Spring Break
Dixon promotes soccer stadium in Baltimore
Issue date: 10/22/09
Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon has asked for a study on the feasibility of building a soccer stadium to house major league soccer team D.C. United.
According to a letter received by the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) on Oct. 5,
Dixon asked for an assessment of the benefits of the 20,000-seat stadium that could also be used for concerts, lacrosse games and other events.
Currently, the site being considered for the stadium is in Westport, a part of South Baltimore near a light rail station and Interstates 95 and 295, and close to both Oriole Park at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens.
"D.C. United has expressed publicly an interest in exploring alternative locations. The Chelsea A.C. Milan exhibition game opened our eyes to the possibility in Baltimore. D.C United is supportive of the feasibility study," Andrew Frank, Deputy Mayor of Economic Development, wrote in an e-mail to The News-Letter.
The exhibition match was held this summer at M&T Bank in front of a sold-out crowd of 71,000 fans.
D.C United was unwilling to comment until further developments occurred.
The first step is for the MSA to conduct a feasibility study.
"The study will establish the market for a team in Baltimore and examine the financial feasibility of building and financing a stadium. Whether construction of such a stadium should be considered in this current economic climate depends on whether the venue would be self-supporting.
The City is not in a position to subsidize construction," Frank wrote.
Turner Development, which owns the parcel of land in Westport under consideration for the stadium, had previously considered developing the land into an indoor sports and concert arena.
"Pat Turner feels it's too early to have an opinion on the Mayor's proposal until the MSA has conducted a feasibility study, so he can't comment," a spokeperson said on behalf of Patrick Turner, CEO of Turner Development.
According to a letter received by the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) on Oct. 5,
Dixon asked for an assessment of the benefits of the 20,000-seat stadium that could also be used for concerts, lacrosse games and other events.
Currently, the site being considered for the stadium is in Westport, a part of South Baltimore near a light rail station and Interstates 95 and 295, and close to both Oriole Park at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens.
"D.C. United has expressed publicly an interest in exploring alternative locations. The Chelsea A.C. Milan exhibition game opened our eyes to the possibility in Baltimore. D.C United is supportive of the feasibility study," Andrew Frank, Deputy Mayor of Economic Development, wrote in an e-mail to The News-Letter.
The exhibition match was held this summer at M&T Bank in front of a sold-out crowd of 71,000 fans.
D.C United was unwilling to comment until further developments occurred.
The first step is for the MSA to conduct a feasibility study.
"The study will establish the market for a team in Baltimore and examine the financial feasibility of building and financing a stadium. Whether construction of such a stadium should be considered in this current economic climate depends on whether the venue would be self-supporting.
The City is not in a position to subsidize construction," Frank wrote.
Turner Development, which owns the parcel of land in Westport under consideration for the stadium, had previously considered developing the land into an indoor sports and concert arena.
"Pat Turner feels it's too early to have an opinion on the Mayor's proposal until the MSA has conducted a feasibility study, so he can't comment," a spokeperson said on behalf of Patrick Turner, CEO of Turner Development.
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