Wizards and Caps could be moving to Potomac Yard

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Michael Wilbon speaks for probably 90% of Wizards fans

Good luck recovering that part of the fanbase, Ted.

And personally, I have been a season ticket Caps supporter since the last year of US Airways Arena/capital centre (I bought them because they were moving downtown) and will not renew. Most of the people who sit around me have also said they will not renew.

Sad day.

You'll forfeit something you enjoyed for decades because it moved....3 miles away?

Umm, OK, bro. Go ahead and cut your nose off to spite your face.

Poster is right. This Caps will not be attending games in PY. I tend to drive to games, and have had very few issues. PY is not remotely attractive.

You don’t think you’ll want to park in the underground garages they’ll build?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fcking Youngkin.

It must really burn to see him score a win in a bi-partisan fashion. It really goes against everything you’ve been hoping he’d be.

Too bad he can't win elections in his state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess some people need to learn the hard way. Are mayor and council getting the message now?

Doubt it.

When the federal and CRE leases expire, maybe. Remember, putting 5,000+ mentally ill, addicted or released convicts along the Connecticut and Wisconsin corridors in a short time has also impacted the Ward that is a significant piece of the tax base. DC acts like that is a given to continue, just like the teams staying to anchor Chinatown. When the proportion of residents shifts to those on permanent housing vouchers, with medical and SNAP and no requirements to become self supporting, that may be more of a wake up call. Maybe they can give them all free bikes to enjoy the bike lanes?

DC could be planning for the inevitable fiscal realities, shoring up relationships, pivoting, but, instead, double down on more of the same.

And for those who think it had nothing to do with crime for Leonis, search the WP and his name for 2023. Of course that was not going to be the focus today. He had a LOT to say. Now he's speaking with his feet. As will many residents. It was one thing to have crime and subpar services in the 90s, I did not have a family and DC was CHEAP. Now it's super expensive, full of corruption, and I can be forced to the floor and robbed at gunpoint at the Verizon store in Friendship Heights in broad daylight right before Christmas.

When you start to think about return on economic investment, including a real decline in DCPS, I don't think we are anywhere near the bottom yet. And without the guardrails put in place by the former Control Board to quash unaffordable pet projects like free bus fare (when few pay anyway!) the city would already be in MUCH worse shape. Read @dccrimefacts about the rampant mismanagement of city agencies, and read about the repeated failures of the 911 call center, over years. If grandma has a heart attack or Timmy is carjacked, will they answer? Even Mendelson has had issues calling. If they answer and send help, will it go to the right address or quadrant?

DC is in unmistakable decline on a host of key metrics and the leaders seem checked out at best. The Council does not even regularly appear at the Wilson building for work, for over $200k salaries. Some Zoom in for hearings while DRIVING. Muriel is trying to hustle her next up and out. We all need to look out for our own interests and those of our families. People in DC have WAY bigger problems than transit to PY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess some people need to learn the hard way. Are mayor and council getting the message now?

Doubt it. DC has been in decline for about five years now. Losing the Caps and the Wizards is just part of a continuum. Absolutely nothing will change with this mayor and this City Council.

Ultimately, the problem is crime. People don't want to go downtown - not to for work and not for leisure. People don't want to ride the metro. People don't want to go out to eat in DC. And lots of people don't want to take their kids to a game in Chinatown with all the junkies and criminals loitering in the neighborhood. Gallery Place is doomed. It was the arena after all that revitalized downtown to begin with. Without the Caps and the Wizards, it seems likely that downtown will revert to what it was during the crack era - bleak and dangerous.

Until we get a tough on crime city government, things are going to get worse and worse for DC. It's a shame. But this is what DC residents voted for. Progressives have wrecked San Francisco. They've wrecked Portland. And now they are wrecking DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You realize the state owns the real estate. Leonsos is gonna be our tenant.

Well, not yet. JBG owns the land and is selling it to the state who will lease it to Leonsos. Considering they will not disclose the sum, I assume the state overpaid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Awesome! I would finally go. People in this thread must all live in Maryland. Guess what, Virginia exists too!

VA residents have been attending Caps and Wizards games for decades. Sorry. The only people losing if the move were to happen will be MD residents.

Because it is in the middle of the region. Asking people from Gaithersberg or Columbia to maintain their season tickets to get to Potomac Yard 40+ night s year is a lot to ask.

The idea that MD based fans will keep attending Caps games at PY is absurd. Hockey is booming in the MD inner and outer burbs. The likelihood that we would attend a weekday game with our hockey playing children at PY is nil.

I'm a Caps fan living in MD and I'll go to Potomac Yard with my kids, one of whom plays hockey in MoCo.

You need to dial down the drama a few dozen notches.

Doubt it. 730 pm Wednesday night game. Not happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people here keep talking about an arena like it draws football or baseball crowds? We’re talking about crowds 1/3rd the size at best. This isn’t a traffic nightmare.

Rush hour traffic is already a pain. Caps games draw about 18,000 fans. Figure that translates to at least a couple thousand more cars coming through that area at peak rush hour for a 7 pm game. Just not very appealing for me - I'd much rather take the metro downtown.

NoVa traffic is horrible, from 495, 95S, Route 1, National Airport, etc. Driving to a weekday game at PY would be a nightmare.

Then don’t drive. Use mass transit. We have a Metro system that is the envy of the rest of the country.

Do you think driving to Capital One for an event is a fun and easy experience?

Of course it’s the envy of the country. You can ride for free! (Only one murder and one attempted rape this year, that I know of)

[Anonymous]

I have been voting Democrat for years now. But I believe this is a win for Governor Youngkin. I appreciate the politicians in Virginia for being pro-business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Threads on DCUM in which National Airport is discussed:

“My airport of choice! With its convenient Metro stop, I can be back home in the city in 20 minutes!”

This thread, discussing an arena directly to the south of National Airport:

“Nobody from DC or Maryland will want to go there! The Metro isn’t convenient for reaching this spot. Too many stops!”

Good one!

There are some hard truths about factors that lead to this that many in DC are still resisting. DC could not offer what VA did but they could have made Gallery Place a more attractive environment and prioritized valuing business relationships, if only for the tax revenue they help generate. DC once had a positive buzz and a feeling of positive momentum, that has shifted across the river now. DC thought it could coast and mismanage and squander funds and feds and Ward 3 were "stuck" here, like Leonsis. When federal and CRE leases expire DC is gonna continue to slide towards Detroit qol.

But hey, Muriel is bringig a water park!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Michael Wilbon speaks for probably 90% of Wizards fans

Good luck recovering that part of the fanbase, Ted.

And personally, I have been a season ticket Caps supporter since the last year of US Airways Arena/capital centre (I bought them because they were moving downtown) and will not renew. Most of the people who sit around me have also said they will not renew.

Sad day.

You'll forfeit something you enjoyed for decades because it moved....3 miles away?

Umm, OK, bro. Go ahead and cut your nose off to spite your face.

Poster is right. This Caps will not be attending games in PY. I tend to drive to games, and have had very few issues. PY is not remotely attractive.

You don’t think you’ll want to park in the underground garages they’ll build?

That’s assuming PP can get there through the clusterfck traffic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Awesome! I would finally go. People in this thread must all live in Maryland. Guess what, Virginia exists too!

VA residents have been attending Caps and Wizards games for decades. Sorry. The only people losing if the move were to happen will be MD residents.

Because it is in the middle of the region. Asking people from Gaithersberg or Columbia to maintain their season tickets to get to Potomac Yard 40+ night s year is a lot to ask.

The idea that MD based fans will keep attending Caps games at PY is absurd. Hockey is booming in the MD inner and outer burbs. The likelihood that we would attend a weekday game with our hockey playing children at PY is nil.

I'm a Caps fan living in MD and I'll go to Potomac Yard with my kids, one of whom plays hockey in MoCo.

You need to dial down the drama a few dozen notches.

Doubt it. 730 pm Wednesday night game. Not happening.

Tons of fans from Virginia used to drive to Landover to see hockey and basketball on weeknights. For every Maryland fan lost in this move they'll pick up more from Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You realize the state owns the real estate. Leonsos is gonna be our tenant.

Well, not yet. JBG owns the land and is selling it to the state who will lease it to Leonsos. Considering they will not disclose the sum, I assume the state overpaid.

VA is also pitching in hundreds of millions for infrastructure improvements and financing. We also know that the annual lease payment will be way less than the $30 million a year he currently pays DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people here keep talking about an arena like it draws football or baseball crowds? We’re talking about crowds 1/3rd the size at best. This isn’t a traffic nightmare.

Rush hour traffic is already a pain. Caps games draw about 18,000 fans. Figure that translates to at least a couple thousand more cars coming through that area at peak rush hour for a 7 pm game. Just not very appealing for me - I'd much rather take the metro downtown.

NoVa traffic is horrible, from 495, 95S, Route 1, National Airport, etc. Driving to a weekday game at PY would be a nightmare.

Then don’t drive. Use mass transit. We have a Metro system that is the envy of the rest of the country.

Do you think driving to Capital One for an event is a fun and easy experience?

Of course it’s the envy of the country. You can ride for free! (Only one murder and one attempted rape this year, that I know of)

Actually violent crime on metro is way higher than that. Not BART high, but heading that way.

Hoping one day DC gets pro-business rather than pro-criminal leadership. Lifelong D, in DC for 3 decades, bit envious of VA and their direction today. Was a bit like that under Fenty and post control board. Now, all slipping away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Awesome! I would finally go. People in this thread must all live in Maryland. Guess what, Virginia exists too!

VA residents have been attending Caps and Wizards games for decades. Sorry. The only people losing if the move were to happen will be MD residents.

Because it is in the middle of the region. Asking people from Gaithersberg or Columbia to maintain their season tickets to get to Potomac Yard 40+ night s year is a lot to ask.

The idea that MD based fans will keep attending Caps games at PY is absurd. Hockey is booming in the MD inner and outer burbs. The likelihood that we would attend a weekday game with our hockey playing children at PY is nil.

I'm a Caps fan living in MD and I'll go to Potomac Yard with my kids, one of whom plays hockey in MoCo.

You need to dial down the drama a few dozen notches.

Yeah isn't it not terrible because you could take the GW Parkway.

[Anonymous]

I'm going to laugh when bike is going to be the fastest way in and out on a gameday.