DC United Managing General Partner Jason Levien in a two-part Q&A last week said it is "no secret that we are a significantly money-losing team right now," according to Steven Goff of the WASHINGTON POST. Addressing the perception that the team is not willing to spend on players, Levien said, "We are losing a lot at RFK Stadium. We’ll spend where we think it’s appropriate and where we think it will help us. We do it with an eye toward winning and competing at the highest level. We wouldn’t do it for some kind of marketing plus." He added, "We have to be smart in how we do it. We want to be somewhat fiscally responsible because we are taking on an enormous project with the stadium at Buzzard Point. We want to make sure we are running a business that is good for the fans long term and short term." Levien also said that the club has "created two staff positions: a director of soccer strategies and a full-time physical therapist." The first job, to be filled soon by a European based in the U.S., is "geared toward analytics," while the second position was "created to address the number of injuries" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 12/18).
STADIUM ARCADIUM: Levien in part two of the Q&A addressed the team's Buzzard Point stadium project. He said, "We are in the design and planning process right now. We’re working closely with the city, which has been very supportive. We’ve spent a lot of resources on architects and engineers, on planning in-house and outsourcing it. We’ve made a lot of progress and we are excited about what the product is going to look like." He said the stadium's capacity will be "somewhere between 18,000 and 23,000." Levien: "In the studies we have done, we believe our fan base is robust and growing. We’re going to sell out that building, and the more seats we get in there, the more fans are going to enjoy the experience. That is what we want." He added, "We like the idea of having a roof. We think it makes it more intimate. We think it makes it a better experience for our fans." In terms of a timetable, Levien said he believes the project can be completed "in 14 months," but "our guys say 16 to 18 months" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 12/18).
