Washington, D.C

D.C. Mayor Submits Plan for City to Buy Capital One Arena for $88M

Published

1 year ago

October 21, 2024

D.C. Mayor Submits Plan for City to Buy Capital One Arena for M

After a whirlwind year for Washington, D.C.’s Capital One Arena, officials have gone from nearly losing both the city’s pro basketball and hockey teams less than a year ago, to attempting to buy their home arena outright.

District Mayor Muriel Bowser submitted legislation to the D.C. Council to acquire the arena for $87.5 million, as part of the city’s commitment toward spending $515 million to renovate the arena and part of the surrounding area over the next several years. NBC4 first reported the news of the legislation on Sunday.

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Under the bill, D.C. would buy the arena from Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which also owns the Wizards and Capitals, and then lease it back to Monumental for $1.5 million per year. The lease would run until 2050 with five four-year extension options. If all of those renewal options are greenlighted, rent will increase to $3.3 million during the final renewal term. D.C. already owns the land on which the arena is built.

Monumental said that it would also spend $285 million toward the improvements, along with the $87.5 million arena sale proceeds, making the renovation budget a cool $800 million in public and private funds.

“We know that when our downtown does well, our city does well,” Bowser said in a statement Monday. “This catalytic investment is an investment in our residents and businesses in all eight wards.”

Bowser’s plan to buy the arena extends a stunning reversal in good fortune since Monumental founder and Chairman Ted Leonsis and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced in December that the teams would move across the Potomac, once the company’s ground lease in D.C. expired in 2027. Yet Virginia’s General Assembly ultimately opted not to approve the plan, which would’ve cost some $1.5 billion in taxpayer funds toward the construction of a 9 million-square-foot entertainment district in Alexandria’s Potomac Yard neighborhood.

Bowser and Leonsis quickly negotiated the $515 million deal in the aftermath. The deal will include 200,000 square feet of “newly programmed space” at the arena and at the adjacent Gallery Place building, a new practice facility for the Wizards, safety and logistics upgrades, expedited permitting processes, improvements to the alley joining the arena to the rest of the Gallery Place neighborhood, and other terms.

Bowser’s team and Monumental on Monday said that the improvements were expected to be finished in time for the 2027-2028 sports season.

“The delivery of a brand-new arena marks the next significant investment Monumental Sports is making in the revitalization of Downtown D.C., and we will build a best-in-class experience for fans, a world-class destination facility for athletes, and continue to serve as a downtown anchor for economic vitality,” Leonsis said in a statement. “Our vision for a wholly reimagined sports and entertainment destination will be ambitious, reflective of our community, and designed to ‘wow’ our most ardent supporters as well as casual fans.”

Nick Trombola can be reached at ntrombola@commercialobserver.com.

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Washington, D.C

More Trouble In D.C. At The BBC: Washington News Editor Exits After Complaints Over Management Style

Published

17 hours ago

November 24, 2025

Press Room

EXCLUSIVE: The BBC News channel’s Washington D.C.-based executive producer has left abruptly after complaints were made about the way he spoke to colleagues in the newsroom.

Deadline understands that concerns were raised about Adam Levy‘s management style, with a recent incident proving to be the final straw. Two sources alleged that he spoke to a young producer in a way that was considered to be aggressive after a mistake was made during a news shift.

Levy, who left earlier this month, declined to comment when contacted by Deadline. A BBC spokesman said the broadcaster does not comment on individual HR matters.

Levy’s swift exit comes at a tumultuous time for the BBC’s Washington bureau, with the UK broadcaster facing a $1B lawsuit from Donald Trump after a bungled Panorama edit of the U.S. president’s January 6 speech. Although the mistake was not made by U.S.-based journalists, they are at the frontline of now tense relations with the White House.

Paul Royall, the executive news editor of the BBC News channel, visited Washington this month to help steady the ship. His trip was planned before Levy’s exit, but sources noted that Royall was in the city in an effort to boost morale.

Levy was appointed as the BBC News channel’s news editor and executive producer in March 2023, playing a key role in building live programming out of Washington. Levy previously worked at CNN, where he was a producer on shows including State of the Union with Jake Tapper.

Sources close to Levy pointed to his career before the BBC as a team player without issue. These people said he was known for his passion and diligence in tough circumstances. One former CNN colleague said Levy was a respected colleague at the network, working with people at every level of the newsroom.

Levy’s exit comes at a time when the BBC is cracking down on alleged abuses of power following a workplace culture review earlier this year. In September, BBC chair Samir Shah said “very serious disciplinary actions, including dismissals,” have taken place since the review.

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Washington, D.C

Woman shot in Northeast DC, MPD searching for male suspect

Published

1 day ago

November 23, 2025

Press Room

Woman shot in Northeast DC, MPD searching for male suspect

WASHINGTON (7News) — A woman was shot in Northeast D.C. on Sunday afternoon, and police are searching for the gunman.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said Fourth District officers were called to the 5700 block of Second Street, Northeast, around 1:46 p.m. for reports of a shooting.

When officers arrived, they found an adult woman conscious and breathing after being shot.

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DC Fire and EMS paramedics took her to a nearby hospital for treatment. Her condition has not been released.

Police issued a lookout for the suspected shooter, described as a Black man with a gray beard, medium complexion, heavy build, wearing a gray hoodie. He was last seen in a black Mercedes.

Anyone with information is asked to call 202-727-9099 or text 50411.

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This is a developing story, and it will be updated as more information becomes available.

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Washington, D.C

Nevada’s first Capitol Christmas Tree ‘Silver Belle’ arrives in Washington D.C.

Published

3 days ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

Nevada’s first Capitol Christmas Tree ‘Silver Belle’ arrives in Washington D.C.

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Nevada’s first-ever Capitol Christmas Tree arrived in Washington D.C. today, marking a historic milestone for the Silver State.

The 53-foot-tall red fir, named “Silver Belle,” comes from an area just east of Lake Tahoe. The tree will be displayed on the West Lawn of the Capitol throughout the holiday season.

Silver Belle will feature hand-made ornaments created by Nevada schools, adding a personal touch from students across the state to this national display.

Watch a timelapse of the Christmas Tree raising

Timelapse of U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree from Nevada

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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