The attorney general of the District of Columbia is playing hardball to keep the Washington Capitals in town. As a matter a fact, the Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis signed a deal in 2007, in which D.C. gave him $50M for arena renovations, which committed the team to D.C. until 2047 — fullstop.
So, when Leonsis hinted at a move across the river to Alexandria, Virginia, in 2028, it raised some eyebrows. Yet, they still have 23 years left to cheer on their beloved teams in the nation's capital.
Maryland seems pretty keen on backing sports facilities, whether it's under Moore's watch or with past leaders. They' have a hefty $1.2 billion chunk of change from state lottery bonds, all set to upgrade stadiums like M&T Bank Stadium where the NFL's Baltimore Ravens play and Camden Yards, home of the MLB's Baltimore Orioles. There's also the lease deal with the Orioles, where the state and the team team up on a development plan before 2027 rolls around.
Now, before you get too excited, it's all still up in the air. Neither Leonsis nor Governor Moore's crew is saying anything just yet. However, it's still intriguing to see what's brewing as Leonsis tries to figure out the best move for the Caps and Wiz.
Yet let's not forget about the hometown fans. For them, it's a bit of a letdown. At least now they know they've got plenty of time left to enjoy Capitals games right where they belong—right here in D.C.
