ALEXANDRIA, Va. — An update regarding a project that could lure two professional sports teams from D.C. to Virginia is expected to be announced at an event in Alexandria on Wednesday, sources tell WUSA9.
The announcement will reportedly feature both Monumental Sports & Entertainment personnel and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
Monumental Sports & Entertainment, founded by Ted Leonsis, owns and operates Capital One Arena, where the Washington Capitals and Wizards both play their home games. The D.C. arena is also known to hold many concerts and performances.
The announcement comes just days after Virginia's Major Employment and Investment (MEI) Project Approval Commission voted in favor of a proposal to outbid what the District government has offered Monumental to make stadium renovations.
Sources have confirmed to WUSA9 that the area being considered is near the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus and the new Potomac Yards Metro station. The project would be a mixed-use commercial space including an arena for both the Caps and Wizards.
The move of the professional hockey and basketball teams would be a huge loss to the District and the Chinatown corridor. In the last few weeks, businesses have told WUSA9 they are closing their doors in the area in part because of a decrease in foot traffic due to rising crime.
Sraavya Polisetti lived near Chinatown for the last five years and is concerned about this potential move because of how it will impact her neighborhood.
"That area is already suffering in terms of the businesses that have closed in the last three years especially because of COVID," she said. "So were that to leave D.C., they should definitely do something to make up for that."
For fans like Lamar Gray, the hope is for some incentive from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to keep D.C.'s teams where they belong.
"I’m hoping that the mayor works with the ownership and provides them with some money to keep them to stay," he said.
Alexandria residents, however, have mixed opinions on whether the move would be a good thing.
"They're doing all this building around here, they don't need nothing else around here," native Virginian Rodney Nelson said. "I don't understand why they're trying to get more. They need to stay in D.C."
Yet Obie Lovelace countered that he welcomes the new developments coming to his neigborhood. Another neighbor who asked to only be identified as Diana, said the development wold usher in a walkable cmmunity and booming economy.
"I'd like to see people sitting in a cafe and talking, building the community," Diana said. "I want to see the possibility of people walking everywhere. That you don't need a car."
Alexandria's Chamber of Commerce said they are waiting to hear details about the proposal to take a stance on the potential move.