The Stadium Rundown - December 18, 2017

Today, we're featuring the first of our weekly articles called "The Stadium Rundown".  I'll be updating you on the latest in new stadium construction, renovations, and disputes. If you have a tip for a story, shoot it to us here.

Audi Field


Audi Field - Washington DC - Source


DC United of Major League Soccer is finally saying goodbye to RFK Stadium and moving to Audi Field in June of 2018. The problem here is that the Major League Soccer season starts in March. DC United is committed to playing all of their home games at Audi Field next season, which would require them to play up to their first 12 games on the road. The league record is 10. Per the Washington Post, Major League Soccer doesn't appear to be completely sold on the plan and schedules will be released very soon. It's possible they could play at neighboring Nationals Park, but then you have to coordinate with the Nationals homestand. Alternatively, they could head up to Maryland and play at FedEx Field, home of the Washington Redskins (not Redhawks).

Chase Field

Chase Field

Chase Field - Phoenix, AZ

The public fight between Maricopa County (owners of the stadium) and the Arizona Diamondbacks over Chase Field continues with the Diamondbacks still threatening to move out. Essentially, the deal is that infrastructure work is covered by the tax-payers of Maricopa County (steelwork, concrete, AC, etc.) and all upgrades or enhancements (suite renovations, new scoreboards, signage, gameday clubs, etc.) are covered by the team. Currently, the team wants $187 million in work done at Chase Field by the taxpayers, where the county countered that the bulk of the requests are upgrades/enhancements and are the team's responsibility. The Diamondbacks filed a lawsuit in January 2016. There has been quiet on the front for several weeks, but recently it sounds like the county has been having secret meetings with the club to try to resolve their differences, per AZ Central. It's my opinion that when it's all said and done, the county and the team will split 50/50 or 60/40. The Diamondbacks are coming off of their best season in several years where attendance started to ramp up. WIth downtown Phoenix beginning to thrive and the Suns exploring a renovation of Talking Stick Resort Arena, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense for the Diamondbacks to pack up and build a new stadium or even leave town. Phoenix is the 5th largest city in the US and 12th largest tv market. Anywhere else they would go would be much smaller.

Banc of California Stadium


Banc of California Stadium - Los Angeles, CA - Source

Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) will be joining Major League Soccer in 2018. Their stadium, Banc of California Stadium is being built on the site of the old Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, right next to the University of Southern California (USC). The stadium broke ground on August 23, 2016, and expects to be ready by the start of the 2018 MLS season. Believe it or not, it is the first open-air stadium to be built in the city of Los Angeles since Dodger Stadium in 1962. Nothing too exciting here other than check out the live construction webcams. If they expect to be ready by March, they'll be cutting it really close. Hopefully, the crews do not have any delays.

That's all for this week.  Check back next week and we'll update you on the latest in stadium news.

-D.J.

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