D.C. United To Nix Loudoun As Site of New Stadium: Media Reports

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The revival of a land deal, announced Monday between D.C. United and officials in the District of Columbia, likely means that the professional soccer team will drop its plans to move to Loudoun County, according to media reports.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the team plan to finalize the deal to build a 20,000-seat stadium on a site at Buzzard Point in Southwest D.C., several blocks from Nationals Park. The city reportedly plans to invest $150 million to acquire land for the new stadium and provide tax breaks, and the team plans to spend about $150 million to build the stadium.

The D.C. Council approved the plan last year, but the city ran into obstacles in acquiring the land for the project, according to WRC-TV Channel 4.

The delay gave an opening for Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe to pitch sites in Loudoun for a new stadium, the Washington Post reported last week. D.C. United officials toured the sites and met with Virginia and county officials about a stadium deal.

However, Channel 4 quoted sources Monday who said D.C. United officials have agreed to not consider the Loudoun sites while the city moves to acquire the final piece of land needed for the new stadium at Buzzard Point.

The District would use its eminent domain powers to acquire the land, according to media reports.

D.C. United, part of Major League Soccer (MLS), currently plays in the District at aging RFK Stadium, which opened in 1961.