Evening star., 1944-11-03
Drive Launched
For Big Stadium
Postwar Project
Weeks S Campaign
Planned to Enlist
Support of Residents

An ambitious program was under
way today to enlist the support of
all residents of the Capital in con-
nection with the building of a large
national stadium as one of the Dis
trict's foremost postwar projects.
Plans for an intensive campaign
during the week of November 13 to
18 were discussed at meeting in
the Statler Hotel yesterday among
persons interested in the stadium
development. The conference was
arranged by Floyd D. Akers of the
Washington Board of Trade, which
has assumed leadership in foster
ing the project.
The week, which, probably will be
designated as build the stadium
week." will culminate in a rally to
be held in the Interdepartmental
Auditorium on Constitution avenue
between Twelfth and Fourteenth
streets NV, on the night of No.
vember Is. Several thousand per-
sons are expected to attend the
meeting, which will be free and
open to the general public.
Army and Navy leaders, planning
officials and figures prominent. in
the sports world will be invited to
address the meeting.
Tentative Plans.
Under present tentative plans, a
stadium large enough to accommo-
date about 100000 spectators is
contemplated as the principal fea-
ture OF the recreation area planned
for the foot of East Capitol street
along the Anacostia River. All of
the land for this area-about $50
acres-already is owned by the
Federal Government and is steadily
being acquired by the District gov
ernment through tax assessments.
The Armory, largest roofed-in area
in the world, already has been con-
structed on this site.
A stadium of sufficient size, 1t
was pointed out, would attract to
the Nations Capital not only ath-
letic features but such events as
world and Nationwide religious
rallies, patriotic meetings, veterans
drill competitions, All Club gather
ings, Boy Scout jamborees and ex-
hibitions of every conceivable kind
requiring considerable space and
calculated to draw large crowds.
Among the sports events which
have been mentioned for such a
stadium are contests like the Army
Navy football game and other foot
ball games between nationally i'm
portant teams, the annual All-Star
baseball game, championship box
ing matches and even the Olympic
games when this international ri
valry is revived after the war.
Plans call for the drive to make
the District stadium conscious to
be carried on through the press and
radio and through the use of post
ers and speakers. Every civic, re-
liglous, business and patriotic or
ganization in the city will be asked
to back the drive.
Capitol Hill Backing Seen.
Funds for the project, it is hoped,
will be provided by Congress. Sup
port on Capitol Hill already has
appeared in certain quarters, and
it was recalled that, before the war
legislation was prepared and intro
duced on several occasions to au-
thorize the erection of a national
stadium.
Proponents of the project point
out that the outlay of capital for
the construction of the stadium and
for development of the general
recreation area will be counterbal-
anced after the center is in opera
ton through the payment of fees
for the use of the stadium.
The need for a large stadium.
suitable for general use, was recog-
nized here nearly 20 years ago, and
since that time various efforts have
been made by interested groups to
bring the project to completion.
Chief obstacle was lack of funds.
For a time it was hoped money for
the stadium could be obtained
through the Public Works Agency,
but no appropriations ever were
earmarked for the development.
supporters this time are deter
mined that the stadium shall oc-
cupy a prominent place among the
Districts major postwar develop
roonfc