Plan To Move Capitals, Wizards To Virginia May Already Be On Hold
The owner of the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals has been long committed to significant improvements to the teams' shared home arena.
Initially, it seemed as though those improvements would come from renovations to Capital One Arena in Washington D.C., but after delays and disagreements with the city, those plans seemed to change. It became more obvious that Monumental Sports and Entertainment wanted to move on a few months later, when Chairman and CEO Ted Leonsis held a joint news conference with Governor Glenn Youngkin over moving both teams to a brand new development in Northern Virginia.
At the time, far left columnists said the potential move made them "uncomfortable" because Virginia has too many white people.
And while the plan isn't dead, it seems like it might be on hold for some time into the future thanks to a local legislator.
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 27: Exterior view of Capital One Arena before a college basketball game between the Georgetown Hoyas and the Connecticut Huskies at the Capital One Arena on February 27, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Northern Virginia Plan Put On Hold After Removal From Budget
On Wednesday, the state legislature removed potential funding for the massive new project from its compromise budget proposal, sparking criticism from Youngkin. "I believe that the Senate is about to make a colossal mistake," he said in a news conference ahead of the vote.
According to Youngkin, the project would have generated $12 billion in revenue and 30,000 new jobs, as well as being "a clear signal that opportunities to welcome new investment and jobs." He also lamented that the proposal "will not be evaluated on their merit, but instead will be viewed through the lens of partisan parochial interests."
The removal of language allowing for funding of the project is a clear setback toward getting a new arena and mixed use project completed. Youngkin and supporters expressed hope that the project wouldn't be entirely dead, but with both sides needing to explore new avenues, the time frame is now pushed back substantially.
D.C. had offered $500 million in public funding to fix the existing arena, but with crime skyrocketing in the nation's capital and one of the least friendly business environments in the country, moving to Virginia may have appeal beyond a new arena.
There's no indication of what exactly the next steps are for this project, but it's not an encouraging development for those hoping to see the Wizards and Capitals in a new facility.