Mayor Muriel Bowser talks arena deal that keeps Caps, Wizards in DC
We sat down with the mayor to talk about what the arena deal means for the future of DC, and her legacy.
The monumental pivot to keep Washington's teams in D.C. becomes official once the DC Council votes on the plan. The $515 million deal keeps the Wizards and Capitals at Capitol One Arena until 2050. We sat down with the mayor to talk about the deal and her vision for downtown.
Monumental Deal Caps, Wizards Stay in DC
Mayor Muriel Bowser said talks to keep Monumental Sports in the District got emotional at times. There was a lot on the line, including her legacy. Not only would losing the teams to Virginia be a huge blow to D.C.'s economy and efforts to revitalize downtown, but the third-term mayor and D.C. native would always be remembered for it.
"Never quit" was the mantra that kept Bowser fighting to keep Monumental Sports in D.C., even when owner Ted Leonsis was making deals for a new complex in Virginia.
"People felt bad," Bowser told WUSA9 in a sit-down interview from inside Capital One Arena. She recalled a chance meeting with Leonsis a month after his Virginia announcement.
"I said how are you? How are you dealing with this? Let's sit down and talk. Where is this going? We still have our deal on the table. I was in the mode of listening because it's emotional. It was emotional for both of us," she said.
D.C. moved in to secure the deal once Monumental's Virginia plan failed to garner the support it needed in the community, and the General Assembly — spearheaded by Democratic Senator Louise Lucas, who all but killed the plan.
"I've never had the pleasure of meeting the senator, but I'm a great admirer," the mayor said.
When the deal fell through, Lucas said D.C. and Virginia was celebrating avoiding a monumental disaster.
"I think she's right in terms of what her responsibility was. I think she was actually speaking for the people of Virginia," Bowser said.
As for the people of D.C., Bowser says the deal means more revenue, more jobs and a revitalized downtown. While D.C. taxpayers will have to pay back the loan to renovate Capital One Arena, we're told the District's AAA bond rating means they won't raise taxes to do it.
"It is allowing time for the interventions to gel. None of this happens by accident," the mayor said.
The plan promises Monumental more space in the nearby Gallery Place buildings, a Wizards practice facility and more security on game days.
According to Metropolitan Police Department data, our once-soaring violent crime rates have seen a 20% drop. Leonsis reportedly said passage of Secure DC bill and the Chinatown taskforce sealed his future in the District.
The mayor had this to say about her legacy.
"Of course I want my legacy to include really burnishing the sports capital as our reputation," she said.
Downtown Revitalization What Does The Future Look Like?
Now that the fate of Capital One has been sealed, the mayor said it's a win for the plan to redevelop downtown.
Bowser said as her team works to bring more residents and workers back downtown the arena deal means they don't have to worry about rebuilding the area's nightlife as well. Even as D.C. faces a tight budget, Bowser said the arena is an investment in our future.
Bowser spoke about both long-term and short-term goals for Downtown D.C.
"In the long term, we can redevelop downtown Washington into our perfect vision, but right now is a kind of tender time. As we are trying to replace workers, we don't also want to replace nighttime traffic," she said.
Bowser said D.C.'s budget will be a tight one.
"I will always prioritize investments that kick in more revenue to the District. Those types of investments that allow us to have more visitors, more housing and create more jobs," the mayor said.
Mayor Bowser is submitting that budget on Wednesday.