Even as D.C. mayor Adrian Fenty assured reporters at a Thursday news conference that no deal has yet been made with D.C. United, the team began to clarify the role it would play in a proposed partnership with the city to build a soccer stadium at Poplar Point.
“We’re getting close in these negotiations, and we are very committed, specifically to Ward 8,” said Julie Chase, a spokeswoman for United co-managing partner Victor MacFarlane. “It’s up to the city to work with us. We’re hoping for a public-private partnership with the District of Columbia.”
Fenty said he is prepared to enter into a partnership with D.C. United to find the team a new stadium, but there are “no plans, no specific proposals,” and the District is “not at the point of a deal.”
Multiple sources told The Examiner on Wednesday that under a Fenty plan, the citywould contribute at least $150 million of the total cost of $230 million to build a 27,000-seat stadium across the Anacostia River from Nationals Park.
Chase said unlike baseball, the district’s contribution would be capped, and “there would be a significant equity infusion from D.C. United.”
“Not only is the district not paying for all of it, they have fixed costs,” said Chase. “That would mean that any overruns would fall on us.”
Asked whether United will continue to pursue alternative sites in Maryland, Chase responded: “We’re still committed to the district, but we’re on a game-to-game contract at RFK.”
