Could Wizards, Caps move to Va. provide boost for Metro?
Development of a new arena for the Washington Wizards and Capitals in Alexandria, Virginia, could transform the area around the Potomac Yard Metro station and U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., believes it could provide a broader financial boost for the transit agency.
Metro warned this week it’s facing a $750 million deficit due to a wide range of issues, including a drop in ridership after the pandemic.
Without additional funding from Virginia, Maryland and D.C., Metro said it will be forced to reduce service hours and raise fares.
Kaine said this week he hopes the new development bringing over the Wizards and Capitals will cause Virginia lawmakers to take a fresh look at the Metro funding issue.
“I know that the presence of the new Potomac Yard Metro site is a real key feature to this proposal,” he said. “And obviously, we’re having a discussion right now about Metro funding and Metro might have a funding deficit that can only be addressed by cooperation between Maryland, D.C. and Virginia.”
Metro has said it needs more than $660 million from the two states and D.C. to avoid widespread cutbacks.
Kaine said the Potomac Yard development could put Metro’s funding requests in a new light.
“Possibly, this announcement might provide more incentive to the General Assembly and governor in Virginia to do something significant on Metro funding,” Kaine said.
But Virginia’s potential gain is the District’s loss. Without sports fans attending dozens of games at Capital One Arena, Metro ridership would likely drop substantially at the Gallery Place-Chinatown station.
The station is currently one of the busiest in D.C.
By contrast, the Potomac Yard station in Virginia is one of the 10 stations with the least amount of ridership in the Metro system. It’s the newest station and opened in May.
Metro General Manager Randy Clarke has said the station would need significant improvements to handle the crowds of sporting events.
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., like Kaine, is a strong supporter of the new development and has said it will need to include major road and infrastructure work.
Overall, Kaine said the development will be largely a state and local project.
“It does look like the governor had done significant work with both Alexandria officials and state legislators on it,” he said. “So, it’s local officials that need to say grace over the land use and it’s state officials that need to say grace over the financing.”
The $2 billion private-public partnership would include a new sports arena for the Wizards and the Capitals, an entertainment district and extensive new development.
It is subject to approval by the Virginia General Assembly, with plans to break ground in 2025 and open in 2028.