stwasm
January-29th-2008, 02:40 PM
From Stephen Goff's Soccer Insider:
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/01/dcu_stadium_progress.html
Before participating in the Gallardo news conference, the club's lead investor, Victor MacFarlane, offered some insight on United's new stadium prospects during an exclusive interview with the Insider.
Are you more optimistic about Poplar Point?
"What I am more optimistic about Poplar Point is that now all three finalists have a soccer alternative, so that's a positive."
Have you discussed a stadium with the developers?
"I have met with every single developer. I am hopeful we can have a stadium with the private developers, but it is a public-private partnership and the public side has to want to agree with the private side."
Has the Maryland option progressed?
"We are close to tying down two sites in Maryland to put them under contract in the next two weeks. We will have the option to own the land; we're not buying them, we're putting them under contract to control them."
Where are they?
"Greenbelt and New Carrollton."
So who is the front-runner, D.C. or Maryland?
"From the time we bought the team, we've said from Day One we want to be in the District. We've looked at no other place until recently when we got indications the District didn't want us. We haven't changed where we prefer to be. Where we will be, who knows?"
Is time running out to make a decision?
"Well, we're spending money in multiple places now, but the goal is not to spend money and not to go through plans and processes. The goal is to get a stadium as quickly as we can."
Do you have a lease to use RFK this year?
"We're kind of on a month-to-month basis. (laughing) I don't think they are going to kick us out, but one never knows. Maybe there will be a little sign saying, 'Victor, you are not welcome.' I'm just teasing. The mayor has made statements he'd like to see D.C. United stay in the District. Poplar Point is not the only potential site we can have. I take him at his word. I believe he is sincere. Whether we can do a deal or not, I just don't know yet."
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/01/dcu_stadium_progress.html
Before participating in the Gallardo news conference, the club's lead investor, Victor MacFarlane, offered some insight on United's new stadium prospects during an exclusive interview with the Insider.
Are you more optimistic about Poplar Point?
"What I am more optimistic about Poplar Point is that now all three finalists have a soccer alternative, so that's a positive."
Have you discussed a stadium with the developers?
"I have met with every single developer. I am hopeful we can have a stadium with the private developers, but it is a public-private partnership and the public side has to want to agree with the private side."
Has the Maryland option progressed?
"We are close to tying down two sites in Maryland to put them under contract in the next two weeks. We will have the option to own the land; we're not buying them, we're putting them under contract to control them."
Where are they?
"Greenbelt and New Carrollton."
So who is the front-runner, D.C. or Maryland?
"From the time we bought the team, we've said from Day One we want to be in the District. We've looked at no other place until recently when we got indications the District didn't want us. We haven't changed where we prefer to be. Where we will be, who knows?"
Is time running out to make a decision?
"Well, we're spending money in multiple places now, but the goal is not to spend money and not to go through plans and processes. The goal is to get a stadium as quickly as we can."
Do you have a lease to use RFK this year?
"We're kind of on a month-to-month basis. (laughing) I don't think they are going to kick us out, but one never knows. Maybe there will be a little sign saying, 'Victor, you are not welcome.' I'm just teasing. The mayor has made statements he'd like to see D.C. United stay in the District. Poplar Point is not the only potential site we can have. I take him at his word. I believe he is sincere. Whether we can do a deal or not, I just don't know yet."