Piloting the Process

This is a rendering of what a professional soccer stadium could look like.  At this point, even a non-site specific drawing is way ahead of where we are in the process, but since this is about a feasibility study to determine whether or not Baltimore could benefit from the construction of such a facility, I thought I should provide an illustration of some sort.  A soccer stadium is visably different from a ballpark or coliseum in both size and shape.  Building one has even more variables.  Let's start at the beginning.

A good many people believe that stadiums and arenas get constructed just because communities or teams want them and have sufficient financial or political pull to muscle them into place.  Au contraire.  There is an exhaustive process that can take years before the deal is structured.

(Good example -- the very successful Regency Furniture Stadium.  That project kicked around for ten years before the site was selected, financing developed, and bid to budget.  Completed in 2008, it is now the pride of Charles County.  But it sure didn't happen overnight.)

I thought it would be a good exercise to chronical the steps that will be taken before the soccer stadium feasbility study will be released this summer.  Crossroads, the consultant responsible for the study, has worked with MSA before on market analysis of proposed projects.  Most recent is the Ocean City Convention Center expansion.

This study is unlike any other MSA has done in the past because it actually considers several scenarios.  Can Baltimore support the successful MLS franchise DC United if they relocated to a 20,000+ seat soccer-specific stadium located at the Westport transit-oriented community currently in development?  Or is 7,500-10,000 seat stadium located just south of M&T Bank Stadium for the existing Crystal Palace Baltimore NASL franchise a better fit?  Should it be either, or both?

(Disclaimer -- the picture is a rendering of the CP proposal.  This isn't an endorsement, just what's available.)

In order to do any study, MSA has to be asked.  We don't go out shopping for work, and we don't do studies simply because someone has a dream.  In this case, both the previous Mayor of Baltimore and the Baltimore Development Corporation wanted to explore the potential of the respective projects they had been considering on parallel courses.  The City agreed to pay for MSA to prepare a thorough and impartial analysis of all variables and make a recommendation.

This process began this week with a series of "interviews" with certain stakeholders.  They are actually discussions, a free exchange of questions, ideas, and opinions between MSA executive staff and those most impacted by such a facility.  These stateholders include the Mayor's office, City Council President and Councilmen, Visit Baltimore, the teams themselves, and other potential users of the stadium.  There were some very interesting points raised in this round, along with some tough questions involving fan base and corporate sponsorship. 

This round of interviews will help determine the level of support for building a stadium, and where it falls on a priority list.   (Remember -- a lot of folks have a new arena on their wish list, and there are rumblings about convention center renovations, too.)  It also sets the tone for what size stadium can be supported.  The second rendering is the new soccer-specific stadium for the MLS Red Bulls.  The 25,000 capacity facility opens in Harrison, New Jersey later this month.  This is closer to the requirement for an MLS franchise like DC United.

Public officials are not the only ones consulted.  Future meetings will involve the corporate community, our tenant teams, other professionial teams in the area, fan groups for both teams, and advocacy groups who just want to see more professional soccer.  (Yes, we've heard from the Lords of Baltimore.)

Terry observed that many of those consulted on this first round raised the point about the facility's and organization's role in developing youth sports.  Soccer franchises traditionally have close ties to community leagues, and also have recreational fields around their stadiums.  This question was asked by more than one soccer operative in the discussion.  (Remember, it was the Baltimore Bays and their partnership with Chelsea that helped bring them here last summer.)

As these talks continue, the consultants get a clearer picture of the market, the investment return on public dollars, and the economic impact this project will have on future development, the visitor industry, and quality of life.

A lot will happen before the report is released about six months from now.  But you can be assured it will be based on the views of many people, not just the professionals providing the analysis.