VBSA is currently drawing up the RFP for the architectural and design services, and hopes to have it available within a week or two. Architectural design firms will have about three weeks to reply, and the stadium authority plans to award the contract sometime around June 1. "We are operating under the assumption that we are going to get a team," VBSA communications director Brian Hannigan tells GlobeSt.com. "We need to be ready, but we don't anticipate any announcements before the end of the season; possibly by September or October, or even later." And the VBSA is indeed ready. State officials have already approved the means for funding a stadium. "The financing plan has been endorsed by the General Assembly and would call for public-private ownership," Hannigan explains. "The team owners would contribute about one-third of the cost." The $300 million quote is based upon a "ballpark" figure used in the mid-90s by a subcommittee of the state General Assembly.

The costs, of course, cannot be pinned down until certain decisions are made, such as the size of the park, the location, and the design. Hannigan says the stadium will likely occupy about 20 acres, but that figure will vary depending on whether the cite is in a suburban or urban location. "Some preliminary work has already been done in this area," he notes. "We have a variety of cities that are under consideration in urban and suburban areas in Arlington County, Fairfax County and Loudoun County." In addition to funding, one important design decision has been made, as well. The stadium will be an open-air stadium. "Given the realities of our [springtime] climate and the aesthetics, the open-air model is more fan-friendly and its is the best model," Hannigan says. Fortunately, it is also the more cost-effective design when compared to umbrella-roof stadiums and fully enclosed designs. The authority has also brought on board Mike Duckett--who participated in the creation of the Milwaukee Brewers' Miller Park--as a consultant to assist VBSA in putting contracts in place and keeping the project moving ahead in an efficient manner. In the event that the stadium is not ready in time for a new team, the District's RFK Stadium will be secured as a temporary playing facility.