By The Associated Press’s Stephen Whyno
WashingtonTed Leonsis, the owner of the Washington Capitals and Wizards, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Mayor Muriel Bowser of the District of Columbia, and other dignitaries swung a ceremonial sledgehammer Thursday inside the new atrium entranceway to mark the beginning of an 800-million downtown arena renovation.
While speculation raged nearby on Capitol Hill regarding the city’s prospects of attracting the NFL’s Washington Commanders, the event unveiled images of what Capital One Arena should look like once it is completely converted in time for the 2027–28 NHL and NBA seasons. Hours later, Congress’s trimmed-down, short-term funding package lost a clause transferring the land, including RFK Stadium, to the district, forcing that team to start over.
There were grins and handshakes in the Chinatown area, where efforts to keep the Wizards and Capitals had also been going on for a while.
For Bowser, keeping the teams was a major win. After a proposed shift across the Potomac River to Virginia about a year ago failed in that state’s legislature, they decided last spring to stay in the city as part of a $515 million, publicly sponsored project.
Ward 2 council member Brooke Pinto remarked, “I have to say, what a difference a year makes.” I sincerely appreciate your belief in this city, Ted Leonsis. We appreciate your commitment to our city.
For the district and his business, Leonsis referred to it as a historic day. The other portion of the project will be funded by his Monumental Sports and Entertainment, which local leaders hope will act as a hub connecting the nation’s capital’s several communities.
There will be a lot of dust here, so please excuse us when you see those signs, Leonsis added. This project is enormous. It will likely cost $800 million and take three seasons to complete. This program is important, really important. The wait will be worthwhile, though, once you see what we’re going to do for the players, the supporters, and the city.
The project, which will be completed in phases between now and fall 2027, will add suites and other facilities in addition to more than tripling the size of the locker rooms. The structure debuted in December 1997.
In reference to upcoming All-Star Games and other events, Silver stated, “This is almost a billion-dollar investment for (players’) benefit and for the community’s benefit.” At the end of the day, the NBA and NHL will have fewer than half the dates due to the fact that these entertainment venues are now packed almost every night of the year.
https://apnews.com/hub/NFL is the AP NFL.
More sports news
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!