Monumental Sports, the Ted Leonsis-led company that owns the Wizards, has formally announced a plan to move the team from D.C. to Alexandria, Virginia. The NHL’s Washington Capitals, which are also controlled by Monumental Sports, would be part of the move too.
Virginia state lawmakers voted on Monday to move forward with a proposal to build a new arena and “entertainment district” in Alexandria’s Potomac Yard neighborhood, according to a report from The Washington Post. The plan still requires approval from the full General Assembly and local officials.
According to today’s announcement, the goal is to have the arena completed and the Wizards and Capitals moved in for 2028.
“We are committed to providing world-class fan experiences while continuously evolving our teams, deepening community ties, and solidifying our role as leaders at the forefront of sports and technology,” Leonsis said in a statement. “The opportunity to expand to this 70-acre site in Virginia, neighboring industry-leading innovators, and a great academic partner, would enable us to further our creativity and achieve next-generation, leading work – all while keeping our fans and the community at the forefront of everything we do.”
Monumental Sports’ announcement and the Washington Post’s reporting indicates that the Virginia plan will be a public-private partnership, with money coming from both Leonsis and local taxpayers.
As Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN notes, Washington, D.C. city officials have been making an effort to keep the Wizards in the downtown Capital One Arena, where the Wizards and Capitals have played since 1997. Leonsis has been seeking $600MM in public funds to renovate the arena; on Monday, mayor Muriel Bowser announced a new bill offering Monumental Sports $500MM in financing for that project.
“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 to keep the Washington Wizards and the Washington Capitals where they belong — in Washington, DC,” Bowser said, per Wojnarowski.
However, it sounds like that bill may be in vain, as Leonsis’ priority now is to move forward with the new entertainment district in Alexandria. The proposed complex would feature a new arena, a practice facility for the Wizards, Monumental Sports & Entertainment’s corporate headquarters, a media studio for Monumental Sports Network, a performing arts venue, and an expanded esports facility.
Assuming the Virginia plan proceeds without any snags, Leonsis’ goal is to update Capital One Arena to be a flexible arena that could host between 10,000 and 20,000 people and would continue to host concerts, sports, and other events — it would also become the home arena for the WNBA’s Washington Mystics.
As Wojnarowski writes, Leonsis’ teams have the ability to exit their lease with Capital One Arena in 2027. The Alexandria plan calls for a Virginia stadium authority to own the proposed complex and lease it to Monumental Sports & Entertainment, according to The Washington Post’s report, which says Monumental would have a lease in excess of 30 years.
Virginia Wizards?
Alexandria Wizards sounds kind of neat.
Wizards of Alexandria
Change them to the Commonwealth Bullets.
Something I did not realize until I pulled up Google Maps: Alexandria is only a twenty minute drive from Washington DC. I doubt they change the names.
They gonna be the ICP of the NBA?
“Claimin’ Detroit, when y’all live twenty miles away”
The Los Angeles Angels… of Anaheim.
You can still see the DC cityscape to include the Capitol building and Washington monument from the proposed Virginia site. The Washington name will still be relevant…
Alexandria is 20 minute drive in no traffic, but that area is congested all the time! This move will k my make traffic worse. Absolutely horrible for all Maryland based fans (like myself)
Considered the past decade of TV series, Virginia is most known outside of the US as something different I’d be up for calling the relocated team the walking dead wizards
Can’t wait, the metro stop will be right at the arena and I’d much rather go to Alexandria than DC
Do you think that is a widespread feeling? Because if the fan base is behind it this then this is awesome news. I looked at a map it’s not a large distance away by any means. Looks like the same metropolitan area. Like moving a team between the twin cities in Minnesota almost?
The current arena is literally built right on top of a Metro stop
At least they won’t let the old arena go to complete rot and will do something with it, but that’s a blow to the area it’s in
I’ve read some stories about it. Seems like a good deal for the Franchise. It helps to raise the value of the franchise. You can call it progress. Nice to have a New place.
Construction should be fast considering how efficient a brick layer Poole is.
Barely.
What a joke franchise the Washington Wizards/Bullets who have not been notable since 1978. There’s some totally clueless people who have been running that franchise for the last 45 years.
They are the laughing stock of the NBA.
That’s cool. I was already losing interest in the team and this makes it even easier not to care.