DCU could move to ... Baltimore?

[DangerRed]

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Despite a loyal fan base, "playing here makes for tough business for us," Hicks said of RFK Stadium, a venerable but outdated facility.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/b...,7771113.story

[pekduck]

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]

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]

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]

we marched with them lasy year to protest the move, i also think i might have to make the journey to RFK

[Roogsy]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

the Baltimore Wire

[Ossington Mental Youth]

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]

DCB United?

[Keystone FC]

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]

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:


Baltimore is looking like a real option.

[Keystone FC]

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:


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

[Keystone FC]

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]

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]

They could call them the Baltimore Orioles - lord knows, the baseball team doesn't exist anymore (or may well as not).

[Keystone FC]

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 ( 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:

So why not go in halves with a MLS side.

[james]

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]

i hope DC stay in Washington!

[__wowza]

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]

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]

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]

Baltimore is nice, had a great Steak and Seafood there once. Can't wait for an away game!

[tfcleeds]

^Yeah, put the stadium in the Inner Harbour area, and it would be awesome.

[Detroit_TFC]

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]

bodymore Murderland