From ballpark to soccer pitch

[AreliusII]

RFK undergoes first transformations during two-sport season

04/05/2005

By JOSEPH WHITE / Associated Press


The pitcher's mound, weighing nearly 10 tons, disappeared into the ground about an hour after Sunday's exhibition game between the Washington Nationals and the New York Mets, signaling the start of the Great Changeover.

A few minutes later, a man was lifted into the basket of a frontloader so he could start disassembling the outfield fence.

By Monday, the infield dirt was gone and 35 sections of stands had been moved along a set of rails in the outfield. By Tuesday, there were still kinks to work out. The Nationals' batting tunnel, for instance, suddenly needs a new roof because of a miscalculation.

In a unique setup to placate both Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer, crews are working furiously to convert RFK Stadium from a ballpark to a soccer pitch so D.C. United can play home games Wednesday and Saturday. Next week, they'll have to change the field back for the Nationals' home opener April 14.

Back and forth. Back and forth. About 20 changeovers will have to happen this season, costing an estimated $40,000 for each one-way conversion. The checklists include some three dozen tasks. The biggest concern is the baseball infield, which has been dug up and replaced with trays of sod for soccer. Lowering the mound was the easy part because it sits on a newly installed electric jack.

How will the footing be? Will 15-year-old phenom Freddy Adu be in danger of tearing a leg muscle on a wayward patch of turf? No one will know for sure until Wednesday's 7:30 p.m. kickoff between United and Pumas UNAM of Mexico in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.

"Once we step on the field and see that it's really a good field and we're not going to get hurt, we're going to be fine," United forward Jaime Moreno said. "Until then, we're going to have a little bit of doubt."

The Nationals are just as antsy. The field looked good and felt good Sunday, but players pointed out that they will have to relearn the feel of the infield — how ground balls will bounce or hop — each time the dirt is replaced.

"This is not done by any other baseball team, and I am real hopeful that this works for all the parties," Nationals president Tony Tavares said. "There's tons of concerns. You've got to cut up turf. You've got to dig up the rail. You've got to put turf over the infield. Those things are concerning, and they haven't been done before, at least not on a regular basis."

Also, the schedule will be tight on several of the changeovers. Last fall, planners spoke of needing 72 hours to convert the field, but later this month they'll have to do it in less than 48 hours. United host New England at 7:30 p.m. April 23, followed by a Nationals game against Philadelphia at 7:05 p.m. April 25.

City officials are working on shortening the changeover timetable, especially once they have the routine down pat. If necessary, crews will work around the clock to get the job done.

The biggest snag the first time around has been the Nationals' new batting tunnel, which sits below ground level near the clubhouse. The roof got in the way when the stands were being moved, so the whole tunnel is being lowered a few inches.

Also, officials were still trying to figure out late Tuesday how to shoehorn the desired soccer field dimensions into the stadium's new configuration.

"We knew it wasn't going to be perfect, that we were going to have to make do with certain things," United president Kevin Payne said. "We're reasonably satisfied."

The elaborate changeover plans are the result of the city's determination not to treat United as a second-tier team now that baseball has come to town. The soccer team has won four MLS titles with the support of a loyal fan base and has been RFK's primary tenant since the Redskins left after the 1996 season. The Nationals will get a new ballpark in 2008, but there are preliminary plans to build United a new stadium as well.

"These are two important sports to our city," D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission Chairman Mark Tuohey said. "We've got to live together for the next three years, and we want to make sure it's a happy situation."

[Czar Jake]

DC United needs a SSS badly. At $40,000 per switch I bet that DC will start to treat United as a second-tier team after a while. DC needs a SSS second only to Metro. Speaking of which, does anyone know how much RSL has to pay to play at RES?

[mckid]

It's a travesty. The pitch at RFK used to be one of the best, if not the best, surface in the country.

All for a punch of juicers to play with sticks and run around in cirlces.

[Czar Jake]

It is a shame indeed, but I love baseball too. To me it would be a greater shame if the Revs came in and started ripping up Fenway. DC United needs a permanent home anyway.

[Scilaci]

A permanent home is best. Who would ever (besides this season... 🙁 ) go see the Jazz play at the Marriot Center in Provo or the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake? I'm sure there would be lots of fans but it wouldn't be the same thing. I mean, you are watching the Jazz but you have Utah Utes signs everywhere and you have their conference championship banners and retired numbers, etc.

In order to have an authentic team culture, the team needs to be located in a team specific stadium/arena. I think that is one, if any, thing that holds back MLS.

How great would it be to tell your friends that you are going to see ReAL play at 'The Castle' or 'The Palace' or 'The RSL Soccer Stadium' or whatever they decide to name the place. Much better. I'm excited to have a dedicated stadium here in Utah (wherever in SL Valley it ends up).