| The Cap Centre (I REFUSE to call it the US Airways Arena) was demolished yesterday at 8:02 A.M. to make way for a new shopping center. What a sad end to an arena that holds some great memories for me. I saw my first concert (Billy Joel, 1989) and my first NHL game (Caps vs. Rangers?) there. I’m not a big NBA fan, but there are many that also know it as the home of the Bullets (the Wizards is the worst name ever!). I think most of all I’ll miss not having to drive all the way into DC for a concert or a Caps game, although Beltway traffic is its own challenge. There are a lot of people mourning the loss of the Cap Centre, and I join them.
Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium met the same sad fate in January of this year, although initially there were plans to simply transform the stadium itself into a shopping area. However, in this case the structure was apparently unsound and it was decided to demolish it altogether, although for a time the famous Memorial Stadium facade remained. I remember flying back from New York last year and while flying over was shocked to see that they were in the midst of destroying the stadium. Memorial Stadium holds some precious memories for me; I saw my first Orioles game there back in the ‘70s (against the California [NOT Anaheim] Angels), the first of many. I have to admit that Camden Yards is a much nicer stadium, but that doesn’t diminish the great childhood memories I have of Memorial Stadium. I’ve never seen any NFL game at any stadium :-(, but the legacy of the Colts (and Ravens) goes without saying. I understand the need for (sub)urban revitalization, but I wish there was a way to do so without simply knocking down such icons of culture without any thought to preserving their legacy. At the very least I hope the Memorial Stadium facade is transplanted somewhere as a monument to Baltimore sports. I know I’d visit… |
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