'Goodbye Meadowlands' with mixed emotions from a D.C. United fan

By Chris Hummer, Potomac Soccer Wire Editor

It hadn\'t really occurred to me until watching the latest edition of Access United - the weekly wrap up show produced by D.C. United - that DCU will never again play an MLS game inside that "Giant" stadium now that the Red Bulls have been eliminated from playoff contention.

That\'s a cause for some mixed emotions because United enjoys a winning record there, but certainly the facility itself is far from adequate for MLS soccer. With a temporary natural grass cover and full of fans, it\'s a great soccer venue with amazing memories for any fan, but a soccer-specific stadium, properly sized and outfitted for Major League Soccer it is not.

Next season, the New York, err New Jersey, err Metrostars, err Red Bull New York, err Red Bulls will move to their new home, an amazing facility called Red Bull Arena. From all indications, it will be the best soccer-specific stadium yet, at least from a design and style perspective, though the team playing inside needs a major reconstruction themselves. (Check out the web cam link for a minute by minute progress report http://www.redbullarena.us/)

Once there, if the home team can produce consistently strong soccer and become a regular playoff contender, they just might fill half the stadium after opening day next Spring. Add some not-over-the-hill big name star power from the Italian or Brazilian national team to that mix (and keep JPA) and they just might fill that crown jewel up a few times, but let\'s not get too ahead of ourselves (though I do hope interim coach Richie Williams keeps the top job).

OK, back to the Meadowlands and D.C. United... Just over halfway through In this edition of Access United [see below], there\'s a nice video montage of the memorable moments for the Black and Red in New Jersey. From the second of two Freddy Adu rookie goals there, to the 5-0 thrashing, the "Earnie Stewart was a mile offside" 2004 playoff goal; and who can forget the Ben Olsen show with Cristian Gomez in the stands with Barra Brava while serving a match suspension!

That\'s quite a list of memories, but as it turns out the last one ranks right up there, and I couldn\'t help but getting a little emotional while listening to the great Tony Limarzi radio call on Chris Pontius\' wonder goal back in April of this season.

After all these years, and all these memories, it\'s just icing on the cake for this United fan that the last 2 minutes ever played in that big blue concrete monster featured a 2-goal comeback to win the game over our biggest rivals. I\'m very happy to never see another MLS game in the Meadowlands, but will always miss our our home away from home, where no matter how cheap the experience, it was more likely than not the result would be three points to the good guys.