Can Baltimore support a 3rd Professional Team ?

[rockin'.baltimorean]

sure we could.....easily.

the same exact question came up when the ravens came aboard in 1996, and as you can see, the competition between the two teams is actually helping each's exposure...

[rockin'.baltimorean]

Originally Posted by Tricia_Lvs_Baltimore

This is interesting news! It sounds like the United are now interested in possibly making a move.

i really don't think that crystal palace baltimore is working out the way they thought they originally would (attendance-wise), so i think it's just a matter of time before united decides to move here. we have more to offer....

[indiethinker]

Originally Posted by rockin'.baltimorean

i really don't think that crystal palace baltimore is working out the way they thought they originally would (attendance-wise), so i think it's just a matter of time before united decides to move here. we have more to offer....

I am curious about that.

DCU generally does have a great fanbase though attendance is down after a couple of years of losing.

I'm not really sure Baltimore would be a better home in that regard.

[dennis911]

DC is a big money area.

[cgunna]

the sun is bright.

[dennis911]

I mean will Baltimore show up for soccer.

[BaltimoreBaby1989]

I feel as though Baltimore encompasses an area filled with sports enthusiasts in general. You will have those whom support the team because they follow soccer. There are those whom are not farmiliar to the sport, and will support it to encourage the growth of it due to their hometown pride (me! I mean, I do support the Orioles, even though I dislike baseball. Sorry.)

Financially, I do not know the operating costs of a major league soccer franchise, especially in Baltimore; however, I do believe there is a large enough piece of the pie to go around. I think there is a large enough piece of the pie to where the team can be profitable. For example, look at the Orioles and Ravens. Their leases for their venues allow them operate at a low enough cost, to where they can price their offerings competitively to stay in business. There will not be another team entering the league to unset any profit sharing (if they implement those sort of protocols.).

Point is, I believe that Baltimore is a town with a lot of upside. Metro pop, D.C. metro pop, large downtown, facilities, etc. It's not as if were somewhere in backcountry North Dakota. It can and will work, if the powers that be don't do anything to mess it up. Plus, the sports district (catchy name) aka Gateway would be an amazing mass of professional teams and amenities.

[Tricia_Lvs_Baltimore]

Well guys, we may not have to wait long to find out the answer to this thread's question:




Proposed Baltimore soccer stadium could attract D.C. United
New stadium could attract D.C. United

By Don Markus, Baltimore Sun
July 29, 2010
E-mail Print Share Text Size bs-sp-soccer-stadium-0729-20100729

Twice in the past year, Baltimore has become a soccercentric city.

It happened last summer, for a day, when two of the world's best teams, AC Milan and Chelsea, came to M&T Bank Stadium, bringing more than 72,000 fans with them. It happened recently, during the monthlong World Cup, when fans of the game piled into bars and crowded near the harbor to watch the U.S. team's run to the knockout round.

But could it happen on a more regular basis?

City officials, developers and local soccer aficionados believe it can, if plans move forward for a soccer-only stadium and if Baltimore is successful in attracting D.C. United away from Washington. The next step in that process will likely take shape in early September, when a Tampa, Fla.-based marketing consulting firm will release the findings of a $100,000 feasibility study requested by the Maryland Stadium Authority.

"I think there is a large international population in Baltimore and there is an extreme interest in soccer for sure," said Deputy Mayor Kaliope Parthemos. "There's definitely a fever and excitement for soccer in Baltimore City and we're hoping to capture that."

While the fever might not be as high as it was for last year's international match that featured one of the game's biggest stars, Ronaldinho of Brazil, a crowd of around 35,000 is expected Saturday for a "friendly" between European Cup champion Inter Milan and Manchester City of the English Premier League. As of Wednesday, a little over 32,000 tickets had been sold.

Baltimore is also on the list of 18 possible sites if the U.S. is successful in its bid for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.

The proposed soccer-only stadium and an adjacent hotel that could accommodate up to 500 guests would be part of a $1.5 billion mixed-use project being developed on the waterfront in Westport. Developer Pat Turner pointed to the fact that television ratings in Baltimore for the World Cup are indicative of how such a stadium -- with the possibility of D.C. United playing there -- would be received in the city.

"Baltimore was the No. 2 city in the nation in terms of watching the World Cup," Turner said Wednesday. "Obviously, it's up to D.C. United whether they make a decision to move here or not, but I think the support here is more than what it is up in Philly," where a soccer-only stadium was opened this year for a Major League Soccer expansion team.

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."

Kevin Healey, president and general manager of the Blast, the city's indoor professional soccer team, said last week that Baltimore's reputation won't be damaged if a soccer-only stadium isn't built, but "anything to support soccer is good for the sport in the city and the state."

The feasibility study is also looking into a 8,000- to 10,000-seat stadium to house Baltimore's current professional team, Crystal Palace Baltimore, which plays in a league a level below Major League Soccer. The team has played at several sites this year, and recently agreed to play the remaining games this season at Calvert Hall.

"It's not going to be a major versus minor type of study; it's going to be evaluating both projects so that we can make a determination which project makes economic sense," Parthemos said.

Requested by the Maryland Stadium Authority last fall at the urging of then-City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake after the stunning turnout for the AC Milan-Chelsea match, Crossroads Consulting Services could report that a soccer-only facility is worth the investment, as it did in proposing last year that a similar stadium be built in Prince George's County.

But that recommendation never made it through the political gauntlet: A bill proposed to the state legislature never got out of committee.

"At the end of the day, it's a political judgment," said Gary McGuigan, project executive for the Maryland Stadium Authority.

Michael Frenz, executive director of the Maryland Stadium Authority, said that a project such as this should be approached with caution. "Not every [MLS] franchise is successful in every city, so that's what the study is designed for," Frenz said. "It's a considered judgment and not one based on someone's intuition."

Erik Stover, managing director of the MLS New York Red Bulls, said in an interview last week that the team would not have even attempted to sign French star Thierry Henry had it not been for the new facility. The team moved there from Giants Stadium.

Though not a single taxpayer dollar was used in building Red Bull Arena, a 25,000-seat facility in Harrison, N.J., the process of getting the project completed was "brutally hard," Stover said.

[rockin'.baltimorean]

damn, baltimore is really serious about this!! can't wait to see how this one plays out...

[StormShadow]

More at the link below too


Could D.C. United Become Baltimore United? @ http://dc.sbnation.com/2010/7/29/159...imore-move-mls

[StormShadow]

Is there still a strong possibility the franchise will stay in D.C. if a soccer specific stadium is built ? I mean D.C. seems to have the potential to do so, the city did erect facilities for their local franchise in the last few years or so. Verizon Center and FedExField both established in the late 1990's (1997) and Nationals Park which was erected in 2008.

Regardless, I still believe Baltimore could easily snag an expansion team, the MLS seems willing to expand (targeting 30 teams) , like I said earlier.

[Orange Crush]

Inriguing this thread. Haven't paid much attention to the soccer question. Seems like the city is more interested in a soccer team --and the question isn't whether or not so many city dwellers would show up because I doubt M&T is filled with 71k city dwellers per those eight games a year. It's whether the folks from the counties would come-- than in an NBA or NHL team (and given Baltimore's geographical location and the recent financial woes in those leagues, this isn't necessarily a bad thing). The irony, though, is that a new arena would be a better investment for the city than a soccer stadium.

While a new soccer stadium could hold non-soccer events like lacrosse, a new indoor arena would draw year-round events. (From what I understand, the aforementioned Sprint Center in KC does pretty good business without an NBA or NHL tenant.) At this point, if the city is going to go to MSA for money for a new venue, a new arena that will get more use, might be a more welcome idea.

[BaltimoreSports]

Originally Posted by StormShadow

Is there still a strong possibility the franchise will stay in D.C. if a soccer specific stadium is built ? I mean D.C. seems to have the potential to do so, the city did erect facilities for their local franchise in the last few years or so. Verizon Center and FedExField both established in the late 1990's (1997) and Nationals Park which was erected in 2008.

Regardless, I still believe Baltimore could easily snag an expansion team, the MLS seems willing to expand (targeting 30 teams) , like I said earlier.

I think DC is a tab bit burnt out on Stadiums. They just built the Nats stadium and barely fill it. The Skins are next in line for a new Stadium. I think the United is the odd man out.

[yamota]

I hope not. I love the United and I hope they stay in DC. If any team should leave it should be the Capitals. Nobody wants them here and DC was never really a big hockey city anyway.

[GrayMatter]

Originally Posted by yamota

I hope not. I love the United and I hope they stay in DC. If any team should leave it should be the Capitals. Nobody wants them here and DC was never really a big hockey city anyway.

We'll take em!!!!

[yamota]

You got 'em!

[Baltimorean]

I think it would be a lot easier for Baltimore to support a 3rd major pro team if we had more corporate HQ here. They spend a lot of money on ads and luxury boxes.

[micrip]

Originally Posted by yamota

I hope not. I love the United and I hope they stay in DC. If any team should leave it should be the Capitals. Nobody wants them here and DC was never really a big hockey city anyway.

....really? Were all the empty seats in Verizon Center disguised as people last season? Things were rough before Ovechkin arrived, though.

[en1044]

Originally Posted by yamota

I hope not. I love the United and I hope they stay in DC. If any team should leave it should be the Capitals. Nobody wants them here and DC was never really a big hockey city anyway.

Are you kidding me? The Caps sold out almost, if not every game last season. People show up, and lifelong hockey fans like myself DO want them here.

[rockin'.baltimorean]

Originally Posted by en1044

Are you kidding me? The Caps sold out almost, if not every game last season. People show up, and lifelong hockey fans like myself DO want them here.

i thought yamota's statement was rather odd from the first time i saw it. the verizon center sells out often and it just didn't make logical sense.