Negotiations between DC United and the DC Sports
Commission for the team to play at RFK Stadium this season
"remain far from resolution, just four weeks before the
season opener" on March 25, according to Eric Fisher of the
WASHINGTON TIMES. Under a deal that expired last year, the
team paid the city $60,000 per game and received 12.5% of
parking revenues and none of the concession revenues.
United is now seeking a one-year contract with "sizable
increases in both parking and concession revenues, more
favorable terms in every other monetary area and more
control of day-of-game operations." The sports commission
"is not inclined to give in to many of United's requests
without a multi-year" lease at the stadium, but the team
can't make a long term commitment until it is under new
ownership. The team's 18-month-long sale process is still
"unresolved." If a deal is not reached before the season
starts, "no alternate site for the United has been
identified." United lost more than $2M last season, and
Payne said that the team's profitability "would require an
even split on parking and concession revenues and an average
attendance of at least 20,000." United President Kevin
Payne said that the team's search for an owner "has begun to
focus on one group," but declined to give details. A sale
was "nearly" done with N.Y.-based investment firm E.M.
Warburg Pincus & Co., but Fisher reports that "issues during
due diligence thwarted the deal" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 2/24).
