Photo by Shamigo

When news came down last month that D.C. United was planning on moving to Prince George’s County, we expressed both sadness that the team would depart the city, but also relief that at least it’s not us on the line for another new stadium during a recession. Now it seems that county officials are having some second thoughts.

The Post is reporting that team officials and the Maryland Stadium Authority are now asking that the county kick in at least $47 million towards the construction of the 24,000-seat stadium, which is estimated to ring in at $180 to $195 million. Of that amount, the team would cover 25 percent and the state and county would sell bonds to cover the remainder, which would be repaid with ticket revenue.

Predictably, some county officials who were once excited about the plan have become a little more reluctant to fork over that kind of dough. Maryland is facing an additional $515 million shortfall on top of a $2 billion gap that was recently closed through spending cuts, while the county is shedding jobs and forcing employees to take unpaid vacations to cover a $132 million budget gap.

It doesn’t help that stadium opponents can point to D.C.’s new baseball stadium as an example of how costs can easily far exceeded original estimates (the final tab has been calculated at $693 million, up from $611 million). Stadium boosters will argue that the bonds will be repaid from ticket sales and development. But as with any project of this sort, rosy estimations hinge on tickets actually being sold and development actually happening. With shortfalls on either, county and state officials may well end up paying for the stadium out of pocket — and potentially getting thrown out of office as a consequence.

The Maryland House of Delegates is set to debate the stadium funding on March 17, and some county officials have asked for an internal audit of the project before moving forward. Should either of the two balk, D.C. United officials could be faced with tougher questions than they’re facing now.