Monumental, Youngkin announce deal to move Caps, Wizards to Virginia
Renderings show a 20,000-seat arena, practice facilities for the Wizards and Capitals, expanded esports facilities, a performing arts venue, fan plaza and more
By Sam Fortier and Teo Armus
Updated December 13, 2023 at 11:26 a.m. EST | Published December 13, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. EST
The owner of the Wizards and Capitals has reached a nonbinding arrangement that would move the teams from downtown D.C. to a new arena in Northern Virginia as soon as 2028, potentially upending the regional sports landscape.
Ted Leonsis, owner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) appeared together Wednesday at an event in Alexandrias Potomac Yard neighborhood where the terms of the framework were detailed.
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No official agreement has been signed, but Youngkin said he felt confident enough in the deal to join Leonsis and others in making the public announcement.
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![](https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/YSN7EB4Q7N6CJA74QMHCIKVHXI.JPG)
Rendering of the performing arts venue and arena being proposed by Monumental Sports & Entertainment at Potomac Yard in Virginia. (Courtesy of JBG Smith)
As envisioned, Monumentals facility would anchor a 12-acre mixed-use development in the heart of that area, part of a tentative agreement still subject to multiple state and local approvals. If Monumental ultimately moves to Virginia, it would mark a major economic development win for Youngkin and deal a blow to D.C.s struggling downtown. The transition could also ease the path for Leonsis to take the company public, a possibility he has openly discussed.
Preliminary development plans for Potomac Yard
![](https://gfx-data.news-engineering.aws.wapo.pub/ai2html/MONUMENTALWHERE/LYHHY2BYCVEE5OJIPHOGO3IOOA/MONUMENTALWHERE-medium.jpg)
Sources: Monumental Sports & Entertainment and Alexandria Economic Development Partnership,
GoogleEarthPro and Alexandria GIS open data hub
LARIS KARKLIS/THE WASHINGTON POST
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Laura Vozzella, Meagan Flynn, Michael Brice-Saddler, Jonathan OConnell and Laris Karklis contributed to this report.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
By Sam Fortier
Sam Fortier is a beat writer for The Post covering Washington's NFL team. Twitter
https://twitter.com/Sam4TR
By Teo Armus
Teo Armus covers people, issues and local government in Northern Virginia for The Washington Post. He joined The Post as a staff writer in 2019. Twitter
https://twitter.com/teoarmus