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View Full Version : DCU could move to ... Baltimore?



DangerRed
07-29-2010, 09:09 AM
From the story below:

Doug Hicks, director of communications and marketing for D.C. United, said last week that the team had very preliminary talks with the city last fall about a possible move to Baltimore, but won't enter "formal" discussions until a commitment is given about a facility. Hicks said that a soccer-only stadium interests D.C. United, but is not a prerequisite for such a move.

"A right-sized facility that would serve as a primary home for D.C. United and for soccer, that would allow modern amenities and that would improve revenue streams, that would allow our club to become more viable," Hicks said.

Despite a loyal fan base, "playing here makes for tough business for us," Hicks said of RFK Stadium, a venerable but outdated facility. "It's a great building with a lot of history, but in a lot of ways we need something that is more modern and has the revenue structures that allows us to maximize our business."

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bs-sp-soccer-stadium-0729-20100729,0,7771113.story

pekduck
07-29-2010, 09:13 AM
grr.....

hope it does not happen... but may be it's inevitable ...

if it happens next season.. then i'm making the DC road trip.. last time in RFK... gotta be there..

Darlofletch
07-29-2010, 09:20 AM
Wihtout knowing a lot about d.c's situation and how serious it might be, to me this seems like fairly standard north american sports owner move. Talk big about moving to try and coerce the local governments into paying for a new stadium so they don't have to use their own money.

I hope it doesn't happen, D.C actually seems to get decent support.

pekduck
07-29-2010, 09:23 AM
well, they always had issues with RFK and were threatened to be kicked out last season..

their supporters had planned a march to rally the local support... and we joined the march with them last season when we played them in DC

serious business down there

London
07-29-2010, 09:30 AM
we marched with them lasy year to protest the move, i also think i might have to make the journey to RFK

Roogsy
07-29-2010, 09:33 AM
Wihtout knowing a lot about d.c's situation and how serious it might be, to me this seems like fairly standard north american sports owner move. Talk big about moving to try and coerce the local governments into paying for a new stadium so they don't have to use their own money.

I hope it doesn't happen, D.C actually seems to get decent support.

Nope this isn't it...some of us have been following this story for a while and this isn't an owner pulling a dick move. DC has absolutely refused to cooperate with United in any way. Council has stymied every attempt to find resolutions. The team HAS to get out of RFK if they are going to improve their situation. They have been scouring DC for solutions and can't find any. Many of us feared it would get to this point but we're not surprised. I think at this point it's inevitable that they will wind up in Baltimore.

ensco
07-29-2010, 09:44 AM
There are parts of "Baltimore" along the I-95 that are only 20 minutes from downtown DC, and 20 minutes from downtown Baltimore.

Maybe that would work. Or maybe putting a stadium there could replicate the Chicago/Dallas problem, because it's a suburban/rural no man's land. I don't know enough to have an opinion.

Roogsy
07-29-2010, 09:48 AM
I used to have the impression that DC/Baltimore were sister cities very close to each other. But after having made the drive myself, I realized that they are more far apart and distinct that I had previously thought.

Dub Narcotic
07-29-2010, 09:49 AM
Baltimore and DC share a somewhat-integrated transit system, and it isn't that far a drive. I don't think it's ideal for DCU to move to Baltimore but it does seem they are rapidly running out of options.

Redcoe15
07-29-2010, 09:51 AM
If they do move to Baltimore (and that's a very real possibility), would they have to change the name of the team to better fit the area they reside, like Baltimore Bays?

Petor
07-29-2010, 09:57 AM
But Baltimore already has a team, Crystal Palace and they play in the same league as the Impact.
Would be nice if DC got a new stadium and if there is soccer demand in Baltimore just "promote" them like Vancouver and Montreal.

H Bomb
07-29-2010, 09:57 AM
the Baltimore Wire

Ossington Mental Youth
07-29-2010, 10:02 AM
isnt crystal in receivership or some such thing?
Buy em up make em join DCU and then DCU will have earned the actual name United

ensco
07-29-2010, 10:09 AM
DCB United?

Keystone FC
07-29-2010, 10:15 AM
Baltimore and DC share a somewhat-integrated transit system, and it isn't that far a drive. I don't think it's ideal for DCU to move to Baltimore but it does seem they are rapidly running out of options.
I've read alot of DCU fans possible response to this and for the most part their thought is Baltimore is alot more closer than say...St. Louis.

Keystone FC
07-29-2010, 10:19 AM
Nope this isn't it...some of us have been following this story for a while and this isn't an owner pulling a dick move. DC has absolutely refused to cooperate with United in any way. Council has stymied every attempt to find resolutions. The team HAS to get out of RFK if they are going to improve their situation. They have been scouring DC for solutions and can't find any. Many of us feared it would get to this point but we're not surprised. I think at this point it's inevitable that they will wind up in Baltimore.
Very true. First it was Poplar Point in DC but the city wouldn't budge on the idea the nit was Prince George County in Maryland but the city blocked that as well and we cannot forget the SSS porn that they produced:
http://theoriginalwinger.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/dcu.jpg

Baltimore is looking like a real option.

Keystone FC
07-29-2010, 10:31 AM
If they do move to Baltimore (and that's a very real possibility), would they have to change the name of the team to better fit the area they reside, like Baltimore Bays?
I'm just thinking that they would be called Baltimore United BUT they probably would change their logo to something that is more 'Baltimore'. Something like this:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2038/1806033075_048f8908a6.jpg (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9G_bF6bnlFM0VEATqejzbkF/SIG=127hjpqbs/EXP=1280503835/**http%3a//www.flickr.com/photos/andrewbain/1806033075/)

Watch the Crew have a hissy fit over another club using Black and Yellow.

Keystone FC
07-29-2010, 10:33 AM
But Baltimore already has a team, Crystal Palace and they play in the same league as the Impact.
Would be nice if DC got a new stadium and if there is soccer demand in Baltimore just "promote" them like Vancouver and Montreal.
It would be FANTASTIC if the two could work together and build a SSS the both could use. It may not be practical but it would be very interesting to see how it would work out.

__wowza
07-29-2010, 12:00 PM
It would be FANTASTIC if the two could work together and build a SSS the both could use. It may not be practical but it would be very interesting to see how it would work out.

i get the split stadium idea, it would make for interesting usage (see: home depot centre), but i have no idea if that's working for them or not. personally, the middle ground between the two cities is an absolute logistical nightmare and you'd also have to explain why DCU is playing in baltimore.

tfcleeds
07-29-2010, 12:03 PM
They could call them the Baltimore Orioles - lord knows, the baseball team doesn't exist anymore (or may well as not).

Keystone FC
07-30-2010, 03:20 AM
i get the split stadium idea, it would make for interesting usage (see: home depot centre), but i have no idea if that's working for them or not. personally, the middle ground between the two cities is an absolute logistical nightmare and you'd also have to explain why DCU is playing in baltimore.

No, no, no. I going off the assumption that DCU MOVES to Baltimore, changes their name to Baltimore United, or Baltimore Lords, or Lord Baltimore..whatever, and builds a SSS in Charm City (:rolleyes: yeah right) and splits the costs with CPB (who will be playing at Paul Angelo Russo Stadium on the Calvert Hall College High School campus ). It would be just like you mentioned with the LA set up but not as big. Not to mention that since they play in different leagues they could possibly play on the same day with CPB in the afternoon and BU at night.
Also CPB wants to build a SSS anyway:
http://wvhooligan.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/cpbalt.jpg
So why not go in halves with a MLS side.

james
07-30-2010, 06:07 AM
well i dont know but it seems Wahington and Baltimore are more like the distance of Toronto to Hamilton or Toronto to Niagra Falls....so despite close togethee, they still arent that close and not all DC fans would be able to make that trip to Baltimore on a reguler basis

james
07-30-2010, 06:09 AM
i hope DC stay in Washington!

__wowza
07-30-2010, 10:13 AM
No, no, no. I going off the assumption that DCU MOVES to Baltimore, changes their name to Baltimore United, or Baltimore Lords, or Lord Baltimore..whatever

new team name:
THE BALTIMORE WHATEVERS

TFC Via Buffalo
07-30-2010, 10:24 AM
well i dont know but it seems Wahington and Baltimore are more like the distance of Toronto to Hamilton or Toronto to Niagra Falls....so despite close togethee, they still arent that close and not all DC fans would be able to make that trip to Baltimore on a reguler basis

Pfft. No excuses. :)

I hope they move, that way more people come to the DC game at the end of the season for the last RFK game and the few of us planing on going so far aren't as lonley.

SilverSamurai
07-30-2010, 11:39 AM
i get the split stadium idea, it would make for interesting usage (see: home depot centre), but i have no idea if that's working for them or not. personally, the middle ground between the two cities is an absolute logistical nightmare and you'd also have to explain why DCU is playing in baltimore.
Seems to work for the NYRB... or should I say New Jersey...

Belfast_Boy
07-30-2010, 11:42 AM
Baltimore is nice, had a great Steak and Seafood there once. Can't wait for an away game!

tfcleeds
07-30-2010, 11:45 AM
^Yeah, put the stadium in the Inner Harbour area, and it would be awesome.

Detroit_TFC
07-30-2010, 01:30 PM
DCU has been sandbagged so many times by various DC administrations and local suburban jurisdictions, they'll probably jump at the first deal that is viable, even if it in Baltimore.

Parkdale
07-30-2010, 01:31 PM
bodymore Murderland

Kaz
07-30-2010, 02:04 PM
Baltimore Polyester...

or is that too obscure a reference?

how about

Baltimore Cry-Baby's

rocker
07-30-2010, 03:19 PM
it's really too bad they can't just build a new stadium in one of the RFK parking lots. I know that they have said that land is potentially for an NFL stadium if they can steal back the Redskins.... but a 25K stadium wouldn't have as big a footprint as RFK. They could put parking underneath, if they are worried about losing parking space. Then demolish RFK.... If the NFL comes back, build the new stadium right next door, with parking underneath.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=38.88767,-76.970657&daddr=Washington,+DC&hl=en&geocode=%3BCVLJBGSAT-ihFQh-UQIdsoRo-ylb5PZa3sa3iTEqXYjUIkVSwg&mra=mi&mrsp=0&sz=17&sll=38.887308,-76.971288&sspn=0.004117,0.006899&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=17

But it seems that was never an option, or the DC people want to be a part of some mixed-use development to help fund the stadium itself.

Keystone FC
07-30-2010, 03:45 PM
well i dont know but it seems Wahington and Baltimore are more like the distance of Toronto to Hamilton or Toronto to Niagra Falls....so despite close togethee, they still arent that close and not all DC fans would be able to make that trip to Baltimore on a reguler basis
This is true but I could see them making gains in the new fans in Baltimore.

Keystone FC
07-30-2010, 03:46 PM
new team name:
THE BALTIMORE WHATEVERS
:D sounds more like a Jersey team than Baltimore.

Keystone FC
07-30-2010, 03:52 PM
DCU has been sandbagged so many times by various DC administrations and local suburban jurisdictions, they'll probably jump at the first deal that is viable, even if it in Baltimore.
Or St. Louis, or NY, or Detroit, or Cleveland, or Ottawa.
And this is the thing that gets me is the staunch loyalty these owners, or MLS, has to DC when it has been proved that DC doesn't want them or care about them enough to help out with a 20,000 SSS? Does DCU have loyal fans? Yes! Does DCU have great supporters? Yes! Has DCU won championships? Yes! But the city could not care less about the sport. Sorry DCU supporters but it's time to face the facts and move on to greener pastures.

twistedchinaman
07-31-2010, 12:14 PM
It's all ree-donkculous to me....

SilverSamurai
07-31-2010, 12:35 PM
Or St. Louis, or NY, or Detroit, or Cleveland, or Ottawa.
And this is the thing that gets me is the staunch loyalty these owners, or MLS, has to DC when it has been proved that DC doesn't want them or care about them enough to help out with a 20,000 SSS? Does DCU have loyal fans? Yes! Does DCU have great supporters? Yes! Has DCU won championships? Yes! But the city could not care less about the sport. Sorry DCU supporters but it's time to face the facts and move on to greener pastures.
+1.
Agreed.
Sometimes you have to accept reality and move on.
Baltimore seems like the best case scenario in terms of location.
Although if they built the stadium by the aquarium they could have a few sharks eat some of the refs as part of the 1/2 time show. lol

Keystone FC
08-01-2010, 12:32 AM
it's really too bad they can't just build a new stadium in one of the RFK parking lots. I know that they have said that land is potentially for an NFL stadium if they can steal back the Redskins.... but a 25K stadium wouldn't have as big a footprint as RFK. They could put parking underneath, if they are worried about losing parking space. Then demolish RFK.... If the NFL comes back, build the new stadium right next door, with parking underneath.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=38.88767,-76.970657&daddr=Washington,+DC&hl=en&geocode=%3BCVLJBGSAT-ihFQh-UQIdsoRo-ylb5PZa3sa3iTEqXYjUIkVSwg&mra=mi&mrsp=0&sz=17&sll=38.887308,-76.971288&sspn=0.004117,0.006899&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=17

But it seems that was never an option, or the DC people want to be a part of some mixed-use development to help fund the stadium itself.

I was really hoping that CPB would build their SSS and then DCU would play there for a season or two while they tear down RFK and replace it with a brand spanking new SSS. Other than that they're not that many choices for DCU to pull something like that off without spending a bundle in leasing a stadium.

Keystone FC
08-01-2010, 12:38 AM
+1.
Agreed.
Sometimes you have to accept reality and move on.
Baltimore seems like the best case scenario in terms of location.
Although if they built the stadium by the aquarium they could have a few sharks eat some of the refs as part of the 1/2 time show. lol

This is the tricky part as well. As we all know location is key to any sport, especially soccer, and Baltimore is no exception. For the team to work it would need to be apart of the Ravens Orioles stadium connection and in the marina district. Put them in the burbs and you might as well just fold the club.