Wizards and Caps could be moving to Potomac Yard

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We all breathed a sign of relief when Dan Snyder left; now it's Ted Leonsis who is playing us for suckers.

Yeah, why do we have such terrible owners.

Lets be real. While Ted certainly has lost some of my respect with this PY nonsense, he is not Dan. Not even close.

This is a huge FU to DC and VA. Might even be worse than Snyder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Fairfax and have partial season tix to the Caps and Wiz and like that I can pay $15 to park ~ a block away and then be home in 35/40 minutes post game. Neither of those things are going to happen in PY so I will give up my tix and maybe go to a couple of games a year, well planned and on a weekend afternoon.

The idea that PY is better for VA residents is nuts. Agree 100%

+1

Better options for Cap One.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As to Metro coverage, if one or two stops on the green line is sufficient for Nats Park and Audi Field, why do people believe that PY would be insufficient to handle crowds. I have not traversed the pedestrian bridge and that is one obvious choke point. Are there others?

As to PY, I recall the National Park Sevice being very protective of the views from the GW Parkway to the point that, from WMATA's view, the station placement is suboptimal. From what I've seen, the proposed stadium would be even more triggering of NPS's design veto. Is my recollection correct here? If so, has there been any questionin of/reaction from NPS?

The architects could easily bury half of the arena underground so as not to upset Park Service staff.

And the Metroway BRT already runs past mostly vacant office buildings in Crystal and Pentagon Cities with plenty of underground parking.

There’s a solution to all these logistical problems

There will be solutions. But the question is will the solutions be tolerable for most people?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard Mayor Wilson speak last night, and he said part of the agreement was to seriously limit parking (<4k spaces total), and likely zone all streets for quite a distance to be residential only. Not saying I trust the mayor, but as a nearby resident, that is the only thing that could get me on board. No one wants your giant 3-row SUV clogging up traffic and parking.

That's what's being reported

https://www.alxnow.com/2023/12/14/alexandria-mayor-potomac-yard-arena-will-have-minimal-parking-but-metro-station-currently-inadequate/

If that's true, then this whole thing is just postering to get DC to pony up or it's doomed to be a massive white elephant that will bankrupt Alexandria. This arena only works if it can attract Virginians in large enough numbers to offset the loss of Maryland and DC fans, but that's not going to happen if you expect them to take metro. All of the financing numbers are based on taxes from the Arena and new developments paying off the bonds, but if attendance is essentially nothing thanks to a lack of parking, that won't happen and Alexandria will be stuck making up the shortfall

4K spaces should be plenty, people with 3 row SUVs are certainly hauling 5 or more people right? If not, time to bring slugging back!

What about the “30k new jobs”?

Have those promises EVER worked out?

There would be construction jobs for about 18 months.
And then you have the concession workers who are all part timers.

There won't be anything close to 30,000 FT jobs. Not even close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As to Metro coverage, if one or two stops on the green line is sufficient for Nats Park and Audi Field, why do people believe that PY would be insufficient to handle crowds. I have not traversed the pedestrian bridge and that is one obvious choke point. Are there others?

As to PY, I recall the National Park Sevice being very protective of the views from the GW Parkway to the point that, from WMATA's view, the station placement is suboptimal. From what I've seen, the proposed stadium would be even more triggering of NPS's design veto. Is my recollection correct here? If so, has there been any questionin of/reaction from NPS?

The architects could easily bury half of the arena underground so as not to upset Park Service staff.

And the Metroway BRT already runs past mostly vacant office buildings in Crystal and Pentagon Cities with plenty of underground parking.

There’s a solution to all these logistical problems

There will be solutions. But the question is will the solutions be tolerable for most people?

probably not. that is the problem with choosing a location that isn't really accessible

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard Mayor Wilson speak last night, and he said part of the agreement was to seriously limit parking (<4k spaces total), and likely zone all streets for quite a distance to be residential only. Not saying I trust the mayor, but as a nearby resident, that is the only thing that could get me on board. No one wants your giant 3-row SUV clogging up traffic and parking.

That's what's being reported

https://www.alxnow.com/2023/12/14/alexandria-mayor-potomac-yard-arena-will-have-minimal-parking-but-metro-station-currently-inadequate/

If that's true, then this whole thing is just postering to get DC to pony up or it's doomed to be a massive white elephant that will bankrupt Alexandria. This arena only works if it can attract Virginians in large enough numbers to offset the loss of Maryland and DC fans, but that's not going to happen if you expect them to take metro. All of the financing numbers are based on taxes from the Arena and new developments paying off the bonds, but if attendance is essentially nothing thanks to a lack of parking, that won't happen and Alexandria will be stuck making up the shortfall

4K spaces should be plenty, people with 3 row SUVs are certainly hauling 5 or more people right? If not, time to bring slugging back!

What about the “30k new jobs”?

Have those promises EVER worked out?

There would be construction jobs for about 18 months.
And then you have the concession workers who are all part timers.

There won't be anything close to 30,000 FT jobs. Not even close.

+1 The job expectations are not feasible.

[Anonymous]

This entire project still hinges on approval by the Virginia legislature. I'm not convinced this will sail through, especially if RoVA reps don't want the state to be on-the-hook for a big chunk of the debt.

If Bowser was smart (doubtful), she and the Federal Council would start a dark money ad campaign on radio and TV in VA Beach, Richmond, Roanoke, Blacksburg, etc to gin up opposition in the rest of VA to pay for "NoVA's boondoggle" arena using state-guaranteed debt.

All this deal proves is that Youngkin's true allegiance is to the McLean crowd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wilson: https://www.alxnow.com/2023/12/14/alexandria-mayor-potomac-yard-arena-will-have-minimal-parking-but-metro-station-currently-inadequate/

“The city’s interest in these early discussions has been in keeping the number of parking spaces on this site at a minimum because we do not want a lot of vehicles accessing this use,” Wilson said. “This is intended to be a transit arena, a transit operation, that’s why we invested in a Metro station.”


The toll should help along with the increase parking fees.
Wilson said the new Potomac Yard will have a “significant net reduction” in parking spaces at the site.

“The intent is to ensure that we do not have people beyond a small core accessing this by vehicle,” Wilson said. “We will continue to push to keep parking at a minimum.”

The fact remains is that the roads around PY are already highly saturated. For Wilson to have any support by city residents, he knows that this is a huge issue - probably the most important one. Widening Rt 1 is not an option. The only option is making sure public transit is strong. You gotta metro in, fans. Leave your Yukons at home.

Wilson is going to peace out of Alexandria in less than a year. He will have no oversight or responsibility for approvals that occur after that point.

Wilson lined his pockets with this deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This entire project still hinges on approval by the Virginia legislature. I'm not convinced this will sail through, especially if RoVA reps don't want the state to be on-the-hook for a big chunk of the debt.

If Bowser was smart (doubtful), she and the Federal Council would start a dark money ad campaign on radio and TV in VA Beach, Richmond, Roanoke, Blacksburg, etc to gin up opposition in the rest of VA to pay for "NoVA's boondoggle" arena using state-guaranteed debt.

All this deal proves is that Youngkin's true allegiance is to the McLean crowd.

His business buddies, not his constituents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Fairfax and have partial season tix to the Caps and Wiz and like that I can pay $15 to park ~ a block away and then be home in 35/40 minutes post game. Neither of those things are going to happen in PY so I will give up my tix and maybe go to a couple of games a year, well planned and on a weekend afternoon.

This is what I have been trying to say in this thread. Unless you live in the immediate area, you won;t be able to get to this site without an extra hour of travel time. It is a real loser for the fans, even fans in Norther Virginia.

Ted is assuming that fans' time is worthless. Which couldn't be further from the truth, especially for well-to-do season ticket holders. Say you're an attorney who lives in CCMD, have season tickets. You're looking at an additional 60-90 minutes in transport per game x 40 games.

What is that time worth to a law firm partner or a doctor? That's a huge amount of money, plus you're probably looking a big hike in season ticket rates to pay for the new arena.

Time is money, Ted.

And the idea that I would take a child to a special game on his or her birthday, along with his or her friends, on a weeknight is gone. Not happening, which might be a good thing for my bank account and their studies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This entire project still hinges on approval by the Virginia legislature. I'm not convinced this will sail through, especially if RoVA reps don't want the state to be on-the-hook for a big chunk of the debt.

If Bowser was smart (doubtful), she and the Federal Council would start a dark money ad campaign on radio and TV in VA Beach, Richmond, Roanoke, Blacksburg, etc to gin up opposition in the rest of VA to pay for "NoVA's boondoggle" arena using state-guaranteed debt.

All this deal proves is that Youngkin's true allegiance is to the McLean crowd.

His business buddies, not his constituents.

He’s so thirsty for a win after the VA GOP’s terrible performance last month and no window for him to run for POTUS. He’s probably using this deal to try to bolster a run for Senate. He needs something to appeal to the NoVA country club Republicans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

lol. never thought I’d see the day but indeed. Nimby power, activate!

What’s more interesting is to see the YIMBYs against this. I would be careful making this a standard YIMBY/NIMBY issue.

But it is kind of amazing to watch the ALX YIMBYs get frazzled when it happens in THEIR backyard.

Having a few more neighbors is different than thousands of new people clogging up your streets and parking spaces.

Yes, I get that. It’s amazing how your views change when a proposal impacts your home and neighborhood.

If it’s not your BY then YIMBY/NIMBY is irrelevant.

Nope, not true. YIMBYs frequently tell NIMBYs that they have no say over what happens in their backyard.

Also YIMBY means yes in my backyard. Meaning you are a YES for it happening in your backyard.

They are a yes for it happening in their own backyard.

Except they are not in this case. I watched several fairly prolific or self-professed YIMBYs either express skepticism or outright objections to this proposal.

In other words, they were YIMBYs until it happened in their backyard. And the defense is that this isn’t something they signed up for - except isn’t that always the case with NIMBYs?

So my broader point is that it’s easy to be a YIMBY when the proposal does not impact you. Most people are actually NIMBYs under the right circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC now is thinking about turning Capital One arena into a casino that will be larger than MGM National Harbor!

Casino ugh. The traditional last gasp of the economically desperate. Rental units and casinos. We're screwed.

Sweet Jesus, I hope not. A casino in the middle of DC, look at all the good having one in downtown Baltimore did. Just NO! You think that area is bad now, just wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Fairfax and have partial season tix to the Caps and Wiz and like that I can pay $15 to park ~ a block away and then be home in 35/40 minutes post game. Neither of those things are going to happen in PY so I will give up my tix and maybe go to a couple of games a year, well planned and on a weekend afternoon.

From the arena, you can take the bus rapid transit to car parks in Crystal City, Pentagon City, or Old Town.

Again, that is adding at least a half hour each way on a commute to the games as compared to Gallery Place. for most fans, it won't be worth the time. For many fans, it won't even be a viable option. I hope Ted assumes that everyone who lives in "Potomac Landing" and Del ray will be season ticket holders, because the existing fan bases won't put up with the additional hassle.

I live in upper NW and would gladly spend an extra 30 minutes in traffic rather than subject my family to what Chinatown has become.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This entire project still hinges on approval by the Virginia legislature. I'm not convinced this will sail through, especially if RoVA reps don't want the state to be on-the-hook for a big chunk of the debt.

If Bowser was smart (doubtful), she and the Federal Council would start a dark money ad campaign on radio and TV in VA Beach, Richmond, Roanoke, Blacksburg, etc to gin up opposition in the rest of VA to pay for "NoVA's boondoggle" arena using state-guaranteed debt.

All this deal proves is that Youngkin's true allegiance is to the McLean crowd.

Actually, if Bowser were smart, she would let Ted know that the offer for the $500M expires on 1/31/24 so he can either risk it with Virginia politics or make a commitment to the District, or end up with neither.