Baltimore, D.C. United discuss pro soccer teams, new stadium
Major League Soccer's D.C. United is working to bring a professional team and a youth academy to Baltimore, with a planned multi-team soccer campus.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and D.C. United CEO Jason Levien announced plans to support a professional women's soccer team, a minor league men's team, and a youth academy in Charm City.
This all centers around the construction of a 7,500-seat stadium in Baltimore that would cost about $200 million. NBA legend and Baltimore native, Carmelo Anthony, would be one of the owners of the project.
"D.C. United is betting on Baltimore, and what bet is better than to bet on Baltimore?" Scott said. "We look forward to welcoming everyone to make sure professional soccer has a home here in Baltimore."
The women's team would compete in the USL Super League and the men would compete in the MLS Next Pro.
Levien said this soccer project in Baltimore has been discussed for years. Baltimore doesn't have a professional outdoor soccer team. The Baltimore Blast is a professional indoor team that plays its home games in Towson.
"Baltimore is a big part of the growth of soccer," Levien said. "We have a great, rich tradition, and there are a lot of kids we want to expose to this sport."
Where would the complex be?
According to the Baltimore Banner, Maryland lawmakers introduced a bill that would give $217 millions in state bonds to fund a stadium at the Carroll Park Golf Course in southwest Baltimore.
Gov. Wes Moore's spokesperson told the Banner that the governor is excited about D.C. United's interest in bringing soccer teams to Baltimore.
"Our office is monitoring the legislation that has been introduced, and look forward to learning more about potential revenue sources for the proposed soccer stadium," Moore's spokesperson wrote to the Banner.
"One of the reasons we love the Carroll Park site is the campus feel," Levien said. "It's over 80 acres, so we're going to put an academy, a 40,000-square-foot building that's going to have classrooms, a weight room, locker rooms, a cafeteria, all of that on the site."
MLS match in Baltimore in March
Baltimore will get a professional soccer introduction in March when international superstar Lionel Messi and his Miami CF squad play a regular-season match against D.C. United at M&T Bank Stadium.
The Major League Soccer (MLS) match will be played at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, D.C. United announced. Mayor Scott is calling this day, "Bmore United Day."
On March 4, D.C. United will hold a community event for children at Baltimore's Boys and Girls Club.
"We are a sports town, we are a soccer town, and Baltimore is a city that knows how to rise together," Mayor Scott said. "We are proud to welcome D.C. United and professional soccer to Baltimore next month."
Messi is a soccer sensation from Argentina, and is widely known as one of the world's greatest soccer players of all time. He has netted more than 890 goals and 400 assists between his club squads and the Argentina National Team.
Messi led Argentina to a gold medal in the 2008 Olympics, and the World Cup title in 2022.
Recent soccer match in Maryland
In 2024, English Premier League soccer teams Crystal Palace and the Wolverhampton Wanderers played a match at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. Crystal Palace won the match, 3-1.
Crystal Palace held training at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, attended an Orioles game and had a meet-and-greet with fans in Baltimore.
