Wizards and Caps could be moving to Potomac Yard

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the deal's likely dead... Virginia Senate axed the funding for moving them to Potomac Yard.

https://northernvirginiamag.com/culture/news/2024/03/08/funding-for-proposed-alexandria-stadium-not-in-state-budget/

For this to move forward, Leonsis will have to find somewhere other than the Commonwealth of Virginia to get the money.

Hope so. But I saw something about Glenn calling a special session to get this done?? Virginia’s bond rating seems to making the billionaire boys mouths water.

Nothing like using other people’s money to line your pockets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, will the RFK site that DC has been authorized to develop be large enough for Leonsis to achieve what he wanted in PY?

I don't understand DC wasting tons of $$$s attracting the Commanders and only 8 home games per year.

While it is, the traffic/access issues for that area are relatively the same as PY in terms of metro access. Certainly the road access for cars is better. I could see a workable solution there, but it would require a significant upgrade and expansion of the streetcar system as well.

The outerloop over Wilson Bridge is a parking lot during rush hour. Ted has already said the majority of Caps season ticket holders live in Virginia. National Harbor would be even worse than potomac yards

To be clear, the largest percentage is in virginia, but it doesn't constitute a majority

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the deal's likely dead... Virginia Senate axed the funding for moving them to Potomac Yard.

https://northernvirginiamag.com/culture/news/2024/03/08/funding-for-proposed-alexandria-stadium-not-in-state-budget/

For this to move forward, Leonsis will have to find somewhere other than the Commonwealth of Virginia to get the money.

Hope so. But I saw something about Glenn calling a special session to get this done?? Virginia’s bond rating seems to making the billionaire boys mouths water.

Nothing like using other people’s money to line your pockets.

They can call a special session, but there has to be something on the table for the Senate to approve it. In the meantime, more people in the Alexandria/Del Ray areas are continuing their press against this.

[Anonymous]

Proposal to "tax the crap out of users" and other things revealed in texts - https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/northern-virginia/insider-alexandria-texts-discuss-arena-plan-to-tax-the-crap-out-of-users/3562145/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Proposal to "tax the crap out of users" and other things revealed in texts - https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/northern-virginia/insider-alexandria-texts-discuss-arena-plan-to-tax-the-crap-out-of-users/3562145/

I don't actually think this part, in and of itself, is such a bad idea: You SHOULD "tax the crap out of users" for something like this if you're not going to make the team's owners pay for it. The problem was going to be that the taxes wouldn't have paid for the costs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Proposal to "tax the crap out of users" and other things revealed in texts - https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/northern-virginia/insider-alexandria-texts-discuss-arena-plan-to-tax-the-crap-out-of-users/3562145/

Mayor Justin Wilson wrote that. He is just absolutely awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They definitely should not move the Caps/Wizards to the RFK site — for one, that doesn't help D.C.'s problem caused by the arena downtown suddenly losing its main tenants, and for another, the transportation logistics by RFK aren't much better than they are at Potomac Yards.

Disagree. At least on the driving side, RFK would be better. Multiple roads away from the stadium.

[Anonymous]

RFK will be the redskins spot

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They definitely should not move the Caps/Wizards to the RFK site — for one, that doesn't help D.C.'s problem caused by the arena downtown suddenly losing its main tenants, and for another, the transportation logistics by RFK aren't much better than they are at Potomac Yards.

I guess my only point is perhaps that site is large enough to include new arenas and practice facilities in one location. Of course, the compromise would be to move the Commanders to RFK and build practice facilities for Wizards/Caps as well. Keep the game arena where it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Potomac Yards was a terrible location transportation-wise. I just hope that DC's politicians appreciate that they have dodged a bullet, don't get cocky about retaining Monumental, and listen to Monumental's legitimate complaints about out of control crime in DC. Both Monumental and DC need to come to a reasonable deal now, as they both need each other.

Nah, Leonisis showed he is treacherous, looking to bail, and is in total “bleed the asset” mode.

The District should put the screws to him to the maximum extent possible.

[Anonymous]

So, is this deal dead or "fake" dead?

I posted way back on page 1 or 2 of this 144 page thread that I thought the original announcement seemed awfully shaky and I was shouted down that "It's a done deal!".

I am therefore skeptical that it is truly dead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They definitely should not move the Caps/Wizards to the RFK site — for one, that doesn't help D.C.'s problem caused by the arena downtown suddenly losing its main tenants, and for another, the transportation logistics by RFK aren't much better than they are at Potomac Yards.

I guess my only point is perhaps that site is large enough to include new arenas and practice facilities in one location. Of course, the compromise would be to move the Commanders to RFK and build practice facilities for Wizards/Caps as well. Keep the game arena where it is.

The city already spent 83 million dollars just a few years ago for a Wizards practice facility. They don't need a new one. The Caps have a pretty new practice facility in Ballston. I suppose if they wanted one in the city, they could partner with the city and build a multi-sheet complex at Ft Dupont, where the original one was located back in the 1970's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, is this deal dead or "fake" dead?

I posted way back on page 1 or 2 of this 144 page thread that I thought the original announcement seemed awfully shaky and I was shouted down that "It's a done deal!".

I am therefore skeptical that it is truly dead.

Me too. I'm also wondering about the stated urgency on closing the deal. I thought it was somehow tied to the Target lease in Potomac Yard, and needed to be decided quickly so Target could decide what to do? This feels like something that could still happen next session if all parties are still willing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ted has a dilemma.

He seems to be doubling down on Virginia without doing the work with the legiislators, you know the people who actually write and pass the bills, and frankly at this point I don't know what he or Youngkin can offer, given the amount of support those who opposed this deal have been receiving.

DC has reiterated its $500M offer as of yesterday. So he has a bird in the hand.

Either way, he will have A LOT of work to do with the fans, many of whom, he has poisoned against himself, his son and Monumental in general.

His best option is to sell the teams to someone who actually cares about the teams, the fans and the region, but that isn't going to happen. His next best option is to come back to DC with hat in hand.

What he will do is try to force this through, further alienating people on both sides of the river.

Local opposition is coalescing too. Even if he gets the state level approval, Alexandria could vert well say no. I'm surprised Bowser hasn't revised the $500 million downward

The 500 should be off the table. She should propose a methadone clinic and low income housing all around the arena.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, is this deal dead or "fake" dead?

I posted way back on page 1 or 2 of this 144 page thread that I thought the original announcement seemed awfully shaky and I was shouted down that "It's a done deal!".

I am therefore skeptical that it is truly dead.

Me too. I'm also wondering about the stated urgency on closing the deal. I thought it was somehow tied to the Target lease in Potomac Yard, and needed to be decided quickly so Target could decide what to do? This feels like something that could still happen next session if all parties are still willing.

I think it was due to the remaining time Youngkin had in office. He cannot serve a consecutive term so he’s out Jan 2026.