Let’s breathe for a moment. Then let’s take a look at what we know so far and what could come from a potential arena move.
UPDATE at 7:33 p.m. ET: Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Monumental Sports & Entertainment CEO Ted Leonsis have a press conference tomorrow at 9 a.m. ET in Alexandria.
BUCKLE UP. THIS STORY MOVED FASTER THAN WE EXPECETED.
The original article is below.
Yesterday, The Washington Post reported that some representatives of a Virginia General Assembly committee (that’s the state legislature) have approved a plan that would include a new multipurpose arena meant to lure and move Monumental Sports & Entertainment’s Washington Wizards and Capitals to Alexandria as soon as 2027.
The news report made it sound like the Wizards and Capitals are likely moving out.
But here’s the thing: there are still multiple hoops to jump through first. And any such move is still years away. So in this piece, I will answer the questions around this the best I can.
Q: What happens next with the Virginia plan?
The Virginia General Assembly would have to debate a bill to authorize the plan, starting in the House of Delegates or Senate, then the other house. Both houses would need to pass it. Then, it goes to the Governor’s Office for his signature. If the Governor signs the bill, then it becomes a law. It also more-or-less becomes a formal offer to Monumental Sports.
Q: The Virginia General Assembly and the Governor are of different parties. Could that affect whether the plan passes?
Both the House of Delegates and Senate will have Democratic majorities next year while Governor Glenn Youngkin is a Republican. However, politicians in both parties have wanted to attract a major professional sports franchise for quite some time.
Virginia tried, but failed to attract several teams: the team now known as the Washington Commanders, the Washington Nationals and DC United. Even the Washington Spirit, the DMV’s NWSL team, relocated from Leesburg, a Loudoun County suburb 40 miles northwest of D.C. to the District in recent years. So, this plan could be a win for a state that has been losing time and time again on this front.
If there is a reason why the plan doesn’t pass, it may be because politicians from outside Northern Virginia may not want resources going to that part of the state. I’m not a politician, but I think this plan passes either way.
Q: Why would Monumental Sports move out of Capital One Arena?
The simple answer’s below.
To be more specific, Monumental Sports has complained of paying high leases to use the land at Capital One Arena. While they own the building, the land is leased, which is a peculiar arrangement. This led Leonsis to disclose that Capital One Arena’s land lease payment to the DC government was about $36 million annually in 2016. And that’s NOT including the mortgage payments.
Teams that simply lease a municipally-owned arena typically pay a lot less than that.
Why is 2027 the year when Monumental Sports could leave D.C.?
This is when Monumental Sports can pay off a municipal bond early to the D.C. government. According to the Washington Post, the D.C. government is owed $35 million in bonds which were funded to renovate the arena in 2007. If this bond is paid out early, Monumental can get out in 2027.
Otherwise, they are expected to stay at Capital One Arena until 2047.
Q: If the Wizards and Capitals move out of Capital One Arena, what happens to the arena?
Since Monumental Sports owns the arena (even though they don’t own the land), the arena could still hold concerts, Georgetown University men’s basketball, etc. and make money from that.
It’s also possible that Monumental Sports could sell the arena to the DC government or another private entity.
Q: What about the Mystics and Go-Go?
The Mystics play most of their games at the Entertainment and Sports Arena, so they generally aren’t affected by this. That said, the Mystics still play an annual kids game at Capital One Arena, so that game could be affected with an arena move.
The Go-Go play their games at ESA like the Mystics. Given that ESA is adjacent to the state-of-the-art MedStar Health Performance Center (the practice facility for Monumental Basketball), those two teams will be there for awhile barring a change of heart.
Q: Is there precedent for major professional teams moving to the suburbs in recent years?
Some precedent exists, but it’s not analogous to this possible movie.
The Atlanta Braves moved to Truist Park, in Cumberland, a suburb about 10 miles northwest of the city in 2017 after playing at Olympic Stadium/Ted Turner Field from 1997-2016. The move was partly because the team had disputes with Atlanta about redeveloping areas near Turner Field, among other things. Also, part of the move was because their season ticket base was more concentrated in the northwest suburbs, including Cobb County, the jurisdiction where Truist Field is.
Because Potomac Yard is very close to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (which is next to downtown) and is still very accessible for downtown residents, it isn’t a move that would alienate Maryland and downtown D.C. residents like a move to Ashburn in Loudoun County. If you aren’t a local, Ashburn is 30 miles northwest of D.C., next to Washington Dulles International Airport.
And for reference, the Wizards and Capitals used to play in Landover, Md. in Prince George’s County, an eastern suburb of Washington. That is not an ideal commute for any Northern Virginia resident.
Q: What happens to the MedStar Health Performance Center if the Wizards move?
See the question about the Mystics and Go-Go.
The Wizards would still practice there. It’s not THAT far away from Potomac Yard or Chinatown. Also, with the Mystics and Go-Go practicing and playing there, I’m sure they will continue to use it either way.
The location of the practice facility would also be an incentive to keep the Wizards AND Capitals close to Washington as it is. The Capitals’ practice facility is located in Arlington, Va. in the Ballston neighborhood.
If Virginia has a proposal to build new practice facilities for the Wizards and Capitals, then who knows what happens to them.
Q: Are there other suburbs in Virginia that could have a Wizards and Capitals arena?
It’s possible that Alexandria and Arlington County residents may complain about the teams moving to Potomac Yard. It should be noted that in the 1990s, Potomac Yard was considered to be the site for a new Washington NFL team stadium. However, resident protests and a lucrative offer from Prince George’s County, Md. ultimately ended it.
But I don’t see the teams moving that far away from Washington if they do at all. Of all the Virginia suburbs the Wizards and Capitals could play in, most of the land in nearby suburbs is already taken or planned for other projects.
And though I would find it very convenient to see the Wizards and Capitals play in Ashburn because I live in Loudoun County, I also know that’s not realistic for most of the DMV. The center of the season ticket holder base for both teams is well east of Dulles Airport.