Garber Threatens To Pull United Out Of DC If Stadium Not Built

Garber Threatens To Pull United Out Of DC If Stadium Not Built

MLS Commissioner Don Garber yesterday said that he is "prepared to tell DC United to move outside of [DC] if a deal for a new stadium isn't finalized in the next few months," according to Tim Lemke of the WASHINGTON TIMES. Garber said he finds the fact that the city and team "have not agreed on a plan to move out'' of RFK into a new soccer-only stadium in the city "frustrating and continually surprising." Garber, who said he would like to resolve the issue "in a matter of months," added, "RFK has served this team well. ... But it would be inconceivable for baseball to be played long-term in RFK, and it's inconceivable that MLS would continue to play in that stadium. So either we resolve it here, or we're going to push this ownership group to move out of [DC]." DC Mayor Adrian Fenty has presented DC council members with a "plan to pay for a portion of the stadium,'' but discussions with the council, "which would have to approve such a plan, are in their early stages" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 3/26). United co-Owner Victor MacFarlane said that the club "continues to explore the possibility of building a stadium in Prince George's County" (MD). Garber said that he has "toured both proposed sites" in New Carrollton and Greenbelt (WASHINGTON POST, 3/26).