WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

[URL="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/09/AR2006060901365.html"]http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/09/AR2006060901365.html[/URL]

Baseball is back in Washington, and football may follow. Even though the Washington Redskins' stadium is not even 10 years old, D.C. officials plan to approach team owner Dan snyder this summer about building a new stadium in the city, according to the May 5 Washington Business Journal. Why would he consider this? There are two great reasons for him to bring the Washington Redskins home.


What do you guys think? Personally, i don't think this is a bad idea. With Snyder as our owner, imagine what kind of venue the Redskins could have. And he might be willing to dish out more money to pay for it instead of letting the taxpayers suffer. I wouldn't mind seeing a new stadium built.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

Well, from the standpoint of someone who isn't from VA or MA, it doesn't really bother me that they play in Landover right now. But I guess it would be fitting to move the stadium back to DC. Just seems a bit unecessary.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

I love the thought of the skins playing in DC (though I agree with Tripp that it doesnt bother me that we don't). This would definitely be an opportunity for Snyder to showcase his $$ value and build a great stadium and a different location would be nice since our current one isnt the greatest. The only problem is that I don't know if we could keep the stadium as big as it is now in DC, which isnt good since I love selling out a 90,000+ seat stadium.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

The guy makes some good points. I don't think Snyder wants a publically funded stadium - even if it is just the land - simply because he wants all of the profits. With a team as profitable as our Skins, this is huge. Now, if he is given the opportunity to purchase land in DC and sell FedEx at the same time, I think he would definitely jump on it. I could easily see him building a 125k+ seat stadium with a retractable roof.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

I would like it because Fed Ex just isn't that nice a stadium. The best thing about it is that it holds 90, 000, but we all know that RFK at 55, 000 was louder and more intimidating. And Fed Ex was built before the real trend towards high quality modern stadium architecture got going. He could build a real gem, with good sight lines, the most modern DIGITAL replay scoreboards, good food, etc. And it would be another good thing for the distrcit, which needs it more than MD. BUt my guess is given the city's politics, it'll never happen. (But I thouhgt Joe Gibbs would never come back, so what do I know! ;))

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

I definitely do not seeing this happen any time soon (the next 10 years). I mean Fedex is still relatively new as far as stadiums go and it seats 94,000 or whatever. I doubt Snyder wants to invest all that money into building another stadium as of now. I could see it happening down the road though.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

[quote=JWsleep]I would like it because Fed Ex just isn't that nice a stadium. The best thing about it is that it holds 90, 000, but we all know that RFK at 55, 000 was louder and more intimidating. And Fed Ex was built before the real trend towards high quality modern stadium architecture got going. He could build a real gem, with good sight lines, the most modern DIGITAL replay scoreboards, good food, etc. And it would be another good thing for the distrcit, which needs it more than MD. BUt my guess is given the city's politics, it'll never happen. (But I thouhgt Joe Gibbs would never come back, so what do I know! ;))[/quote]

I agree! Fed Ex was built right before the new Camden Yards versions of football fields were built. I hate to say it but the Linc looks like a sweet stadium.

Can you imagine a DC football stadium lit up on a Monday night, Skins vs Cowboys with the Washington Monument and the Capital building in sight? It'd be sweet.

If it were to happen, something would needed to be done about the acoustics. RFK sounded a LOT louder than Fed Ex with 90k. I'm not an architect, I dunno how it's possible...but it needs to be done :)

As far as the sentiment of the initial post...to me it doesn't really matter where they play, just as long as they're in the area and keep the name the same.

The city just wants to be greedy and to get a piece of the action.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

It's stupid and wasteful.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

NOT HAPPENING.

-FedEX has $350mill of debt still, and who the hell is going to buy it? 90k seat stadiums are exactly in high demand. The costs of tearing it down or remodelling it into something else would be insane too. and even if he get's the billion for it, he spent 800$mill in 1995 dollars so its a loss, AND you really think maryland isn't going to want any of that money? was the land leased or gifted to him or did he actually buy it outright?

-why would anyone want 125k stadium? with the crazy ticket prices (which will be even HIGHER to pay off the new stadium) it'd scream TV blackout. The skins SAY they've got a long line for tickets, but with the high prices, that's not necessarily true.

-Ths city is terrible to work with. Anyone know WHY the skins are in landover? it's cause the DC council couldn't agree on anything when cooke offered to pay ALL the costs of a new stadium. we saw how retardedly they dealt with the nats purchase, and now all of a sudden they're going to be model citizens and cooperate? sorry, no.

-stadium costs. synder would have to spend over a billion dollars making a new stadium on land he wouldn't even own. with the debt and the marginal to huge loss taken on selling FedEx to some ghost buyer, its a very expensive proposition that really offers synder nothing that's worth the hassles. If the district isn't going to throw money in (which its not) it's really not a good deal financially for him. recouping over 1-1.5billion dollars in ticket sales would take DECADES and the extreme prices of tickets would drive some people back to watching the skins on tv.

-The Traffic. The current stadium's traffic situation sucks and DC would be 10x as bad... and instead of clogging up the middle of nowhere, all of DC/MD/NoVA would be screwed up on sundays.



this article is purely speculation built upon the boredom of the offseason, but the idea is stupid from inception.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

Developers would love to get their hands on that Landover property. Top dollar would be realized if sold.

I think Snyder could fill a 125k seat stadium and still have people on the wait list. Easily. Ticket prices for regular admission in the lower bowl are currently only $100 per seat. That's not that expensive.

I also don't believe that traffic would be screwed up for the whole region. If a stadium were to be built in the district, it would most certainly revolve around the proximity to Metro.

Stadium Costs. I don't think Snyder how much a stadium would cost if it means that his yearly net would go up. So what if it would take longer to pay off if you were pulling in a few more million right now to spend?

You're right about the city. It is run by a band of idiots.

I'm not saying that this is going to happen, but I don't think it can just be brushed off as being simply stupid. There are conditions that could make this happen.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

[quote=cpayne5]
I'm not saying that this is going to happen, but I don't think it can just be brushed off as being simply stupid. There are conditions that could make this happen.[/quote]

yeah, like free land, free money and competent DC council management :P

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

[QUOTE=That Guy]yeah, like free land, free money and competent DC council management :P[/QUOTE]
I'm sorry to say it, but of the three, a compentent DC council will be the most difficult to realize.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

Looks like there may be some truth to the rumors REDKSIN2 [URL="http://www.thewarpath.net/showthread.php?t=11044"]heard[/URL]

I really can't see it happening though. They should be in the heart of DC and they would be if Sharon Pratt Dixon Kelly didn't get in the way. If it does happen I think it will be so far down the road that we'll be asking if William Swain Lee III has anything left in the tank to still be our QB

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

What if the stadium was built in Northern Virginia, in Arlington or close to D.C. Would people object to it then? Plus it's accessible by Metro.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

[quote=mooby]What if the stadium was built in Northern Virginia, in Arlington or close to D.C. Would people object to it then? Plus it's accessible by Metro.[/quote]

i don't think VA is just going to fork over free land for it. I don't know where you'd put it in arlington, maybe out near dulles somewhere if the metro went out that way, that'd be a horribly expenive metro fix they've been avoiding for years though.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

[QUOTE=TAFKAS]If it does happen I think it will be so far down the road that we'll be asking if William Swain Lee III has anything left in the tank to still be our QB[/QUOTE]
You're going to make me record him singing HTTR, aren't you?

[URL=http://img146.imageshack.us/my.php?image=10006983ug.jpg][IMG]http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/8931/10006983ug.th.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

I'll give it a remote possibility IF the Redskins win back-to-back-to-back championships within the next five years. IF that happens then something MAY be put into the works five after that. But that's just me going out on a limb.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

I cannot imagine this happening. First off the money doesn't work. Even if Snyder can get 500 mil for Fedex he still has 350 mil debt plus he'd have to pay taxes on what he makes. Then he'd need to get free land(RFK cant hold a comparably big stadium really) and then spend 600 mil plus to get it done properly. He'd end up bigger in debt with a stadium most likely smaller with worse traffic. And to top it all off the only motivation to build a new stadium is to make more money. I don't see where a stadium even if it is bigger makes him more money really. He has all the luxury boxes he needs and he can't even sell out club seats.

As others have said too, even if he dcides he wants to do this the council won't ever get it done.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

[quote=mooby]What if the stadium was built in Northern Virginia, in Arlington or close to D.C. Would people object to it then? Plus it's accessible by Metro.[/quote]

Virginia interests explored putting the baseball stadium in Northern Virginia, but could find no space large enough and not enough local & State government support. Nor could Jack Kent Cooke when he was looking to build a new Stadium for the Redskins.

As I understand the logic of the article, Snyder sell valuable land in PG County - but then he (or the District) buys even more expensive land as a site for a new stadium? There's a crack dealer in there somewhere.

Someone else already said it, this whole idea arises from the boredom of the off-season.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

[quote=cpayne5]Developers would love to get their hands on that Landover property. Top dollar would be realized if sold.

I think Snyder could fill a 125k seat stadium and still have people on the wait list. Easily. Ticket prices for regular admission in the lower bowl are currently only $100 per seat. That's not that expensive.

I also don't believe that traffic would be screwed up for the whole region. If a stadium were to be built in the district, it would most certainly revolve around the proximity to Metro.



You're right about the city. It is run by a band of idiots.
[/quote]


1)Nope , with the New Mall across the Street the Stadium "was" the attraction

2)$100 ,not everyone can afford what is going on now.

3) Where in DC would it be built ??? Anacostia?????

4) Damm straight biggest bunch of Bozo's around !

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

[quote=mooby]What if the stadium was built in Northern Virginia, in Arlington or close to D.C. Would people object to it then? Plus it's accessible by Metro.[/quote]


How about the .............LA Skins ?:)

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

[QUOTE=Giantone]How about the .............LA Skins ?:)[/QUOTE]

You know as well as we all do that there is no way the Skins move to LA.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

Stay put.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

[quote=cpayne5]

I also don't believe that traffic would be screwed up for the whole region. If a stadium were to be built in the district, it would most certainly revolve around the proximity to Metro.


[/quote]

I am sorry but I totally disagree, just because Metro is there does not mean an entire stadium with more than 100K seating to not cause traffic. FedEX has metro access, but have you ever seen 495 on gamedays!?!?!!! And that is just parts of 495, imagine what would happen if a stadium was used in DC, so then MD, DC, and No.VA would have similar traffic. Just because a place has metro service does not mean people are not driving, people will drive, and the city will become more of a mess. Putting the economics aside for a sec, the first thing I thought was this is gonna make traffic hell, and the stupid council isnt gonna agree on anything. FedEX isnt the best stadium, but it is the largest and it fills up, and Danny Boy is making money. Why go to DC, and fall deep in debt, when one can make great money at FedEX? Danny Boy would be better off spending some more money on renovations or other things to improve FedEX, because the city thing is not happening.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

I think this is an awesome idea. The Redskins are not Marylands team, they are DCs team. As long as we can build the stadium with around the same capacity(90k) I dont see why this wouldn't be a spectacular deal. The money it would actually bring into DC would be awesome for the city. Plus it brings back the feeling of actually playing in DC. Now, they would have to work out some sort of parking deal with the city. I know alot of people hate the parking at "the big ugly" but I have always parked in the Green or orange and its great. Plus, maybe Snyder would get some of the best stadium designers out there and make it the best in the NFL, not just the biggest.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

[QUOTE=hooskins]I am sorry but I totally disagree, just because Metro is there does not mean an entire stadium with more than 100K seating to not cause traffic. FedEX has metro access, but have you ever seen 495 on gamedays!?!?!!! And that is just parts of 495, imagine what would happen if a stadium was used in DC, so then MD, DC, and No.VA would have similar traffic. Just because a place has metro service does not mean people are not driving, people will drive, and the city will become more of a mess. Putting the economics aside for a sec, the first thing I thought was this is gonna make traffic hell, and the stupid council isnt gonna agree on anything. FedEX isnt the best stadium, but it is the largest and it fills up, and Danny Boy is making money. Why go to DC, and fall deep in debt, when one can make great money at FedEX? Danny Boy would be better off spending some more money on renovations or other things to improve FedEX, because the city thing is not happening.[/QUOTE]
I have not seen the beltway lock up on gameday. The only place I've seen it get slow (not even stopped) is a few miles E of the WW. If the stadium was in DC, people would be coming from all directions, rather than just two, which would most certainly ease traffic. I can guarantee you that the beltway would not be congested. Also, even if only 1/6 (a very very conservative number) of the ticket holders rode Metro, the number of car drivers would be about equal to what is happening now at FedEx. Saying FedEx has Metro access is a complete joke. Try walking from a a Metro station to FedEx and then tell me it has Metro access.

In terms of short term profittability, Dan would make more money because he could fit many more people in the stadium and would be in the running for a Super Bowl, which would be HUGE. The debt of the stadium will always be there, and you (marketing genius Dan Snyder) have to maximize your income using the debt.

This whole scenario is not as outlandish as some of the people here think. If anyone can make it happen, and make it WORK, it's Dan Snyder.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

[QUOTE=#56fanatic]I think this is an awesome idea. The Redskins are not Marylands team, they are DCs team. As long as we can build the stadium with around the same capacity(90k) I dont see why this wouldn't be a spectacular deal. The money it would actually bring into DC would be awesome for the city. Plus it brings back the feeling of actually playing in DC. Now, they would have to work out some sort of parking deal with the city. I know alot of people hate the parking at "the big ugly" but I have always parked in the Green or orange and its great. Plus, maybe Snyder would get some of the best stadium designers out there and make it the best in the NFL, not just the biggest.[/QUOTE]
I've parked in Purple, Orange, and Red. Red is my favorite because you can get out much quicker.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

The stadium belongs wherever the owner puts it in the DC area.

The parking doesn't make the Redskins better.
The location of the stadium doesn't make the Redskins better.
The Metro doesn't make the Redskins better.
The DC City council doesn't make the Redskins better.
The talk of a move to another stadium (there are none available) doesn't make the Redskins better.
I-495 along with the traffic congestion doesn't make the Redskins better.

The team on-the-field along with the coaches and fans collectively make the Redskins better!

Not every game-day experience is for every fan!

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

It's all about politics!

There is nothing else which will influence this possibility--except money (which should be considered politics as well). We're talking about the nation's capital and a bunch of different committees (district, NFL, etc.). Don't make it seem like it is just a decision that Snyder has to make based on black and white figures. This is a gray area, and political pressure will have the greatest impact.

Can you imagine how much the politicians would like to have a superbowl in D.C.? It won't happen unless there is a dome/retractable roof stadium.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

the biggest winner would be the land around the stadium, as its value would skyrocket... i'm sure danny could be convinced if he was allowed to build the malls and shop next to the stadium area...

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

he wouldnt want to pay for another stadium, and i dont think the people of D.C. want to pay for it, either.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

[quote=Giantone]How about the .............LA Skins ?:)[/quote]

How about the LA Giants? Afterall, they don't play in New York (what is that saying about glass houses again?).

The DC government would probably want to give Danny boy a sweet deal on the land because a really nice new 100,000+ seat stadium would be a HUGE selling point for the Olympic commitee. Plus, obviously, the retractable roof would mean we would have Super Bowls in DC for years to come.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

[quote=Giantone]How about the .............LA Skins ?:)[/quote]

You mean like the Jersey Giants?

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

[quote=Master4Caster]You mean like the Jersey Giants?[/quote]

nah , more like the LANDOVER Redskin.(or Rahljohn)

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

[quote=ArtMonkDrillz]How about the LA Giants? Afterall, they don't play in New York (what is that saying about glass houses again?).

The DC government would probably want to give Danny boy a sweet deal on the land because a really nice new 100,000+ seat stadium would be a HUGE selling point for the Olympic commitee. Plus, obviously, the retractable roof would mean we would have Super Bowls in DC for years to come.[/quote]
LOL, took you long enough to throw that out there .

DC or Maryland right ...samething .:spank:

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

do you actually ever contribute anything useful here? all i see thusfar is wasted space...

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

I heard alot of good points. That mention of an olympic and super bowl site would be huge profitable venues that would go to snyder, correct?? Maybe it could be built in between DC and the practice facility as well so players didnt have to commute as much. I wasnt impressed by the skins practice facilities as compared to the Baltimore ravens. That should be overhauled also. If the stadium sat 125K believe we would sell out, much of VA. would share the market as well. Although, in the Madden games Fed Ex is classified as top end yet we know it could be better. I think this is just wishful discussion and thinking. Nothing probably will materialize unless Snyder of course gets buyers and sweet deals.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

i just can't see this happening.in terms of getting a super bowl,why not just put a retractable top on fed ex field???

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

[quote=redskinsfanatic]i just can't see this happening.in terms of getting a super bowl,why not just put a retractable top on fed ex field???[/quote]

I'm sure that if that was possible Danny would have started working on it years ago. But, I'm no engineer, maybe it is possible.

Personally, I would hate going to a football game in a domed stadium, even if the weather does suck. I feel like it would take away from the experience of going to the game. Even more so, I could NEVER imagine going to a baseball game indoors, that would be terrible, IMO.

Re: WP - Washington's Team Belongs In D.C.
 

[quote=redskinsfanatic]i just can't see this happening.in terms of getting a super bowl,why not just put a retractable top on fed ex field???[/quote]

it'd be major, super expensive and it'd close the stadium down. the current plan is an inflatable dome that can be put up for a MUCH MUCH lower cost (like a hundred million less ;) )