Garber threatens D.C. United move

[EPJr]

MLS commissioner Don Garber upped the ante on the "look at other jurisdictions" talk for D.C. United yesterday, indicating that the team could move out of the D.C. area entirely unless it gets a new stadium deal. Garber told Washington Post soccer writer Steven Goff:

"Why we don't seem to be able to get a deal done is incredibly frustrating and it could be that, if something can't be resolved, we will move the team. ... We are getting close to the point where we can't continue to go on operating the team at RFK, a facility that didn't work for Major League Baseball, does not work for D.C. United. We have to develop a plan to get United in a partnership with a public entity in the region sometime soon or we will have to very seriously think about alternative locations."
This is, of course, one of the roles of sports league commissioners: levying move threats so that team owners don't have to. (D.C. United execs, you'll note, pointedly wouldn't comment on Garber's remarks.) So is it serious, or is it Bettmanesque? D.C. United would certainly lose a lot by relocating: Even in a "substandard" stadium (Garber's term), they ranked third in the league in attendance last year, and are the league's sixth-most-valuable franchise, according to Forbes estimates. That'd be tough to match in another market, especially as MLS has aggressively placed expansion teams in most other soccer hotbeds the last few years.

For now, then, probably best to consider this an intended bulletin-board quote for the locker room of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Jerry Reinsdorf would no doubt approve

[slycat]

I read that earlier. Very interesting. Seems they may do the same thing they did to San Jose. Move the team and give one back if they get there stuff together.

Problem is DCU has a good fan base. It shocks me they can;t found a county to put a stadium.

[dbackjon]

I think he's bluffing. Why move a successful team? I know they need a new stadium that is soccer only, but really...

[Col Hogan]

I read that earlier. Very interesting. Seems they may do the same thing they did to San Jose. Move the team and give one back if they get there stuff together.

Problem is DCU has a good fan base. It shocks me they can;t found a county to put a stadium.

Extremely good fan base...I've been to some games at RFK and they ROCK that place...but, the stadium sucks and they want to build a more soccer friendly place that seats 18 - 22K...

[dgreco]

I do not understand why they do not move to PGC and get something built. I am sure they can get something parallel to FedEx Field.

Or even in the new Nationals park area. they have a lot of surface parking around the field and could put a stadium over there.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

Gary Betteman would be proud...

this may be a bad question, and I'm sure there's a good answer... but why not modify RFK? It would seem to be cheaper...

moreover... and this is something MLS really needs to think about... who you gonna get to poach them in this economy?

if they want the league to have SSS's and they are going to do this to a market that has been remarkably supportive of this team since the launch of the league... i think it's going to hurt their image. which... is frankly why I think this is a bluff...

[Col Hogan]

I do not understand why they do not move to PGC and get something built. I am sure they can get something parallel to FedEx Field.

Or even in the new Nationals park area. they have a lot of surface parking around the field and could put a stadium over there.

PGC has put up roadblocks at every turn, and United ownership has grown quite tired of their antics...

I'm not entirely behind the team on this, thought, as they want too much taxpayer $$$...BS, they are a profitable organization...use some of that income to build the facility, like the Redskins did...

[dgreco]

^Victor MacFarlane and the rest of his ownership group is no Dan Snyder though.

[Col Hogan]

^Victor MacFarlane and the rest of his ownership group is no Dan Snyder though.

The stadium wasn't built by Snyder...former owner the late Jack Kent Cooke built it...he clearly outclasses Snyder as an owner, although that doesn't take much...

[dgreco]

shows how much I know. I thought he built it. Or is it that he wants to build a new stadium outside of PGC. When I lived in Rockville for a little I remember something along those lines always being a story.