WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� Washington Capitals and Wizards owner Ted Leonsis, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and other officials celebrated the start of an with a ceremonial sledgehammer-swinging Thursday inside what will be a new atrium entranceway.
The event unveiling renderings for what Capital One Arena should look like when it is fully transformed in time for the 2027-28 NHL and NBA seasons took place as questions swirled nearby on Capitol Hill about the city's hopes of luring the NFL's Washington Commanders. A provision to transfer the land including was removed from Congress' slimmed-down, short-term spending bill hours later, sending that team back to the drawing board.
In the Chinatown neighborhood, there were handshakes and smiles, as work to retain the Capitals and Wizards had also been ongoing for some time.
Keeping the teams was a significant victory for Bowser. They agreed last spring to remain in the city as part of a $515 million, publicly funded project, after a proposed roughly a year ago fell apart in that state's legislature.
鈥淚鈥檝e got to say, what a difference a year makes,鈥� Ward 2 council member Brooke Pinto said. 鈥淭ed Leonsis, thank you so much for believing in this city. ... Thank you for your dedication to our city.鈥�
Leonsis called it a landmark day for the district and his company. His Monumental Sports and Entertainment will pay for the rest of the project, which area leaders hope will serve as a central hub of the nation's capital between its many neighborhoods.
鈥淲hen you see those signs, 鈥楶lease excuse our dust,鈥� there鈥檚 going to be a lot of dust here,鈥� Leonsis said. 鈥淭his project is massive. It鈥檒l probably take three seasons to do it, and it鈥檚 $800 million. It is a significant, significant program. But after you see what we鈥檙e going to do for the players, the fans and the city, it鈥檒l be worth the wait.鈥�
The work, which will take place in several stages from now through fall 2027, includes more than doubling the size of locker rooms while also adding suites and other amenities. The building initially opened in December 1997.
鈥淭his is nearly a billion-dollar investment for (players鈥�) benefit and for the community鈥檚 benefit,鈥� Silver said, alluding to future All-Star Games and other events that will take place. 鈥淭he NBA and NHL will have less than half the dates at the end of the day because what鈥檚 happened now with these entertainment palaces 鈥� they are full, it seems, practically every night of the year."
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AP NFL:
Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
