Developer Behind Fairfax On line casino Effort Tried to Woo Ted Leonsis
The actual property growth firm behind an unsuccessful effort to deliver a business on line casino to Fairfax County, Va. within the Tysons space additionally didn’t lure billionaire Ted Leonsis to help the initiative. The aborted bribe included providing the NBA Wizards and NHL Capitals proprietor a brand new area.
Billionaire Ted Leonsis sits courtside watching his NBA Washington Wizards in December 2023. Leonsis was unmoved by a pitch from the builders behind a attainable on line casino in Fairfax County to construct a brand new sports activities area in Tysons. (Picture: ESPN)
Leonsis and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) are campaigning to make use of taxpayer {dollars} to assist relocate the billionaire’s Washington, D.C.-based skilled sports activities groups, which embrace the WNBA Washington Mystics, about 5 miles south to Potomac Yard in Alexandria. The undertaking is wildly unpopular amongst space residents. However Youngkin is urgent ahead in what many political observers imagine is the Republican’s bid to create a legacy growth.
The Washington Put up reported over the weekend that Comstock Firms and Senate Majority Chief Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax) provided Leonsis’ Monumental Sports activities & Leisure a sports activities area to be included within the Tysons on line casino pitch.
As this [Potomac Yard] undertaking has imploded within the final three weeks … one of many ideas that I floated was the potential for merging the world with a Northern Virginia on line casino and utilizing the on line casino tax income to backstop the bonds as a substitute of the state’s basic fund,” Surovell defined. “Monumental was not a fan, and that was the tip of the dialog.”
The Potomac Yard Leisure District is being proposed simply south of Reagan Worldwide Airport. The $2 billion scheme features a multiuse skilled sports activities area, observe services, a performing arts heart, and a media studio for Leonsis’ Monumental Sports activities Community.
DC for Alexandria
Leonsis is prepared to depart the nation’s capital and his Capital One Enviornment in favor of Potomac Yard. Youngkin is dedicated to serving to Leonsis’ Monumental Sports activities & Leisure open a best-in-class complicated.
Washington, D.C. metropolis officers proceed to scramble to supply funds to enhance Capital One Enviornment, a downtown venue east of the White Home. Leonsis owns the constructing, although the town owns the land beneath it.
In December, District leaders, together with Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), made an Eleventh-hour pitch of $500 million for upgrades to the ability. Nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient for Leonsis to fold on Potomac Yard.
A lot of Alexandria, a rich impartial metropolis, is against the undertaking. Considerations cited embrace elevated visitors to the already congested space, monetary liabilities, and the environmental influence. One group against the undertaking, “Cease the Enviornment,” additionally says taxpayer cash shouldn’t be used to “closely subsidize a billionaire.”
On line casino Deal Breaker
Monica Dixon, the president of exterior affairs for Monumental, instructed the Put up that Comstock and Surovell certainly reached out about contemplating an area in Tysons adjoining to a on line casino resort. She stated it was a nonstarter.
At no time, have we ever or would we ever think about working alongside a on line casino, interval,” Dixon stated. “Our proposal in Alexandria at Potomac Yard gives our followers, gamers, workers, and the individuals of this area one of the best alternative for profitable groups and a terrific financial influence. Whereas we’re disenchanted in how this has performed out, we hope our proposal will get a good listening to.”
The Virginia Common Meeting ignored the $2 billion Potomac Yard undertaking from the 2024-2026 biennium finances it handed final week. Youngkin is predicted to name a particular session to finalize the spending blueprint, with the Potomac Yard scheme more likely to obtain additional consideration.
