Michael Phillips joined BMitch & Finlay to day ostensibly to talk about Commanders…in the vein of the Monumental announcement of the planned Capitals and Wizards move to Virginia?
"I do think yesterday was a great day for the Commanders, because as you've noticed, Mayor Bowser needs to get herself a sports team and pronto, and there happens to be one out there shopping for a home," Phillips said. "I think all the leverage just went up on Josh Harris' side."
And the fact that said leverage comes because DC just lost two teams, because that's not going to have any bearing on things.
"I think their concern is the dollar – if those line up, they'll be there," Phillips said, "but I think the other concern is timing. That prospectus they sent out said 2030 Opening Day is ideal for a new home, and if you're looking at the delays that come with doing business in DC, 2031 or 2032 is a long time to play at FedEx. The honeymoon will be long over by then as you try to sell that product, so the same way Leonsis is looking at 2028 and what we can sell our fans, Harris will be looking at 2030 and what they can sell the fans, and the sooner you can sell them something good, the sooner you get the investment back."
BMitch knows about all there is to know inside football circles, and when JP asked him when he thinks the first day for butts in seats will be at a new Commanders stadium, he said "it starts at 2030," and Phillips added that 'if you give me 2029, I pound the over.'
"You're talking a year or two before they even say something, then two or three years to build it," BMitch said.
"There will be lawsuits and always delays, and Josh Harris owns 30 percent of this team – which means 70 percent of the money is chasing more money, and the longer they play at FedEx Field, the longer they're not making that money back."
Take a listen to Phillips' entire call-in above, which also touches on how records will ultimately affect attendance at any arena for the Caps and Wiz, complaints about the move, and more!
