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The D.C. United twitterverse exploded this evening, with word that Mayor Vincent Gray will be holding a press conference tomorrow at Buzzard Point to announce a deal to build D.C. United a 20,000-25,000 seat stadium. For a team that is in the midst of its worst season ever, a solid stadium deal would go a long way towards ameliorating that situation and put United back on stable and sustainable financial footing. While the mayor is on board, the City Council has not yet weighed in; however, there are known supporters of D.C. United strewn throughout the Council, and one would think that Gray would not be so bold as to announce this without knowing informally that he has their support. You can find the nitty gritty details of the land swap and lease deals at the Washington Post. Goff also has renderings of the proposed stadium.
DC @mayorvincegray to announce stadium deal with DC United according to sources.
— Mark Segraves (@SegravesNBC4) July 24, 2013
The $150 million #DCUnited stadium will be located in Southwest near Poplar Point -- close to Nationals Park.
— NBCWashington (@nbcwashington) July 24, 2013
Breaking: D.C. United reaches preliminary deal for stadium at Buzzard Point. Full story, analysis, renderings momentarily ... #dcu #mls
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) July 24, 2013
20,000 to 25,000 seats. Few blocks from baseball stadium. Mayor is aboard. City council awaits, however. #dcu #mls
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) July 24, 2013
D.C. United would build structure for $150m. City would pay for land acquisition, infrastructure ($150m). #dcu #mls
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) July 24, 2013
I know there are a number of people who will not believe anything until the shovels are in the ground, and that is more than understandable. United has been burned before, and will not go into anything lightly. But the fact that it is District officials this time making an announce is huge, something that they have never done before. We will all be watching the Mayor's announcement tomorrow and dissecting the language word by word.
But could it be possible? Good news in this season of despair?