The Stadium Thread

[bowhunter]

Can you imagine trying to get off that roof deck on gameday.

Might as well leave your car there and come back the next day and get it.

Think Carvana vending machine. Bring lots of tokens and good luck

 

[Commander PK]

Hopefully with enhanced Metro access, most people just take the train in, which will help with congestion.

Let there be no doubt, having the stadium in D.C. is absolutely going to change the experience for a lot of people who got used to the big tailgating parties at Northwest. Like I said, I have done both depending on who I’m going with. If I take my wife and kid we usually head straight in and do stuff in the stadium ahead of the game. If I’m going with friends we tailgate for several hours before. Both are fun just different experiences.

 

[Boone]

I don't know what the reality of their plans for encouraging vs. limiting vs. eliminating tailgating opportunities for fans are. But tailgating (for most fans) is literally as big a deal as the game itself and I think they would be making a massively unpopular (and tone deaf) move if they in any way restrict tailgating. I get the 'why' - which would be to drive fans into the stadium and/or surrounding businesses to spend cash there on food/drink, but that is a completely different experience. I think you are sugar-coating it PK. Very limited or no tailgating would suck. Not only would it suck, but it would greatly increase the expense of going to a game and that is already borderline insanely high.

I also think *more* folks would take Metro to games if it was a 'drop at the door' option, but I doubt it will ever be 'most' who utilize it. I would hope they would spend a great deal of time analyzing how traffic in/out of the stadium area will be handled since that has historically been a mess. At the few games I have attended since the Harris group took over, they have really improved that part of the experience to their credit.

 

[Commander PK]

I don’t know…but I’m hopeful they will provide options on the premises that will make it more attractive not to Tailgate in the parking lot. I don’t think they will eliminate it completely, nor do I want them to, but I think it is reasonable to assume in order to maximize the investment of the team and the city they will want people to spend the money they spend on food and drink in establishments near the stadium or in the stadium. The key is cost and convenience. If it’s too expensive to do that people will just bring stuff in and make the best of it in the parking garages.

If you make it more attractive to just hang out in the local spots versus hauling a ton of gear in and cooking, and all that goes with it…people may eventually come around. The reality is the volume of tailgating that exists at Northwest will probably not take place at RFK 2.0. I get it…for many people (at least initially) that’s a dealbreaker. I’m just not one of them. Hopefully they can find a way that the majority of people can be happy.

As for the metro access, I haven’t looked into this aspect too much but from what I understand, they’re looking at either expanding the Stadium/Armory station or adding another stop. Either or both will probably be necessary.

Also, you are absolutely correct that it is too expensive to go to an NFL game today. Take into account, tickets, parking, food. drinks, and everything that goes with it for two or three people and it’s quite an expensive day. They need to mix reasonably priced drinks and food into the equation. Like I said above my night at the Journey concert at Capitol One was very reasonable.

 

[RedWolf]

If they are going to have all this green land around the stadium why not just make grills and picnic tables available?

 

[ArtMonkWasMyHero]

My guess- and that's all it is- is that there was big opposition from neighborhood residents. It did not stop the stadium, but Harris & Co can throw them a bone by "diminishing" tailgating.

 

[heisenberg]

Let's not forget these people are fervent capitalists.

They're always going to give the illusion of providing good reasonable services while emptying our pockets as much as humanly possible.

If they can limit tailgating while funneling us into places where the food and beer is at a 300 percent markup and goes into their pockets thats what they're going to do.

 

[ArtMonkWasMyHero]

Let's not forget these people are fervent capitalists.

They're always going to give the illusion of providing good reasonable services while emptying our pockets as much as humanly possible.

If they can limit tailgating while funneling us into places where the food and beer is at a 300 percent markup and goes into their pockets thats what they're going to do.

Robber Barons might be a more appropriate term.

 

[Boone]

It's human nature to *adjust* to the environment. If they seriously curtail tailgating it will be a big change and disappointment for a lot of fans. But they will adjust. I just think it would be a sad shift because the tailgating is such a huge part of attending an NFL game. It would be a shame to see that aspect excised out of the experience in the interest of maximizing profit, but heisenberg is not wrong. My brother and I are Charlotte FC season ticket holders and we attend their games at Bank of America Stadium (the Panthers home). There is not a lot of tailgating in that stadium area, everyone flocks to all of the bars and restaurants that surround the stadium in downtown Charlotte. I've never 'missed' tailgating there because it simply isn't part of the experience for most fans.

 

[Anselmheifer]

Solid interview

 

[Chris]

I was surprised that Harris revealed that the aim is for 75,000 seats. Higher capacity than I think everyone was anticipating.

 

[Commander PK]

I was surprised that Harris revealed that the aim is for 75,000 seats. Higher capacity than I think everyone was anticipating.

Yep, at one point it was reported to be 65,000, then 70,000 now 75,000. I believe the original RFK sat about 55,000 so this one would seat 20,000 more than that one did.

 

[Chris]

Yep, at one point it was reported to be 65,000, then 70,000 now 75,000. I believe the original RFK sat about 55,000 so this one would seat 20,000 more than that one did.

I wonder if it is due to the appetite for drawing significant events like Super Bowls, World Cups, and collegiate National Championships?

 

[Riggo44]

I wonder if it is due to the appetite for drawing significant events like Super Bowls, World Cups, and collegiate National Championships?

You know you might be onto something there...

 

[RedWolf]

I wonder if it is due to the appetite for drawing significant events like Super Bowls, World Cups, and collegiate National Championships?

I think the plan was for 65,000 for the home team and be able to expand to 75,000 for larger events

 

[Anselmheifer]

I think the plan was for 65,000 for the home team and be able to expand to 75,000 for larger events

I’m also guessing this is the case. I’m not sure what the real arguments for 65k vs 75k seats are from a fan perspective. Jerry’s world is 80k, right?

More fans, more noise? More fans, less intimate?

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I wonder if it is due to the appetite for drawing significant events like Super Bowls, World Cups, and collegiate National Championships?

I think that’s 100% what it is. Except but SBs, world cups or college national championships. I think he’s beefing it up for Taylor Swift’s next tour! (that’s a joke, but I would add large concerts to the list of premium events).

Also, I know that Jerryworld has expandable capacity. They might do something like that where they have normal NFL games at say 65k expandable to 75k for huge events.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Also, apparently there was some national planning committee meeting and the stadium passed that hurdle…

However there is a fight about parking on the horizon…

Washington Commanders Stadium wins key approval — but parking garage fight looms

National Capital planning commission unanimously backs preliminary stadium design while flagging concerns about massive parking structures.

www.wusa9.com

 

[ArtMonkWasMyHero]

Also, apparently there was some national planning committee meeting and the stadium passed that hurdle…

However there is a fight about parking on the horizon…

Washington Commanders Stadium wins key approval — but parking garage fight looms

National Capital planning commission unanimously backs preliminary stadium design while flagging concerns about massive parking structures.

www.wusa9.com

They should plan carefully. The view of the parking garages is the one blemish on the otherwise excellent Nats Park.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

They should plan carefully. The view of the parking garages is the one blemish on the otherwise excellent Nats Park.

I completely agree.

I don't understand why they don't just bury all the parking lots. Like, instead of going up 10 floors, you go down 10 floors. I mean, just keep digging!!!!

OR, wait for it: temporary FLOATING PARKING LOTS in the river! And when one section gets full, you just float it to the middle of the river, and then float in another section. Sure, logistical problems getting your car back. But that's what AI is for, right? RIGHT?

I'm only partially joking. (ok, fully joking about the floating parking lot) I do understand that where they are building it's not entirely possible to bury all the parking lot. But they can bury a lot of stuff to hide it.

Parking lots are going to be a challenge with this location but it's something I think they're going to work out.