Monumental’s planned move to Virginia is in serious jeopardy, and apparently, reports have come out that Ted Leonsis has been talking to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore about a new arena there now.
And, a WaPo article headlined “Hail Mary paired arena with Tysons casino” says that with the Alexandria arena idea dead for now, three ‘political and business figures have been pitching an unlikely idea to pair the sports arena with a new casino in Fairfax County.’
Yes, instead of building the arena in Potomac Yard, the idea is a combo in Tysons Corner where the casino’s tax revenue used to guarantee the arena bond.
“Is there really area there? Where the hell is all this gonna go?” EB asked. “What I know of Tysons, it’s pretty freaking crowded, like retail everywhere. Is it residential at all, like any single family homes?”
“Tysons isn't that far from McLean and Vienna, so you're not that far from a lot of families that live in those areas,” Bish said. “But the people in Tysons, they don't want the casino because they are worried about safety. There's crime at casinos all the time, and that’s the main concern for most of the people that are against the casino in that area. Yes, there is tax revenue, but people overlook that and they are more worried about the safety of their families than they are about the tax revenue.”
Apparently, a Tysons casino would put up a billion dollars a year in table game revenue, and save everyone…a whopping $500 a year in property taxes versus if they put it on does.
“Look, a casino will eventually go up in northern Virginia,” Cakes said. “For many years in Maryland, the elected officials saw Maryland residents driving to other locales to gamble; their money is leaving the state to go to Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia. They eventually wised up and said we're gonna build casinos here and keep that money in house instead of letting it leave the state, and I'm guessing that same realization is gonna happen in Virginia, where they're like, people are driving right across to MGM National Harbor.”
Cakes is ‘a strong maybe’ for living near a casino, and EB would rather live next to that than a stadium or arena, thinking the crime issue is overblown. But…
“I just don't think saving 500 bucks is that big of a savings,” EB said. “Even like for an average family in northern Virginia, are they really gonna get worked up over saving 500 bucks in taxes or something?”
Gov. Youngkin and Ted Leonsis have reportedly rejected the idea, and MSE has said ‘at no time have we ever, or would we ever, consider operating alongside a casino, period.’
Oh, and then the DC AG says MSE can’t leave in 2027, so who knows WHAT will happen. What we DO know is you can listen to the Junks’ entire convo about the situation above!