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WASHINGTON -- D.C. United and city officials signed an agreement Thursday that would keep the Major League Soccer franchise in the District of Columbia with a new, $300 million soccer-only stadium. The city and the team would split the cost of the stadium, which is tentatively scheduled to open in 2016 in an industrial section of southwest Washington known as Buzzard Point. D.C. United, which has played in aging RFK Stadium since MLS launch in 1996, had considered relocating to suburban Maryland, Virginia or even Baltimore. But co-owner Jason Levien said Thursday that hes been negotiating to keep the team in the district since he bought the club last year. The design for the new stadium has not been finalized, but officials said Thursday it would seat 20,000 to 25,000 people. The city will pay $150 million to acquire the land for the stadium and improve infrastructure, raising money for the deal through a complicated series of land swaps, while the team will spend $150 million to build the structure. "This is a landmark day for D.C. United," Levien said. Mayor Vincent Gray said RFK "was never suited well for soccer" and has "become a real anachronism." D.C. United won three of the first four MLS Cups but has fallen on hard times in recent years. The team sits at the bottom of MLS Eastern Conference at 2-14-4 record, having scored just nine goals in its 20 games. Levien and United coach Ben Olsen said they believed the new stadium would improve the product on the field. Of the 19 MLS clubs, 15 play in soccer-specific stadiums, and San Jose is scheduled to open a new stadium next year. Levien said those with new facilities have seen increases in attendance and improved play. "D.C. United from the get-go was at the forefront of MLS," Levien said. "Thats where we need to return it." Said Olsen: "Its going to drive our culture and our fans and our team to new heights. Theres going to be a pep in everyones step in the locker room." The deal requires the approval of the D.C. Council, which engaged in a protracted fight over using public funds to build Nationals Park, which is less than a mile away. The baseball stadium ended up costing the city nearly $700 million. Five of the 13 councilmembers attended Thursdays announcement and said they supported the deal. Councilmember Jack Evans said the city would get good value out of the swap, under which developer John Akridge would receive the rights to redevelop the city-owned Reeves Center office building in the fast-growing 14th Street, Northwest, corridor, in exchange for his land at the stadium site. The city plans to build a new Reeves Center in southeast Washington. "This is not controversial like the baseball stadium," Evans said. "This is a pretty straightforward deal. Its good for the city." The other parcels on the site are owned by the utility Pepco, which has a large power plant nearby, and investor Mark Ein, who attended Thursdays announcement along with Pepco representatives. Terms of those swaps have not been finalized. According to the agreement, the city has until Jan. 1 to obtain the land and get approval from the council and, if necessary, from Congress; if the city doesnt meet the deadline, D.C. United can back out of the deal. And while officials said they want the stadium to open in time for the 2016 season, the agreement only calls for the stadium to be ready by Jan. 1, 2017. In addition to the power plant, the site is bordered by the Armys Fort McNair and the Anacostia River, making it largely cut off from the rest of the city. The nearest Metro stop is about a 15-minute walk away. City officials said infrastructure improvements, including a possible streetcar stop, would make it more accessible. The move would leave RFK Stadium, the 52-year-old former home of the Washington Redskins and the Nationals, without a full-time tenant. There are no firm plans to redevelop that site once D.C. United leaves.Air Max 270 Cheap Australia . Sgt. Eric ONeal says most of the arrests at Monday nights game were for public drunkenness, though one person was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to steal a seat from the stadium. Nike Air Max Tn Australia . Speaking Thursday on TSN 1050 Thursday, the Leafs GM also touched on the questions surrounding the teams leadership and the struggles of his big-name free-agent signing. “Its not from lack of effort from the coaching staff. http://www.outletairmaxaustralia.com/air-max-thea-buy-australia.html . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Air Max 720 Sale Australia . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League. Air Max 200 Australia . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries.Paul Heckingbottom has been recognised for steering Barnsley back into play-off contention after being nominated for the Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month for March.The Tykes boss, who was also nominated in February, is in his second spell as caretaker boss and has earned his players trust and respect, as shown by the 13 points won from six games in March, including four clean sheets.He is joined in the nominations by Rochdales Keith Hill, Colchester boss Kevin Keen and Walsalls Jon Whitney. Hill oversaw four straight wins for his side in March, including derby successes over Bury and Oldham Athletic, to lift Rochdale back into the promotion picture.Keens Colchester remain in the bottom four of the division, but a win at promotion-chasing Bradford City and a draw against Wigan Athletic underpinned a month which saw 10 points gained from six games. Rochdale boss Keith Hill is also in the running for the award Whitney was only in charge of Walsall for three games in March following the departure of Sean ODriscoll and carries the title of performance coach-turned-interim head coach, but his impact on the promotion hopefuls was immediate - three wins over Chesterfield, Fleetwood and Colchester to restore the confidence.The Player of the Month nominations include Nathan Clarke of Bradford, Burtons Mark Duffy, Wigan striker Will Grigg and Shrewsbury midfielder Sullay Kaikai.ddddddddddddInitially signed as cover, centre-back Clarke has provided invaluable experience at the heart of Citys defence. He helped coax a number of partners in central defence to three clean sheets in his six games and he had an impact in attack too, with two assists in the month.Winger Duffy was a constant threat to opposing defences and he supplemented his superb delivery from the flanks with two fine goals against Fleetwood and another in the 4-0 win at Port Vale. Wigan Athletics Will Grigg is up for the Player of the Month prize Meanwhile, poacher Grigg helped Wigan spearhead their title push with four goals in six games, including a dramatic late equaliser in the 3-3 draw at Colchester United.Kaikais huge impact at Shrewsbury has also been recognised. The midfielder scored five goals in five games after re-joining on loan from Crystal Palace, one as a second-half substitute, to help Shrewsburys climb out of the bottom four.League One Manager of the Month nominees: Paul Heckingbottom, Keith Hill, Kevin Keen and Jon Whitney.League One Player of the Month nominees: Nathan Clarke, Mark Duffy, Will Grigg and Sullay Kaikai.Also See:League One videoFixturesTableLive on SkyGet Sky Sports ' ' '