ALEXANDRIA, Va. — If Gov. Glenn Youngkin's plan to build a new home for the Washington Capitals and Wizards in Virginia moves forward, developers will break ground in 2025 and are looking for a grand opening in 2028.
Though that's five years away, federal and local leaders have already set their focus on changes that need to be done to make the Monumental Sports and Entertainment move a reality, including addressing infrastructure, security and flooding concerns for the city of Alexandria.
The area that is being considered for the potential mixed-use commercial space that includes an arena for the two sports teams is near the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus and the Potomac Yard Metro station that opened in May. For many, solving the existing traffic congestion needs to be a top priority before adding a major entertainment venue to the neighborhood.
"Take Route 1 and reimagine it and that's going to take some additional federal dollars," Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) said. "We are going to make sure we have a healthy metro."
Alexandria Vice Mayor Amy Jackson added that the city is already having discussions concerning public safety issues, as well as ongoing flooding concerns. Jackson said the city will need to look at creating a public safety plan like the one operating at FedEx Field.
"We also need to improve our own police department and give them the opportunities," Jackson said.
Alexandria City officials emphasized that they plan to hold public hearings for input from the community before the proposal gets introduced in the next legislative session.
"There will be a public engagement process, hearings, community forums," Alexandria Councilmember Aliya Gaskins said. "All of those things to make sure that residents shape this vision and how it comes to reality."
Virginia's Democratic-controlled General Assembly and the Alexandria Council will have to approve legislation to create the new 9-million-square-foot entertainment complex. Several state legislators have already indicated they believe the proposal has enough bipartisan support to pass.
"We had a meeting of the [Major Employment and Investment Project Approval Commission] on Monday evening and we spent about two hours working through it and it is a fantastic operation," state Sen. George Barker (D) said. "We will be able to help the sports teams, but also the community."
House Majority Leader-elect Charniele Herring (D), who represents Alexandria, signaled a similar message as Barker.
"Our 2024 legislative session starts in less than a month, and this opportunity is among our state's top priorities," Herring said.
Youngkin's office said the investment will not result in an increase in taxes for the commonwealth, because the $2 billion project will be paid for, in part, with bonds and an investment from Monumental.
The land and buildings will be owned by Virginia's Sports and Entertainment Authority, which has yet to be established, but once it is, Monumental Sports will enter a 40-year lease with the state agency, according to the governor's plan.
"This is monumental," Youngkin said at the announcement news conference Wednesday. "This spectacular sports and entertainment district will be at the heart of the most vibrant innovation corridor in the world."