RICHMOND, Va. — Work on compromise budget legislation Virginia lawmakers will take up later this week is complete, and the bill does not include language enabling a proposed relocation by the NBA’s Washington Wizards and NHL’s Washington Capitals to Alexandria, top lawmakers said Thursday.
The development does not necessarily mean the end of the road for Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s plan to lure the teams across the Potomac River with a $2 billion development district featuring a new arena. But it deals yet another blow for the proposal, a top priority for Youngkin, who was set to speak at a 1 p.m. news conference.
Del. Luke Torian, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee and led negotiations for his chamber, confirmed that the arena-related provisions had been removed from the legislation, which lawmakers are expected to take up Saturday.
Torian, who had sponsored a standalone version of the legislation that was defeated earlier in the session, said he was “perhaps a little disappointed” the language didn't make it into the budget.
“But that's the nature of trying to govern here in the Commonwealth,” he said.
The budget had been the last remaining vehicle for the legislation underpinning the deal after other standalone versions failed earlier this session. The governor could pursue an amendment to the budget once lawmakers send it to him, restoring the project language, or he could call a special session on the issue.
Sen. Louise Lucas, who chairs the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee and is the top negotiator for her chamber in budget talks, told reporters she'd held firm in her opposition to the deal. She said she was not moved from her concerns about the proposed financing structure and its reliance on bonds backed by the state and city governments.
Torian said the bill contained raises in each year for teachers and other public employees and important investments in core government services.
The text of the bill was not immediately available in the state's online information system.
Youngkin and entrepreneur Ted Leonsis, the CEO of Monumental Sports and Entertainment, announced in December that they had reached an understanding on a deal to relocate the Capitals and Wizards.
The plan calls for the creation of a $2 billion development, partly financed by public money, in the Potomac Yard section of Alexandria that would include an arena, practice facility and corporate headquarters for Monumental, plus a separate performing arts venue, all just miles from Capital One Arena, where the teams currently play in Washington.
DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson released a statement following Thursday's announcement.
“The Arena and Monumental Sports have been partners with the District for almost 30 years, and a great asset to downtown. As a deal in Virginia remains uncertain, the Council continues to be ready to welcome Monumental Sports’ change of mind," Mendelson said. "When Monumental Sports announced its intention last December, despite the District’s offer to provide $500 million toward renovating the Gallery Place Arena, Councilmembers unanimously endorsed the offer, in writing, as legislation. As the co-equal legislative branch of the District government, it continues to be our position that Monumental Sports should stay, and our offer remains on the table.”
WUSA9 has reached out to Monumental Sports for comment and are waiting to hear back.