Soccer site proposed in Baltimore, new Talon incoming?, and more: Friday Freedom Kicks
Happy Friday the 13th, everyone!! As a Washington Spirit fan, I just hope this day of bad luck doesn’t bring us any more shocking news.
I’m not expecting no news today, though. Primarily, are we getting a new Talon?
And let us not forget the other holidays this weekend. Loudoun United has not, with their homepage seemingly locked this morning to an announcement of a Valentine’s Day giveaway. All you soccer lovers have a chance to win (I assume. If you can figure out how to get past the pop-up) a one night stay at the Holiday Inn Dulles and a $75 gift card to Buffalo Wing Factory. How romantic.
DC United announces updates on Baltimore initiatives, including new stadium (The DP)
With DC Power’s involvement in this announcement, I was hoping to learn that they were exploring a move to Baltimore as part of this plan. Sadly, that seems not to be the case, though Baltimore may be getting a women’s team of some sort.
D.C. United pushing for pro soccer teams, state-backed stadium at Carroll Park (The Baltimore Banner)
Some more on the plan to bring soccer to Baltimore, including some resident resistance to the proposed site.
The Banner announces coverage of Washington sports (The Baltimore Banner)
Some more on The Banner: they will begin covering some Washington sports, in the wake of The Washington Post dropping coverage. Sadly, soccer doesn’t seem to be included… yet.
As MLS Begins Year 4 On Apple TV, Here’s What’s New In 2026 (Forbes)
Who’s excited about the WALMART SATURDAY SHOWDOWN!! Just kidding. I think eliminating the separate paywall for MLS vs. Apple TV is a very good thing. It also sounds like they’re going to make it easier to show games in bars and restaurants.
Minnesota women’s soccer team takes strong stance against ICE: ‘It’s very real and very scary’ (The Athletic $)
Minnesota Aurora continues to be very cool. The supporter owned team has taken a stand against ICE actions in their city.
“We still have an engagement with Morocco to host 2026 WAFCON”- CAF president Patrice Motsepe (3 News)
There’s been some confusion about who will host this year’s WAFCON, with some reports that Morocco was pulling out. The tournament begins in just over three weeks.
Finally, your schedule of events for this weekend. We still have just one game for our local teams, although that will change when MLS starts back up next weekend.
| Teams | When | Where | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC Power FC vs. Tampa Bay Sun | Sat., Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. | Tampa, FL | Peacock |
I dropped my WaPo subscription back in January and have been meaning to subscribe to the Banner for awhile. When I finally do, I will include a note to please cover DC soccer.
I have a year-long subscription to the Post. When it comes up for renewal, I’ll be ending it. Killing the sports section was the last straw (among many).
I didn’t realize till the coverage of them cutting the Metro section as well that Bernstein and Woodward were just Metro section writers when they started on the absurdity of the Watergate break in.
Bezos saying it’s no longer necessary is not a coincidence
The only useful/interesting part of WaPo these days is The Capital Weather Gang.
Peanuts and Garfield…..Doonsbery….
Well, I also have a lot of respect for David Ignatius. He has very deep resources in the IC and foreign policy arenas.
Dropping the double paywall on Apple TV is a smart move.
It’s long overdue, really. And the wild thing to me is that with them combining it with regular AppleTV, the price you pay to see MLS now actually GOES DOWN.
Yeah, I had it (MLS) in my STH package, but I already had Apple TV+. Now it is essentially “free” from my point of view. They had to do something to increase exposure. FWIW, I do enjoy a decent chunk of the programming on Apple TV+, if that helps folks dip their tow in the water.
I’m excited that by having MLS Season Pass, I can finally watch Ted Lasso, which I’ve heard so much about.
You’ll love it. So good.
I think Apple has a chance to grow the MLS viewing base.
It would be great if they marketed, but I don’t think we can underestimate the stumble upon element of these streaming platforms. After a midday binge of Severance or Pluribus or whatever, maybe some of these homebound millennials and Zers find it and say “why not?”
And maybe that gets some of them to consider an MLS stadium on those weekend days that people who don’t get out often are restless.
Ah the sounds of take offs and landings and chicken wings in my favorite flavor…, sounds like a perfect Saturday night. /s
How many wings and beers and, I assume, Chocolate Molten Lava Cake can one get for $75, though?!?
Having accessed Loudoun’s website on mobile, I see that the Valentine’s Day contest is closed. I apologize for getting everyone’s hopes up about the possibility of wings by the airport.
*Cue Shaq eating hot wings image*
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Matt Doyle’s preseason power rankings put DCU near the bottom. Improvement in spots but not enough.
We’re rightfully above SKC. I do think he’s over-rating TFC and Montreal a bit in their current states. Maybe also STL. So, we could easily be a couple of spots higher
But a couple of spots higher is still 26? 27? out of 30. Its interesting to get an outside perspective. Also, its still preseason. Let’s see some games!
Optimism! Enthusiasm!
Vamos United!
I think Toronto is heading towards mid-table. On talent alone, I struggle to see how St. Louis or Montreal could be considered better than we are. I don’t know if he’ll finally be right about RSL this year (his comrades appeared to agree with him, but they’re always scrappy and get points).
The annual Pacific Four Series (round robin tournament for Womens 15s between Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the US) is set to be played completely in the US except for Australia vs New Zeland this year. Sacramento, Kansas City, and Chicago have been selected as the host cities for 3 weekends of games in April.
https://eagles.rugby/news/usa-to-host-2026-pacific-four-series-2026211
Hayes Gardner has always seemed like a decent journalist, but I can’t resist sharing this one gem at the close of his Baltimore Banner piece on the DC United stadium:
Narrowly missed out? What evidence, what metric are we using there?
Seriously though, I did predict here that there would be resistance in the local community to taking away the Carroll Park Golf course. The Swann Park site mentioned by one of the critics is an interesting option. Nowhere near downtown or any transit, but…otherwise interesting. It’s an industrial location, and it had to undergo serious remediation for the ball fields to be usable again, but very accessible from 95, and the waterfront location would surely have some appeal.
When the Stadium Authority did a preliminary study last year, they looked at Carroll Park, and a site on the Baltimore Peninsula that was not Swann Park. They looked at a site to the east of Hanover St (Swann Park is west of Hanover, between Hanover and hte harbor/river). There appears to be a building on that site, but probably not a big price to buy — seems to an “Advanced TRT Clinic.” Older dudes with lagging testosterone levels might miss it, but worth sacrificing. Still, for some reason, the Stadium Authority focused on that site rather than nearby Swann Park.
All the aforementioned Parks or sites are quite convenient to I-95. Swann Park has the waterview (water taxis anybody?). But also there is an obvious gem in that same area: Under Armor Stadium. Why not lease that and get DC NextPro going, regardless of when and where this stadium goes….?
(all courtesy of Google Maps, aerial view)
yeah, I’ve made that argument before.
The main hurdle I see there is that Under Armour is not an MLS sponsor.