Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-29
Witnesses Split
On Stadium's
Size and Site
q Locations Urged;
Seoting Proposals
Runqe to 100000

NO"SS " bVVIVVV
About 20 Washington business
government and sports figures
differed sharply yesterday on tn,
best size and location for the
Capitals proposed new sports
stadium.
At a Capitol Hill meeting
called by the site subcommittee
of the newly-activated National
Stadium Commission, proposals
on size ranged from $4,000 to
100000 seating capacities. -Four
specific locations got top at
tention.
The subcommittee members
Senator Case, Republican Of
South Dakota. Representative
Landlord, Democrat of Mary
land and Fred a Smith, Wash
tngton busineSSman-Said that
while they concentrated on sites,
two other commission subcom-
mittees were working on plans
and financing possibilities.
No decisions of even a tenta-
tive nature on a specific site
were sought yesterday.
Site Possibilities
But some of the participants
made it plain they have strong
views. while debating the rela-
tive merits of these four site
possibilities:
The National Training School
for Boys on Bladensburg road
NE, soon to be vacated by the
Justice Department.
A tract just across East Capt.
tol street from the District Ma
tional Guard Armory, for which
a plan was displayed by the Ma
tional Capital Planning Commits
sion.
An eight-acre tract in the
Zeckendorf redevelopment area
in Southwest Washington, ear
marked for some type of public
or semi-public use.
The possibility of expanding
the present eight-acre Griffith
Stadium property. to provide for
stadium reconstruction and
parking. This would require land
condemnation by the Govern
ment, proposed as part of a slum
clearance and urban renewal
project.
Backs Training School
Douglas S. Brinkley, District
Highway Department chief plan
ner. led support for the training
school site, contending that
nothing in Washington could
compare with it in space and
access to major new Superhigh-
ways.
He showed a detailed plan of
how an 80.000-seat stadium
might look on that site, with |
parking spaces, access roads and
railroad spurs marked.
George Preston Marshall, own
er of the Washington Redskins,
and Calvin r. Griffith, president
Of the Washington Senators,
showed a marked Discrimination
toward the training school site.
preferring one closer to the CEN
ter of town.
Asks $4,000 Limit
Mr.. Marshall, who did the bulk
Of the talking, especially at
tackled proposals to build any
stadium with more than $4,000
seats here.
He said Washington would
have no practical need for any
thing larger. He stated that it
was physically impossible" to
design a stadium so that more
than about 10000 people could
see what's going on, anyway.
Mr.. Marshall said he liked
both the Southwest tract and
the one near the Armory, but
indicated his preference for ex-
panding the present Griffith
plant. He said the
neighborhood surrounding the
ball park contains "disgraceful
slums" which ought to be cleared
away.
An area adequate to handle
the expansion and parking room
for about 5000 cars, he said.
could be handled in the section
between Florida avenue. Georgia
avenue, Fourth and w streets
NV
Suggests Bond Issue
Mr.. Marshall said a reason
ably sized" stadium project could
be financed by a bond issue"
And, he added, there would be
SUFFICIENT revenues from the pro-
fessional football and baseball
teams, plus college teams and
concessions, to guarantee a re-
turn on the bonds"
Phillip M. Talbot. Board Of
Trade president, stressed his
group has taken no stand on a
location, but said his personal
feeling has been that a large
stadium-of about 100000 capac-
ity-should be considered.
Max Rosenbloom, active in the
Olympic Games and other anna
teur sports events, also urged a
large stadium which would
match those in the capitals OF
other nations.
Milo Christensen. of the Dis
trict Recreation Department. and
Harry Boswell. Maryland builder
supported Mr.. Brinkley's argu.
ments for the training school
tract. Both stressed the advan-
tage of high-speed access roads.
which they said no downtown
location could match.