Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - [Rumour] Capitals moving to North Virginia

nfotiu · 12-13-2023, 08:54 AM

It's interesting. My initial reflex was to be against this. But on further reading, there may not be any direct cost to the State.
https://richmond.com/news/state-regi...3f17feab5.html

Leonsis would continue to run the Cap one arena as a concert and event space and contribute significantly to this space as well as move his business to VA.

Some of the reasons these things are bad deals in other cities are a little different here. With the Washington metro area being split into 4 states, the dynamic is much different. Currently fans from MD,DC,VA,WV all go into DC to spend their money. There is an economic advantage to getting all of them to spend their money in VA instead. That's a different dynamic than say Calgary where a hockey team is cannibalizing entertainment dollars that would have otherwise been spent elsewhere in Calgary, so not much net gain.

There isn't much of a civic pride angle either, as they aren't going to be the Virginia or Alexandria Capitals. It is a loss for DC, and that's too bad, but seems like a good deal for VA.

12-13-2023, 08:54 AM	#44
nfotiu Franchise Player Join Date: May 2002 Location: Virginia Exp:	It's interesting. My initial reflex was to be against this. But on further reading, there may not be any direct cost to the State. https://richmond.com/news/state-regi...3f17feab5.html Leonsis would continue to run the Cap one arena as a concert and event space and contribute significantly to this space as well as move his business to VA. Some of the reasons these things are bad deals in other cities are a little different here. With the Washington metro area being split into 4 states, the dynamic is much different. Currently fans from MD,DC,VA,WV all go into DC to spend their money. There is an economic advantage to getting all of them to spend their money in VA instead. That's a different dynamic than say Calgary where a hockey team is cannibalizing entertainment dollars that would have otherwise been spent elsewhere in Calgary, so not much net gain. There isn't much of a civic pride angle either, as they aren't going to be the Virginia or Alexandria Capitals. It is a loss for DC, and that's too bad, but seems like a good deal for VA.