DC United's Payne Believes Maryland Stadium Will Get Done

Payne Says RFK Stadium Does Work For Modern Sports Team

MLS DC United President Kevin Payne yesterday appeared on DC’s WTOP-AM and discussed the club’s need for a new soccer-specific stadium. Payne said a Prince George's (MD) County Council committee that voted Tuesday to oppose legislation that would launch planning for a stadium has “already rescheduled further conversation” on the topic. The team has added an amendment to the original bill allowing the Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission to purchase land from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority for a stadium, a mixed-use development and an agency HQs. Payne said, “We believe that that will end up being a vote ultimately in favor of the bill as amended. There was a great deal of confusion about the amendments and we think that there was some confusion [Tuesday] over what those amendments did.” He added the club is “certainly hopeful of a different outcome when the full council actually votes.” DC United currently plays in RFK Stadium, and Payne said, “We all know and love RFK and there are many things about RFK that are wonderful, but it is a very old building. … There are a lot of problems with the infrastructure of RFK … (and) it cannot work for a modern sports team” (WTOP-AM, 3/25). CSN Mid-Atlantic’s Russ Thaler noted DC United held its annual "Kickoff Luncheon" Tuesday at the Gaylord National Convention Center around the time the stadium legislation was shot down. Thaler: "Not the best of news” (“Washington Post Live,” CSN Mid Atlantic, 3/25).

NEW MENU: The DC Sports & Entertainment Commission has selected Maryland-based Sodexo as the new concessionaire at RFK Stadium, beginning with DC United’s home opener on Saturday. Sodexo replaces Ovations Food Services (DCSEC). DCSEC CEO Erik Moses said, “We wanted to make some changes, and Sodexo’s a local company, which is important.” He added that the “early focus … will be on avoiding long lines and improving customer service, with new products to be introduced later in the season” (BIZJOURNALS.com, 3/26). Payne: “It’s no secret that we had some real issues with the concessionaire last year” (WTOP-AM, 3/25).