Hurdles certainly remain, but it seems D.C. United may soon be a step closer to breaking ground on a new, soccer-specific stadium.
According to a report in The Washington Post on Monday, city officials and D.C. United executives are getting closer to finalizing an agreement to build a 20,000-seat stadium at the Buzzard Point site. The agreement would ultimately require approval by the D.C. Council.
The basic framework of the deal remains the same, according to the Post. The club would be responsible for the stadium's construction and the city would provide infrastructure improvements in and around the site, which is located a few blocks southwest of Nationals Park, home of Major League Baseball's Washington Nationals.
"[The city's] costs are capped at $150 million," according to the Post report, "a provision aimed at preventing overruns that made construction of Nationals Park far more expensive than originally envisioned."
Per the report, United would also receive property and sales tax breaks, while the District would be entitled to a future surcharge on tickets, a measure that replaces a previous profit-sharing provision after a vetting by city officials.
The city must still acquire the land required to move forward, with officials reiterating that eminent domain is an option should they fail to reach agreements with current property owners. The earliest D.C. could begin play at Buzzard Point is 2017.
