D.C. United and District of Columbia Reach Initial Deal on New Stadium

July 25, 2013

D.C. United executives and city officials have reached a preliminary $300m agreement to construct a 20, drugs 000-seat stadium for the Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise on Buzzard Point in the southwest of the city, anabolics ending a 10-year hunt for a new venue.

D.C. United has struggled financially in recent years. The previously successful franchise has also become the holder of the worst record in MLS. Although season tickets are up 30 percent from last year, site when the team made the playoffs, United is averaging 13,645 fans through 10 home dates this year (down from 16,977 in the regular season over its first 17 seasons). Jason Levien, managing partner of the team, said D.C. United would not achieve firm financial grounding until it left its current home at RFK.

“Not only is it 50 years old, but you’re so far away from the viewing experience,” he said.

The move comes after both the city’s mayor, Vincent C. Gray, and city administrator, Allen Y. Lew, assisted the team with providing a solution. “It’s amazing how quickly they have been able to get this done,” said Levien.

“This is an exciting plan that moves the District forward in two areas about which I’m passionate — economic development, particularly in the East End of the District, and sports,” said Mayor Gray.  “The new soccer stadium is the final piece in the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative puzzle that, when complete will create the most vibrant and sustainable sports-and-retail district in America.”

Provided that the D.C. Council approves of final aspects of the plan, the MLS franchise would be granted a 25-35 year lease for land where the District of Columbia and D.C. United would split costs for the project. Additionally a sales and use tax abatement of up to $2.6m in the deal’s first deal is expected to be provided by city government.

Washington, D.C., is expected to provide $150m to assemble land and prepare the site for the stadium’s construction with a similar amount of money being spent by the team to build a 20,000 or 25,000 seat stadium.