They are vocal in their support at games, chanting, “D.C. United!” And D.C. United’s fans have proven equally vocal online in support of a new home for Washington’s Major League Soccer franchise.
Team officials said Wednesday more than 2,000 residents of D.C. have sent some 27,000 emails to Mayor Vincent Gray and members of the D.C. Council in support of a $300 million plan for a new D.C. United stadium at Buzzard Point, along with associated development projects.
The emails were generated by Unite D.C., a website set up by the team to lobby for approval of the stadium deal. The emails draw comparisons to the benefits the city gained in the Gallery Place neighborhood when Verizon Center was built there.
Supporters have felt the need to press for the stadium deal— which calls for D.C. to make a land swap and perform infrastructure updates worth $150 million, while the team spends another $150 million to build the stadium — since public sentiment appears to be running against it. A recent Washington Post survey found a majority of residents oppose the deal.
If the deal goes through, the stadium is scheduled to be completed by 2016.
