ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A newly formed group has set out to stop the project that would move the home of the Washington Capitals and Wizards to Alexandria's Potomac Yard neighborhood.
The Coalition to Stop the Arena at Potomac Yard rallied Thursday morning near the proposed site to voice their opposition to the $2 billion project.
Neighbors who live in the Potomac Yard neighborhood echoed concerns that surfaced immediately after the project was announced, like traffic congestion, potential floods, and limited access to public transportation. However, some are calling the project's economic impact one of the biggest red flags.
"You're trying to bring a project that's supposed to improve the economic quality of this town, with revenue projections and economic studies that are basically garbage," former Alexandria Councilmember Andrew Macdonald said during the rally.
Macdonald is leading the coalition that is made up of Alexandria residents, Caps and Wizards fans, and some D.C. natives like activist Ron Moten.
"United we stand, divided we fall. I think the people have power to stop this," Moten said.
Members of the Coalition to Stop the Arena at Potomac Yard pointed at the economic impact report that says the new complex would bring in around $7.9 billion in annual revenue across the state and 30,000 permanent jobs to the Commonwealth.
The report came from HR&A Advisors, a consultant hired the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP) in June.
A summary of the study was released in late December, and some Potomac Yard residents like Shannon Curtis are calling on local and state officials to be more transparent with their findings.
"The summary that Alexandria provided us completely anemic. There's no detail. Nobody has shown their work," Curtis said.
There is no indication that city officials will release the entire report.
Dan Heng, who also lives in the neighborhood, says that Monumental Sports departure from Downtown D.C. raises questions about the financial impact to Alexandria if the regional sports network decides to leave Potomac Yard.
"We are on the hook for 40 years of bond payments funded by tax receipts from events at this arena," he said.
WUSA9 reached out to Monumental Sports and Entertainment for comment but has not heard back.
Since the announcement was made, Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson said there will be plenty of opportunities for public comment so that residents can have input as the project moves forward.
The coalition says they do not want the proposal to advance at all, and their next step is going to Richmond to speak to Virginia state lawmakers in the upcoming legislative session.