With DC United stymied on its attempts to secure a new stadium in Washington, D.C., attention is now being paid to the potential of a new stadium in Baltimore, as Mayor Sheila Dixon asks the Maryland Stadium Authority to explore the possibility of a new facility on the south side of the city.

A facility on the south side, of course, would provide easy access for D.C. residents wanting to follow their favorite team.

The issue is the same as that confronting other MLS cities: whether a $100-million stadium can be paid for by economic activity surrounding soccer. MLS draws better than minor-league baseball on a per-game basis, but MLS plays far fewer games than a baseball team -- and its facilities usually cost more than the average ballpark.