Not getting any younger
Eventually we get to the part where the Redskins played football in RFK for decades. Then left. Curly R's special series on the history of RFK Stadium concludes.
Part One: Faded Glory
Part Two: Government Intervention
Part Three: Football and Race
Part Four: A Complex Relationship
Part Five: Ernie Davis, Bobby Mitchell and Ron Hatcher
Part Six: Palace Intrigue
Part Seven: The Stadium Becomes Legend
Part Eight: Coda
References
=====
Responding to requests for specific RFK memories, many polled for this article did not even cite football games. RFK Stadium held other sporting matches, including spring training baseball and international soccer. Dozens of big names played concerts in RFK, including the Beatles, the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, the Allman Brothers, Aerosmith, Yes, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, U2 and The Who, among others.
Today, RFK is in bad shape. The concrete is crumbling, ceilings are sagging and the stadium's only regular tenant, Major League Soccer's DC United, is complaining. One day soon, DC United will be in their own soccer-only stadium, leaving RFK empty once again.
And then what will happen to RFK? Well probably nothing in the near term. After spending six hundred and ten million dollars on a municipal stadium for the Washington Nationals baseball team, there is not much appetite in the District for a new stadium built on spec, with no guaranteed tenant.
Redskins fans wonder why the team cannot simply move back to that site. FedEx Field is old before its time and rumors have persisted for years that while Prince George's County in Maryland is trying to negotiate back the land rights to the stadium site, the District is also negotiating to get the team back right on the RFK Stadium site.
Why can't it happen? Politics. Logistics.
The Redskins have an agreement with Prince George's County to stay in the county until at least 2027, another sixteen years. Both parties, of course, could agree to nullify that contract. Meanwhile, over in the District, Dan Snyder is far too shrewd to agree to any stadium deal that does not involve him owning everything from the dirt up. That means the federal government, which owns the entire stadium site, would have to transfer the land to the District, which would then have to sell it to Dan. Of course these transactions would come with years of haggling, posturing and environmental studies.
The adjacent campus of the defunct DC General Hospital has been in development limbo for a decade, with plans for a riverwalk-style mixed use community drifting aimlessly. No enterprise redevelopment of RFK and the surrounding parcels would be permitted without attached development requirements for this area, similar to what Verizon Center did for Chinatown and what Nationals Stadium is trying to do for the Navy Yard. Who would pay for what and what guarantees could be extracted for community development add to the complexity of any possible deals.
What do Redskins fans really want? What they already had, what they miss: RFK Stadium.
They want Dan Snyder, the famous deal maker, to get it done, to tear down RFK and rebuild it as a modern stadium: Bigger, with the same shape and allure and all the amenities of modern stadiums. Redskins fans want to see that icon back on the horizon from Interstate 295, coming down East Capitol Street, coming off Metro. Redskins fans will accede to Dan Snyder's demands for luxury suites and all the necessities of making money in the modern NFL, as long as they get their beloved RFK back. Call it Son of RFK.
In the end, all Redskins fans have is memories, sometimes hazy ones, and the oral tradition of RFK Stadium to pass down to the next generation.
In our dreams, we all sit under a giant Budweiser clock.
This concludes Curly R's special series on the history of RFK Stadium, I hope you have enjoyed it. Tomorrow we will publish our list of references used for this series.
RFK Stadium: Dudley Brooks / Washington Post photo from here via here.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Political Venue: The History of RFK Stadium, Part Eight
Posted by Ben Folsom at 8:30 PM hype it up! digg this!
Labels: Redskins History, Stadium
Subscribe to:
68 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Son of RFK would have to be a lot bigger than the original. (80k or so versus 58k for Skins games at RFK). The NFL has changed quite a bit these last few decades.
Zubair_Khan
said...
Thanks for share, we offer sport wear in very cheap prices with wide range of designs,styles and colors.
Amanda
said...
That's incredible prices.. can i have that one? Amanda Vanderpool
Clipping Path Service
said...
I'm appreciate your writing skill. Please keep on working hard. Thanks for sharing.
Nooh
said...
Nooh
said...
That's exactly what I'm looking for, great info and helped me in my research Washington Redskins History. Waiting for more content about redskins.
Nooh
said...
totosafeguide
said...
I should say only that its awesome! The blog is informational and always produce amazing things. Feel free to visit my website; 먹튀검증가이드
casinositelink
said...
Hello there, You have done a fantastic job. I’ll certainly digg it and individually recommend to my friends. I am sure they will be benefited from this website. Feel free to visit my website; 카지노사이트링크
sportstototopcom
said...
Thanks for sharing such great knowledge with us. Looking for some more information from your blog. 토토
pachinkosite.info
said...
I was seeking this particular info for a long time. Thank you and best of luck. 파칭코
slotmachine777.site
said...
I am regular visitor, how are you everybody? This paragraph posted at this website is genuinely fastidious. 슬롯머신사이트
casinosite777.info
said...
Simply desire to say your article is as amazing. The clearness on your post is simply spectacular and that i could assume you are a professional on this subject.
바카라사이트
baccaratsite.top
said...
it’s awesome and I found this one informative
온라인카지노
baccaratsite.biz
said...
Nice blog. Keep up the good work!
카지노사이트
sportstotohot.com
said...
Very informative blog, This blog is very easy to understand when compared to other blogs.
토토
racesite.pro
said...
Thanks for the post. I’ll definitely comeback. 경마
reelgame.site
said...
Great site. A lot of helpful info here. 파친코사이트
roulettesitetop
said...
I have been looking for articles on these topics for a long time. I don't know how grateful you are for posting on this topic. 카지노사이트
casinositetop.com
said...
I enjoy reading all of your post. I wanted to write a little comment to support you. 카지노사이트탑
casinositehot.com
said...
Thanks in support of sharing such a nice opinion, piece of writing is good, thats why i have read it fully. 바카라사이트
badugisitenet
said...
This post provides clear idea in favor of the new people of blogging, that really how to do blogging and site-building. 바둑이게임
Reem
said...
Awesome Blog....
Learn how to wash pillows and keep them fresh longer and sleep in a cloud with best mattress in a box. Also check out the latest bedroom products at puffy shop.
메이저사이트
said...
Thank you for this wonderful post! It has long been extremely helpful. 메이저사이트I wish that you will carry on posting your knowledge with us.
long sleeve tie dye shirt
said...
My daughter is three years old. Is it okay if I bring her to the game and let her sit on my lap?
Is it safe for her?
Excel Keto Gummies
said...
I feel that we can predetermine that. I was able to get started tonight. You might think that I'm a loose cannon. I have been convinced that these Weight Loss questions are irrelevant. I know this has been a long winded essay. Without considering this, we'll move on to Weight Loss. Where else can learners stumble upon champion Dietary Supplements sessions? The mavens in this video do a good job explaining Weight Loss.
https://www.nutraket.com/excel-keto-gummies/
https://www.nutraket.com/lets-keto-gummies/
https://www.nutraket.com/rejuvenate-cbd-gummies/
https://www.offerplox.com/weight-loss/lets-keto-gummies/
https://www.offerplox.com/weight-loss/keto-extreme-fat-burner/
https://www.claimhealthy.com/lifetime-keto-gummies/
https://www.claimhealthy.com/sweet-relief-cbd-gummies/
https://usanewsindependent.com/2023/01/animale-male-enhancement-animal-cbd-gummies-for-men-reviews-2023/
casinositeone.JDS
said...
Thanks for sharing this article this content is very significant for me I really appreciate you.
casinosite777top.JDS
said...
Thanks for sharing your information!
casinositeguidecom.JDS
said...
Your article is valuable for me and for others.
safetotositepro.JDS
said...
Thanks for sharing your this great work of yours.
gostopsite
said...
thank you for giving such useful information that is often difficult to come by. Good job.
totosafesite
said...
Very good article, I enjoyed reading your post
gwolf
said...
thanks for sharing this beautiful blog
bacarasite
said...
truly appreciate this post. I’ve been looking everywhere for this!
sportstoto365
said...
It’s very nice. Congratulations.
casinositerank
said...
Thank you for a great article.
먹튀검증
said...
I was actually captured with the piece of resources you have got here.
안전놀이터
said...
Big thumbs up for making such wonderful blog page!
바카라
said...
Your favorite justification seemed to be at the net the easiest factor to keep in mind of.
토토
said...
Very efficiently written information.
스포츠토토
said...
It will be valuable to everyone who utilizes it, as well as yours truly.
simple recipes
said...
Please share more such amazing posts and useful info.
like me
said...
Mission accomplished. It's clean dude
safetotosite
said...
This post is quite informative. I love reading your blogs. Quite helpful.
casinositenet
said...
It’s exceptionally useful and you are clearly extremely proficient around there
casinositekim
said...
That’s a brilliant story you posted. I will come back to read some more.
mttotosite
said...
It is perfect time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy
sportstoto365
said...
I enjoyed browsing this weblog posts. Hoping you write again very soon!
cmriindia
said...
Please keep us up to data like this. Thanks for sharing and Keep on writing.
파워볼실시간
said...
Hello very nice article!! Excellent & Wonderful. I’ll bookmark this website.
토토사이트 순위
said...
I am interested in this area Great site that know some community forums. Good job!
메이저 토토사이트
said...
I liked your writing so much that I bookmarked it. Your writing skills are really good.
온라인카지노사이트
said...
Greetings! Your blog is very interesting! Please check my website I have a recommendation for you.
온라인 슬롯
said...
After all I will be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again very soon!
슬롯사이트
said...
Your ideas inspired me Thank you very much.
gostopsite.com
said...
I'm looking for a lot of data on this topic.
sportstotomen.com
said...
Please visit my site for more complete articles with him!
19guide03.com
said...
Simple but very accurate info? Thank you for sharing this one.
slotplayground.com
said...
information you present. Wonderful read!
edwardsrailcar.com
said...
I’ll bookmark your blog and check again here frequently.
cmriindia.org
said...
I’m not seeing very good results.
바카라사이트 추천
said...
This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger.
사설 토토사이트
said...
Thank you, I will try and check back more frequently.
파워볼사이트 추천
said...
I am unable to read articles online very often, but I’m glad I did today.
Anonymous
said...
شركة تنظيف مكيفات بالخرج شركة حور كلين شركة تنظيف وغسيل جميع أجهزة التكييف المختلفة، حيث توفر لكم الشركة أفضل خدمات تنظيف وغسيل وتعقيم وتطهير جميع أجهزة التكييف بالخرج.
Anonymous
said...
تتميز كلين الرياض افضل شركة تنظيف اثاث بالرياض بقدرتها الفائقة على تلبية جميع الاحتياجات والتوقعات، مما جعلها الشركة الأولى في مجال تنظيف الأثاث في الرياض والأحياء المجاورة.
Anonymous
said...
افضل شركة تنظيف منازل بالدمام عمالة فلبينية لضمان بيئة منزلية نظيفة ومرتبة، توفر شركة متخصصة بالدمام خدمات تنظيف شاملة بفضل فريقها من العمالة الفلبينية الماهرة.
Anonymous
said...
شركة تسليك مجاري بالاحساء هي افضل شركة تسليك مجاري، حيث تقدم لعملائها الكرام العديد من الخدمات المميزة مع الأسعار الرخيصة التي تناسب جميع الفئات.
Post a Comment