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Professional soccer team D.C. United is aiming to move to Prince George's County, and County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) says residents won't have to pay for the project.

D.C. United plans to build a $195 million, 24,000-seat soccer stadium in the Largo area, team owners and lawmakers announced last week.

State Sen. C. Anthony Muse (D-Dist 26) of Fort Washington and Del. Melony G. Griffith (D-Dist. 25) of Upper Marlboro have introduced legislation that would allow the team to use state and county bonds to build the stadium somewhere in Largo to replace its current home at the 49-year-old RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.

Officials said they hope to select an exact site by next month and begin using the facility by the start of the team's spring 2012 season.

"We have no other communications, no other processes going on," D.C. United owner Victor B. MacFarlane said at a news conference Monday with elected leaders. "We want to be in Prince George's County. We will be in Prince George's County."

The Major League Soccer team would contribute about 25 percent of the cost for the arena, with county and state bonds covering the remaining costs, estimated to be between $180 million and $195 million. Prince George's County is being asked to stake between $47 million and $51 million in bonds, while Maryland would borrow $83 million to $90 million.

County leaders said the bonds would be paid off by admission and amusement taxes generated at the facility, including about 20 home games, concerts and other events at the new venue.

"[The deal] is designed in such a way that it really doesn't cost the people of this county any money," Johnson said. "It does bring jobs and opportunity to this county."

Residents questioned the assurances, citing similar talk when FedEx Field in Largo was brought to the county for the Washington Redskins.

"Everyone was told that was going to bring jobs, going to bring money," said Judy Robinson, a Hyattsville resident who attended the conference wearing a "Books, Not Stadiums" nametag. "I don't believe Largo is going to be the winner."

Johnson's staff members were unable to say how much FedEx Field has generated in local taxes since games began there in 1997.

County officials have been courting D.C. United for more than a year, even as discussions continued between the team and Washington, D.C., officials. The deals began to play in Prince George's favor earlier this month when Poplar Point, a major development in southeast Washington that included plans for a new soccer stadium, fell through due to the economy.

Each leader emphasized that they expect the stadium to pay for itself.

"I want to be clear once again. We are not doing this at the expense of education or public safety," Muse said.

A study commissioned by the Maryland Stadium Authority last fall estimated a new stadium could bring in more than $65 million in revenue to the local economy and at least 1,000 new jobs.

It is unclear whether a new stadium will require additional roads and other infrastructure, which were not included in documents the team presented to legislators this week.

MacFarlane said the new facility will be a "green" building and will likely share space in a mixed development of shops, homes and offices, including those of the entire D.C. United corporation.

"This will be a home worthy of our aspirations, of our dreams," said the owner, who said he does not intend to drop the "D.C." from the team's name.

Since the 10 teams started playing professionally in 1996, Major League Soccer has had a mixed history. Though it has a loyal following, the sport hasn't achieved the widespread appeal of professional NFL or baseball in the U.S.

County leaders said they are certain that the league has a future and rejected questions about what would happen if the team or league folds. Since the league started, two expansion teams in Florida have shut down.

"If we worried about everything that happens tomorrow, we'd never do anything today," Johnson said. "We are building for the future of Prince George's County."

MacFarlane conceded that the state and county would be left to pay for the stadium bonds if the venue closes.

"I really don't believe there's much economic risk," said the owner, who called the possibility "a non-issue."

The relocation is the second interception of a Washington, D.C.-based professional sports team by Prince George's, who wooed the Redskins away from RFK in the late 1990s.

Some local residents gave their support of the project this week.

"I have no problem with it, assuming they can work out a financial arrangement that isn't a burden on the county and state to finance it," said Chuck Renninger, president of the Largo Civic Association. "As long as it isn't funded by taxpayer dollars, I think it will help bring folks into the community which will help some of the businesses and restaurants in the community, [specifically] the Boulevard at the [Capital] Center."

Staff Writer Liz Skalski contributed to this story.

E-mail Daniel Valentine at dvalentine@gazette.net