KC Stadium Capacity Going Down Again?

Mike from the always solid KC Wizards blog Down the Byline has some interesting and upsetting news about the new Wizards stadium capacity possibly being lowered yet again.

Why is it upsetting? Well if you’re a Wizards fan it has to be troubling to hear the stadium has gone from 20,000 when the first stadium site was considered to 19,000, to 18,500, to 18,000 and now down to possibly 16,500. (Big thing to keep in mind that number may not include stadium suites and the document that is linked on Down the Byline no longer works so we are taking this at his word now.)

In a way the number that is being tossed around here today isn’t all that terrible though. Even though it is upsetting to hear their capacity keeps lowering one has to wonder if the club really needs a 18-20,000 seat stadium anyways. Its not like they’ve exactly set the league on fire in terms of attendance in years past (though the argument there could be due to the two venues they’ve played in as well). But it does have to be upsetting to be promised a number and then it not be reached.

The question now becomes is 16,500 too small for a MLS club? Honestly it is but at this point beggars can’t be choosers huh? I’m curious to see if the number goes back up once the suites are included (if they weren’t already). I think if they can find a way to get the number back to at least 17,000-17,500 they’ll be fine and won’t face too much backlash for a “smaller” venue.

So what do you think? Will it be troubling if the capacity ends up being that 16,500 figure? Is that too small for a MLS club right now?