Future of Capital One Arena Discussion

[dariantownesvanzandt]

This makes sense. Why else would we be COMPLETELY left out of the Alexandria announcements?

If they can keep CapOne busy & prevent the area from falling apart, it seems like a great spot for us. If not, we'll be talking all this out again in 10 years.

[astrohoya]

Given my complete lack of confidence in GTown to be proactive about a real college arena closer to campus, a 10K Cap One is about a best case scenario.

[happyhoya1979]

I, for one, will not support and will not attend the future games of the Alexandria Ovechkins (nee Washington Capitals) and Northern Virginia Lululemons (nee Washington Wizards nee Washington Bullets) after 2027.

Monumental Sports has to keep the arena and Georgetown Basketball with it since the cultural and economic impact to downtown DC will be too great and optically very bad both for Mounmental and the Leagues involved (NHL and NBA).

[astrohoya]

Dec 13, 2023 21:40:59 GMT -5 happyhoya1979 said:

I, for one, will not support and will not attend the future games of the Alexandria Ovechkins (nee Washington Capitals) and Northern Virginia Lululemons (nee Washington Wizards nee Washington Bullets) after 2027.

Monumental Sports has to keep the arena and Georgetown Basketball with it since the cultural and economic impact to downtown DC will be too great and optically very bad both for Mounmental and the Leagues involved (NHL and NBA).

You realize the Zephyrs/Bullets/Wizards have played outside of DC for most of their existence? They have no specific allegiance to any part of the metro area they represent. This move will be good for certain residents and bad for certain residents. It’s not like they are a Houston team moving to Tennessee (combined with my screen name you know where I grew up.).

[the_way]

Northern VA? Sucks.

Keep it in DC.

[DanMcQ]

[DanMcQ]

[hoyaboya]

[DFW HOYA]

Dec 13, 2023 21:40:59 GMT -5 happyhoya1979 said:

Monumental Sports has to keep the arena and Georgetown Basketball with it since the cultural and economic impact to downtown DC will be too great and optically very bad both for Mounmental and the Leagues involved (NHL and NBA).

They. Don't. Care.

[thedragon]

Dec 13, 2023 22:58:19 GMT -5 hoyaboya said:

The comms guy for an Illinois congressman. I was curious his thoughts. Thanks for posting.

[hoyaboya]

Dec 13, 2023 23:09:25 GMT -5 thedragon said:

Dec 13, 2023 22:58:19 GMT -5 hoyaboya said:

The comms guy for an Illinois congressman. I was curious his thoughts. Thanks for posting.

Who are the people in DanMcQ’s 4 tweets he posted? Why are their thoughts any more valid than this guy’s?

Thanks for posting.

[HoyaAtHeart]

Dec 13, 2023 21:55:04 GMT -5 astrohoya said:

Dec 13, 2023 21:40:59 GMT -5 happyhoya1979 said:

I, for one, will not support and will not attend the future games of the Alexandria Ovechkins (nee Washington Capitals) and Northern Virginia Lululemons (nee Washington Wizards nee Washington Bullets) after 2027.

Monumental Sports has to keep the arena and Georgetown Basketball with it since the cultural and economic impact to downtown DC will be too great and optically very bad both for Mounmental and the Leagues involved (NHL and NBA).

You realize the Zephyrs/Bullets/Wizards have played outside of DC for most of their existence? They have no specific allegiance to any part of the metro area they represent. This move will be good for certain residents and bad for certain residents. It’s not like they are a Houston team moving to Tennessee (combined with my screen name you know where I grew up.).

Exactly. I feel like I'm in the twilight zone with this fall out lol.

NBA Basketball + NHL Hockey in Washington DC = 1998-Present.

I DARE anyone to sit here with a straight face and talk to me about the "cultural impact" that building has had to this city. The Wizards STINK and arguably might fall last in popularity of all the pro teams. Everyone hated the rebrand...everyone hated the color scheme. Most of kids that grow up IN THE CITY, play basketball and love the NBA ARE NOT Wizards fans and go to those games to watch their favorite team/player from somewhere else. Transplants have been running this city and Capital One Arena for a decade now. I have zero sympathy for Tom from Pennsylvania who's lived in Rockville since 2009 and is upset he has to transfer to a different metro line on the way to a game now lol.

I am bewildered at this idea that the DC Madison Square Garden is being abandoned or something.

[playtyler]

To me this is Leonsis finally having a chance to leverage his teams and go for the money and to really juice the value of the teams. Pollin built the arena and Leonsis has never had a chance to make a run at the money when he can move the team. If he keeps Wiz/Caps in DC with added investment from the City, maybe this revitalizes the area a little, or more likely keeps the businesses around the arena afloat for a few more years. Leonsis gets nothing out of the revenue the teams generate outside of the Arena. He gets some new suites to sell at a renovated Capital One, and he still only controls revenues at one arena, basically no added value for him.

If he moves to Virginia, he gets a brand new entertainment complex he controls, with restaurants/bars/shopping/entertainment venues/arena/maybe even a Casino. He controls all of this new revenue and someone else will be paying to build it.

He will also maintain control of Capital One and have 100 nights a year of events at Capital One (21 Mystics games plus playoffs, 15+ Hoyas Games, Maybe the Capital CIty GoGo? and less conflicts for concerts and other events). So he ends up with control over two entertainment venues and an entire campus to entertain and profit off of his Wiz/Caps fans before and after games. Or he can stay at Capital One and enjoy sitting in newly upholstered seats...

[DanMcQ]

[DanMcQ]

[SSHoya]

Ted Leonsis makes wonderful promises. Ask D.C. what they’re worth.

The billionaire said “hold me accountable,” and then he slinked out the side door.

Just like he’s leaving the downtown building he said he wanted to stay in for at least another 15 years. And just like he’s discarding the city that once inspired his aspirations to lead and to steward, and to do right by its people.

Leonsis uttered some sentimental waste like that about five years ago.

www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/12/14/ted-leonsis-virginia-arena/

[hoya8185]

I can’t imagine this being popular in Alexandria. Folks who live there already lived close to Cap One Arena a short metro ride or 15 minute car or Uber ride This will add significant traffic to an area already with heavy traffic, and drive retail entertainment away from current businesses in old town and south. This may not be as easy as Ted thinks.

[TC]

Dec 13, 2023 23:13:38 GMT -5 hoyaboya said:

Dec 13, 2023 23:09:25 GMT -5 thedragon said:

The comms guy for an Illinois congressman. I was curious his thoughts. Thanks for posting.

Who are the people in DanMcQ’s 4 tweets he posted? Why are their thoughts any more valid than this guy’s?

Because they are arena-issue focused whereas you are posting partisan garbage?

[hoyaboya]

Dec 14, 2023 4:58:55 GMT -5 DanMcQ said:

So Andres won't be opening up a restaurant in Potomac Yards? His loss, I'm sure there are other tapas places that will be happy to have a restaurant with lots of patrons, while the area around Capital One continues to decay. Hopefully he can get out of his lease there by the time the Caps/Wizards leave, he's got plenty of other locations across the country where he can make profits.

[hoyaboya]

Dec 14, 2023 8:54:07 GMT -5 TC said:

Dec 13, 2023 23:13:38 GMT -5 hoyaboya said:

Who are the people in DanMcQ’s 4 tweets he posted? Why are their thoughts any more valid than this guy’s?

Because they are arena-issue focused whereas you are posting partisan garbage?

LOL, it's "partisan garbage" to show that there are viewpoints illustrating it makes perfect business sense for Leonsis & Co. to move to VA? And that Bowser/city council hacks were too little/too late on doing what it takes to keep Leonsis in DC? Is the Washington Post "partisan garbage" for writing an editorial conveying similar thoughts?

As it relates to Georgetown, hopefully our powers-that-be are doing whatever it takes to secure a spot at the new arena. Even a downsized Capital One center will not be a winning proposition for Georgetown, post-Caps and Wizards departure. The Chinatown neighborhood will see restaurants/bars/hotel operators flee as the vast majority of their customers will no longer be coming to the area. That part of the city will become a wasteland, similar to what it was before the arena was built. That doesn't seem like a winning long-term proposition for Georgetown.