Maryland Governor Wes Moore joined BMitch & Finlay on Tuesday and, as you might expect, was hopeful that the Commanders’ new stadium would remain in Maryland, specifically Prince George’s County, which is where FedEx Field is in Landover – and said he’d put what his state can offer against any offer from Virginia or the District proper.
Grant & Danny played some cuts from that interview on Wednesday, and wondered if the Commanders building a new stadium near FedEx Field, with all the bars and restaurants and bells and whistles everyone wants, is actually feasible, logical…or desirable?
“That’s the big question, and I think it’s a non-starter – and I’ve caught some flack on that,” Danny said. “That’s brand association that’s prohibitive, even if the deal is the best and give you the most – you just can’t go back there, because of all the years of failure and toxicity. Dan Snyder didn’t put there, but we will always associate it with the Snyder era.”
Transportation is a big issue, as Danny mentioned it’s a mile from the closest Metro station for anyone not wanting to drive…even though that may be a big part of the fan base?
“This is the very edge of where most of your fans are geographically, as far to the east as your concentration of fans happens to be. They need to move it closer to their concentration of fans; this is a northern Virginia team as much as it is anything else these days, and I think it has to be closer to them.
At a certain point, you have to cater to a different audience. I know people on Maryland will hate to hear that, but you’ve had 25 years to go to a stadium in your back yard; somebody else deserves a chance, and maybe we can make some memories together.”
One of cuts Grant played was about how Maryland would try to develop an infrastructure of entertainment, a ‘destination spot’ of restaurants and hotels and retail, but as we’ve seen before, the best laid plans…
“That was the plan for FedEx Field, but it became the stadium and nothing else, and is now one of two NFL stadiums that doesn’t have a place to eat or drink within a mile of the stadium,” Grant said. “You just can’t have a stadium today and not have all the fun places around the stadium to hang out – but as we’ve seen, that’s often easier said than done. I don’t think when they built FedEx Field, anyone said we weren’t going to build it and they will come.”
“Businesses don’t do stuff for free,” Danny fired back. “Things have popped up and gone away because of that – the way the stadium is designed, and where the parking is, there’s a reason for that.”
Grant understood the point Gov. Moore was making, but thinks the comparison to what the Nats did with Nationals Park in the Navy Yard neighborhood isn’t apt for a stadium with a dozen or so games for its main tenant.
“It’s just dormant right now, and Tailgate Ted can pull in the parking lot, eat his breakfast sandwich and look at the stadium with nothing going on around him,” Grant said. “I don’t know how many companies are excited and hoping that’s the spot to build there, where I think you’d have that at the RFK site or even out in Loudoun County.”
They then played the cut of Gov. Moore talking about how ‘huge’ it is for the state to be talking to ownership right away, and how the fans want to see an engaged group ‘that believes in the community and the fans’ – and how lucky he is to have the Commanders and Ravens in the same state.
Grant then referenced a frequent caller who called out shenanigans on that right away, because it’s been 25 years of promises and no action; Danny understands the Governor’s motivation, but he couldn’t help but agree with Chris in Maryland.
“That’s a fair question, but from a newly-elected official’s perspective, this neighborhood we’re sitting in right now is such a boon,” Danny said. “This neighborhood was a salt pile, a car wash and a McDonald’s – and now it’s a hub. You know what that means? Tax revenue. The people in the apartment buildings here are kicking in a lot of revenue to the city’s coffers. When you take something that is not and turn it into something that is, you’re the super genius, and there’s your stamp. That’s the way the world works, so I understand the Governor’s motivation, but Chris’ point stands – we’ve tried this for two-and-a-half decades, there’s too much negative associated with it, so they gotta go.”
Listen to the entire exchange above!
Follow Grant & Danny on Twitter: @granthpaulsen & @funnydanny
Keep up with 106.7 The Fan via:
Audacy App | Online Stream | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
