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MLS Ticker: Concerns could affect D.C. United stadium plan, Valentin transfers overseas, and more

D.C.UnitedFansProposedStadium (D.C.United)

By CAITLIN MURRAY

The District of Columbia property that serves as a key piece in a pending land swap to build a new D.C. United stadium was up for debate at an open forum Wednesday night – and complaints from area residents could complicate the deal.

Residents along the U Street corridor where the city-owned Frank D. Reeves Municipal Center sits said when private developers take over the site, they want it to bring office space and daytime foot traffic rather than luxury apartments, which would be the most valuable use.

With a deal to be brought to D.C.’s city council Friday, a change in the value of the Reeves Center location or an inclination by the council to limit how the property can be developed could add uncertainty.

The silver lining may be that residents did not object to the swap plan or the Reeves Center being turned over to private entities. For the deal to move forward, however, private businesses will need to see value in taking over the land.

Here are more notes from around the league:

VALETIN OPTS TO REMAIN IN NORWAY, WILL NOT PLAY FOR IMPACT NEXT YEAR

Defender Zarek Valentin will not return to the Montreal Impact in 2014, the club announced Thursday. Instead, he will head back to FK Bodø/Glimt in Norway, where he signed a new contract.

The Impact said they had “lengthy discussions with Valetin” but “were unable to reach an agreement.” They will retain Valentin’s rights if he returns to MLS.

The American had been loaned to the Norwegian second division club in March, helping Bodø break into the country’s top flight Tippeligaen division. In his first season in Norway, he made 27 appearances for a total of 2,363 minutes of play.

Valentin, 22, was the fourth overall draft pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. After a season with Chivas USA, he was selected by Montreal in the 2012 MLS Expansion Draft.

VALDES LOOKS TO GET OUT OF MLS AND STAY OVERSEAS

Carlos Valdes doesn’t plan to return to MLS next season despite the Philadelphia Union having exercised an option to keep the defender, who no longer has a club to play for in Colombia, his agent said Wednesday.

Valdes had been released by Independiente Santa Fe of Colombia’s top division last week, but the national team defender will not return to the Philadelphia Union for the first half of 2014, agent Ricardo Pachon said.

Valdes is considering offers from clubs in Russia and Argentina, Pachon said. But the agent added that Valdes is trying to work out a deal to remain in Colombia, even though the Union want to bring him back to MLS next season.

Valdes was an anchor for the Union defense during his time at the club, making the MLS All-Star squad in 2012 before going to Santa Fe on loan this year to secure a spot on the Colombian national team.

RED BULLS STAFF TAKES NOTE FROM PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS

Part of the New York Red Bulls’ staff is in England hoping to learn a bit from some of soccer’s best.

Head coach Mike Petke and sporting director Andy Roxburgh are making the rounds overseas, having met with managers for Arsenal, West Ham United, and Chelsea.

The Red Bulls’ management had said the trip was part of an offseason plan aimed at “refreshing” their ideas for the 2014 season.

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What do you think of this news? Will D.C.’s government be able to make the complicated stadium deal work? Do you think Valdes can work out a deal with the Union?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. MLS teams aren’t very creative with their stadium designs, most look rather bland and unimaginative. Other than Sporting Park all the other stadiums are uninteresting. D.C. United stadium renderings look just like your typical MLS stadium.

    Reply
      • Their stadium looks nice and BBVA Compass Stadium too. Stadiums with roofs going all the way around the arena look better than half roof arenas.

      • Red Bull Arena is cute for sure.
        The Cathedral is Century Link, obviously. Best stadium in all of soccer.

      • No stadium with turf can call itself “best stadium in all of soccer.” The fans and support are tremendous, but the stadium sucks for soccer.

    • That’s a concept drawing. There hasn’t been any actual architecture work done yet. The actual stadium will probably be very different.

      Reply
    • Again, the team hasn’t even picked an architect yet. If it looks like some off-the-shelf computer graphic for a stadium that’s because it probably is.

      Reply
    • Agreed, with a few notable exceptions. A lot of the blame falls on Rossetti Architects for using essentially the same bland design on the StubHub Center, Rio Tinto, Toyota Park, and PPL Park. That’s 30% of the soccer specific stadia in the league, so I can see how it’d taint your overall perception.

      BBVA Compass, Sporting Park, RBA, and Jeld-Wen (not purpose-built, but still a SSS) are the exceptions. Those are all fine looking stadia that put the others to shame.

      Reply
  2. The DC United Stadium concept is a FAIL

    1. Design will not protect from the weather. Winters and summers are getting more harsh

    2. The roof is a flawed design. Will let too much sun in and will look like #$%^ on TV.

    Reply
    • Its all a perception thing. Their players believe that by playing locally, the national team coach will be able to evaluate them on a more consistent basis.

      Reply
    • It’s perception; they’re about equal. However, most managers outside of MLS don’t consider MLS a particularly good league so players would rather stick it out in their native league.

      Reply
      • MLS doesnt play copa libertadores

        its why theres a perception issue they dont see how our teams stack up against the likes of South american teams

        i believe were at the point where our teams can compete and not get embarrased.

        Untill MLS decides to make a go and try to get in this tournament your going to see this happen with players like valdez.

      • I’m convinced MLS teams would be able to hold their own in a tournament like the Copa Libertadores. We have improved in the CONCACAF Champions league to the point where we can handle lesser CONCACAF teams but we still cannot defeat the Mexican teams to win the title. In South America, the teams are even stronger than the Mexican clubs and the playing environments far more hostile. Winning our own regional championship consistently should be the biggest priority before moving up the ladder.

      • We can’t even get to the semis of our own regional tourney. Besides blind hope and fanaticism, why would anyone think we can compete in the 2nd toughest regional club competition in the world? Would I like to see it? Someday. But it’s going to take years before a) MLS teams are both stacked and competitive enough to not get completely embarrassed and b) the travel options to get up and down the Western Hemisphere make it feasible.Someday, when the travel logisitcs would allow a Boca Juniors / Vancourver Whitecaps 2 leg series, with league and Open Cup games in between.

      • Why is South America so hostile? Not just in soccer/futbol games but EVERYTHING. The top 30 high crime cities in the world have about half in Brazil. Time to grow up, Sud America.

      • Time to grow up? Next time you’re in East New York, for example, why don’t you make the same comment to locals and see what happens.

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