand by initiatives like this, because there is a huge interest in soccer especially in young people. Maybe in a far future the popularity of this sport will be like in Europe...

Posted by: dzid at November 23, 2005 01:32 AM