The Stadium Thread

[Chris]

They aren't going through all this song and dance unless it's happening.

I feel that is correct. I put ‘feel’ because I always hope for the best and prepare for the worst. 9 of 13 council members were not in attendance, including the chair who is openly opposed. If the 4 in attendance are for it, and I would assume that they are, they only need 3 more in favor. There is also a pesky attempt by groups against to gain enough signatures to have the issue become a ballot initiative next year. It is widely expected that the voters would vote against that measure if afforded the chance.

So all the pressure is on this council, and likely the new Ward 8 council member to be elected in July, to push this though post haste.

 

[Anselmheifer]

Commanders, D.C. reach deal for $4B stadium

The Commanders agreed to a deal with the District of Columbia to build a new $4 billion stadium at the RFK site, which was the team's home from 1961 to 1996.

www.espn.com

I don't know if this has been discussed, but it looks like the $500 million from DC is going to come from an extension of the tax that was used to fund the Nationals Stadium site.

From google AI, "The District of Columbia uses a "ballpark fee" to fund Nationals Park. This fee is imposed on businesses within the District that generate $5 million or more in gross receipts. The fee is a fixed scale between $5,500 and $16,500, based on the business's gross receipts. "

I'm not sure what there is to object to. High revenue businesses will pay the tax, not consumers, and it's not a new tax. They are just going to keep paying what they have been paying already. The Harris group is putting in more than any other team owner that I know of, in any sport. This deal will make more money for DC than it will cost. It really looks to me like people that object, are just inclined to object to literally anything sports entertainment related, even if it will generate more money than it costs. It's a bunch of clones of my ex wife trying to shout this down!

 

[Single-Bar Facemask]

I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining, but that's 5.5 years away...doesn't that seem really long?

SoFi Stadium - less than 4 years from breaking ground until opening.
Allegiant Stadium - less than 3 years
Bills/New Highmark Stadium - shooting for 3 years
Titans/New Nissan Stadium - shooting for 2 years

Perhaps the issue is that it will take 1-2 years, if not more, to clear the site just to get ready to build? If that's the case, let's get cracking! lol

2030 would be Jayden's 7th season...

 

[Chris]

Here are the terms of the RFK Stadium deal

Here's everything we know now about the deal to bring Washington's football team back to the District

www.wusa9.com

 

[HOF44]

unless they are able to 'remove' the playing surface for those other events.

Whether that means wheeling it out, or even having some sort of option to 'drop' it below a solid surface may be a part of the equation.

I ultimately think they'll go to some alternative grass situation, but there is a blank canvas here to try and get the best of both worlds.

Real Madrid's is much more sophisticated when they're not playing. Their grass field sits underneath the stadium, where there's air conditioning, irrigation systems, and ultraviolet light therapy

 

[RedWolf]

Want to see a design

 

[Anselmheifer]

Perhaps the issue is that it will take 1-2 years, if not more, to clear the site just to get ready to build? If that's the case, let's get cracking!

Exactly this. Their goal is to break ground Fall/Winter 2026. There is a timeline posted somewhere

 

[Conn]

I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining, but that's 5.5 years away...doesn't that seem really long?

SoFi Stadium - less than 4 years from breaking ground until opening.
Allegiant Stadium - less than 3 years
Bills/New Highmark Stadium - shooting for 3 years
Titans/New Nissan Stadium - shooting for 2 years

Perhaps the issue is that it will take 1-2 years, if not more, to clear the site just to get ready to build? If that's the case, let's get cracking! lol

2030 would be Jayden's 7th season...

4.5 years, right?

And yeah it’s probably a little longer bc 1. it hasn’t actually begun yet so they have to build in ramp up time and 2. yeah there’s a huge demo to finish, right? Or have they been clearing that site already even without a replacement project in the pipeline?

 

[Single-Bar Facemask]

Yeah, duh...4.5.

I don't math well on Mondays, apparently.

 

[Neophyte]

Just guessing but I feel like we are a ways out from an official design. I'm sure some architectural firms have submitted ideas to get noticed by Harris but the site isn't really final yet (as noted above by Chris).

Unless Harris has already settled on an architect, there will be a bidding process, which will take months.

In the end, this will be more than a stadium. Much more of a master planned community or district with a stadium at its heart. That will take time.

 

[Neophyte]

I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining, but that's 5.5 years away...doesn't that seem really long?

SoFi Stadium - less than 4 years from breaking ground until opening.
Allegiant Stadium - less than 3 years
Bills/New Highmark Stadium - shooting for 3 years
Titans/New Nissan Stadium - shooting for 2 years

Perhaps the issue is that it will take 1-2 years, if not more, to clear the site just to get ready to build? If that's the case, let's get cracking! lol

2030 would be Jayden's 7th season...

Groundbreaking to opening does not include the design process. For a project of this size, that is going to fill up that 1.5 years.

 

[Freeallinternet6251]

65,000 seating capacity is a little on the small side for an NFL stadium. Seems about 10K to small for games. I guess they were limited by the total space they had.

 

[Chris]

65,000 seating capacity is a little on the small side for an NFL stadium. Seems about 10K to small for games. I guess they were limited by the total space they had.

First post award 🥇

 

[burgold]

65,000 seating capacity is a little on the small side for an NFL stadium. Seems about 10K to small for games. I guess they were limited by the total space they had.

Maybe, but Harris and company seem to be very thoughtful. I bet they did a number of studies to determine what the optimal number was. OTOH, Jack Kent Cooke based his numbers on the 30-year wait list and the Redskins' popularity following the glory years and this led to him overestimating stadium capacity. It's possible that Harris is underestimating it for the same (opposite) reason. Crunching the attendance trends may lead to an artificially deflated number.

 

[Neophyte]

It would not have been an overestimation if the former owner had run the team correctly, burgold. The issues filling the seats had nothing to do with mistakes estimating interest in going to the games and everything to do with mismanagement of the on-field product.

 

[burgold]

It would not have been an overestimation if the former owner had run the team correctly, burgold. The issues filling the seats had nothing to do with mistakes estimating interest in going to the games and everything to do with mismanagement of the on-field product.

Abso-effin'-lutely

 

[Anselmheifer]

How many seats are the other stadiums built in the last 5 years?

 

[Freeallinternet6251]

First post award 🥇

Naaaaaa, I am travelling, forgot my login and site doesn't let you just view. I wanted to read all the draft stuff so I created an account just to view. I did not think I would post anything.

Sofi stadium expands from 70K to 100K for events - maybe this will be like that. I believe it was 8,000 parking spaces - maybe this limited the capacity.

 

[Spearfeather]

Harris will be on Fox News at 6:00 pm ( Eastern ).
( Sometime between 6 - 7 ).

 

[HOF44]

70k for a Super Bowl. So expandable at least to that.