FREE RIDE

D.C. Council Preps $150M Soccer Stadium Plan

20080528-poplar.jpgIN AN EFFORT to keep D.C. United from seeking a new home in the Maryland suburbs, members of the D.C. Council are crafting a plan to let Mayor Adrian Fenty spend $150 million in public money to subsidize a new stadium in Southeast.

Reports The Post's David Nakamura this morning:

Under the plan being developed by Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D), Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) and Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), the 27,000-seat stadium would be included in a larger, mixed-use development at Poplar Point, a 110-acre swath of parkland along the Anacostia River. The site is across the river from the Washington Nationals' baseball stadium.

The city would finance construction bonds with excess tax revenue being collected by the District to pay for the baseball stadium. D.C. United would be responsible for paying for any costs above $150 million, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the plan is still being finalized.

Nakamura reports that the council could take up the plan as early as Tuesday. WUSA-TV's Bruce Johnson says council members might hold a press conference on the topic this week.

Is the stadium plan a good idea? Commenters at washingtonpost.com are divided. Blkndn305 questions the council's priorities: "Soooo, DC has money for a stadium? Too bad there isn't money for the schools or these 3rd world looking roads that need to be fixed." But HillMan counters that the project could bring more money into District coffers: "The revenue from the massive project surrounding the soccer stadium will be massive, and will probably help to provide yet millions more per year to throw inefficiently toward DC schools."

Blogger DG-RAD at And Now, Anacostia appears to be a fan: "With its integration into the larger Poplar Point context, this is a project that would do quite a lot to bring people and vitality into the neighborhood."

Should the city pump public money into another stadium project? Is soccer a popular enough sport in the District to make such an investment worthwhile? Let us know what you think. Leave your thoughts below in the comments section.

» "D.C. Council Crafting Plan to Pay $150 Million for Soccer Stadium" [WaPo]

Graphic by The Washington Post

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COMMENTS (5)

  • I am a Fan but think about parking, traffic and the Green Line (metro) when Baseball, Hockey, and Soccer have a Game all on the Same Day?

    By Living in the District , Posted May 28, 2008 10:48 AM

  • Creating a soccer specific stadium will be great for DC United, the District of Columbia, and for our "East of the River" neighbors. It paves the way for re-envisioning the RFK site into something that can provide a truly magnificent portal to our city and that can be used by everyone year round.

    By Phil , Posted May 28, 2008 2:19 PM

  • » Living in the District: That's a good question. I wonder if the Green Line would be equipped to handle that kind of increased traffic. And whether fans would overwhelm roads like the Southeast Freeway.

    » Phil: Yeah, what to do with RFK's another good question that comes out of this. Any ideas out there?

    By Greg Barber , Posted May 28, 2008 3:20 PM

  • What to do with RFK greg? BRING BACK THE SKINS!!! :)

    By AK , Posted May 28, 2008 3:29 PM

  • for RFK: start building an olympic stadium. we can have that and the super bowl here. let's dream big, DC. no point in setting our sights low...

    By IMGoph , Posted May 28, 2008 5:14 PM
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