On Wednesday, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin reached an agreement in principle with Monumental Sports, the holding company that owns the Wizards (NBA) and the Capitals (NHL) for the move of the two franchises to Alexandria, located in northern Virginia, and south of Washington.
Pending a vote in the state legislature, this proposal focuses on the creation of a $2 billion real estate and economic project with the construction of a hall, a new Wizards training center , a performing arts center, a film studio or even new hotels, a shopping center and housing. The governor mentions the creation of 30,000 new jobs!
Only the Mystics would stay in Washington…
But Washington has not said its last word, and does not intend to lose its franchises. Muriel Bowser, the city's mayor, unveiled a counterproposal that she said has the unanimous support of the city council. This is an envelope of half a billion dollars dedicated to modernization from Capital One Arena.
“This proposal represents our best and final offer and is the next step in partnering with Monumental Sports to breathe new life and vibrancy into the neighborhood and keep the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals where they belong – in Washington, D.C.,” said Muriel Bowser.
What does Ted Leonsis, the boss of the two franchises, think? Present Wednesday alongside the governor of Virginia, he confided that he had “chills” at the idea of joining Alexandria, and that a possible renovation of the Capital One Arena would be useful for… the Mystics, the WNBA franchise of which he is also the owner.
