Stadium authority approves $100K for soccer study 

Posted: 7:29 pm Tue, January 19, 2010
By Liz Farmer
Daily Record Business Writer

The Maryland Stadium Authority has approved a $100,000 feasibility study to determine the economic benefits of building a soccer stadium in Baltimore to lure a major league franchise.

Just 35 miles away, Washington’s professional soccer team, D.C. United, has been looking for a new stadium since 2007.

The study was proposed by Mayor Sheila Dixon last year in a letter to the stadium authority. Dixon asked the state agency to consider South Baltimore’s Westport project as a potential site for a soccer stadium. The study, which was approved Tuesday, will be paid for by the city of Baltimore.

In Dixon’s letter, the mayor referenced a feasibility study for a soccer stadium in Prince George’s County the stadium authority commissioned in 2008. According to that study, which was not site-specific, annual tax revenues from stadium operations would range from $1.8 million to $2.2 million for the county and $3.2 million and $3.9 million for the state.

Although D.C. United abandoned the county as a possible location last spring, Dixon said the team “remains open to Maryland.”

A spokesman for D.C. United said at the time the team has a good relationship with the stadium authority but would not speculate about Baltimore as a potential location.

D.C. United now plays at RFK Stadium in the District. After the move to Prince George’s County fell through the team was reportedly looking at Montgomery and Frederick counties for relocation.

According to the team, D.C. United averages about 20,000 fans per game.