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BREAKING: Washington Capitals and Wizards are officially moving to Potomac Yard

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Updated 3/27/2024 — The Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards are not, in fact, coming to Potomac Yard

It’s official: the Washington Capitals and the Washington Wizards are moving to Alexandria’s Potomac Yard neighborhood.

The Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP) confirmed the news this morning ahead of a 9 a.m. announcement from Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and the team’s owner, Monumental Sports & Entertainment Chairman and CEO Ted Leonsis.

Washington Post first reported the development on Monday. The Post said that Virginia’s Major Economic Investment Project Approval Commission unanimously voted to approve a complex that was tantamount to a mini-city, with a music venue and hotel in addition to the sports center.

The project will be adjacent to the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in the Alexandria portion of National Landing — the collective term for Potomac Yard, Crystal City and Pentagon City.

“After many years of dreaming, many years of discussion, I’m pleased to announce that right here, in Alexandria’s Potomac Yard, we have a plan to unleash a brighter, more extraordinary future,” said Youngkin. “We will build a spectacular $2 billion dollar sports and entertainment district.”

Leonsis said the move to Virginia is a “transformative step forward.”

“I have always believed there is a higher calling in sports — to unify our community, build a lasting legacy over multiple generations, and lift all our neighbors towards a shared sense of prosperity,” Leonsis said. “Today, we deepen that commitment as we enter a phase of rapid expansion in service to our fans, employees, and partners.”

Leonsis said starting a new stadium with a sense of tabula rasa was a big part of Potomac Yard’s appeal.

“When I saw 70 acres and the ability to start with a clean slate… to build a digital first experience, it really is a very romantic but also pragmatic vision that we can’t do anywhere else,” Leonsis said. “I got goosebumps again when I came here a week ago and looked at all of the expansion capabilities.”

As part of the deal, the construction and ownership of the arena would be overseen by a new Virginia stadium authority, and the arena would be leased to Monumental.

“Subject to legislative approval by the Virginia General Assembly, the Entertainment District will break ground in 2025 and open in late 2028,” said a press release from the governor’s office.

This morning’s announcement is being made in a large makeshift tent next door to the Potomac Yard Metro station and near the under-construction Virginia Tech campus.

“Pending completion of agreements and General Assembly and City Council approval, the new Entertainment District will feature an industry-leading arena for both the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards, the global business headquarters for Monumental Sports & Entertainment, an expanded esports facility, and a performing arts venue — in addition to new retail, restaurants, and conference and community gathering spaces,” AEDP said.

A map of the planned Monumental development, directly adjacent to the Metro station, also includes a fan plaza, a practice facility for the Capitals and Wizards, and a TV studio for the Monumental Sports Network — formerly NBC Sports Washington. The map also notes the future development of the current Potomac Yard shopping center.

AEDP said the development will still need to go through a community engagement process, with community meetings and workshops, which it said will kick off in early 2024.

In the release, Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson called the move a direct result of the work on the Potomac Yard Metro station.

“Alexandria’s ability to attract this ambitious project is a direct result of the success of previous investments made in Potomac Yard and across our City,” said Wilson. “A project this special will help the City realize our collective strategy and the vibrant vision for this neighborhood and for our City as a whole.”

The move comes with a $2 billion investment into the new entertainment district. AEDP said the new arena is estimated to generate 30,000 jobs and a total economic impact of $12 billion over the next few decades.

“This includes millions of dollars over the project term to create affordable housing, offer rental and homeownership assistance, and to invest in transportation improvements and education,” AEDP said.

“This exciting new project is the result of decades of thoughtful long-term strategic planning and a clear vision for growth across Alexandria,” said AEDP President and CEO Stephanie Landrum. “From the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus to the new Potomac Yard-VT Metro Station, Alexandria has created the ideal environment and location for this exciting project.”

Battles ahead in the arena

With large-scale development in Alexandria, though, comes arguments around density and traffic impacts. Some Alexandria residents already aren’t happy with the move, which comes 30 years after Alexandria leaders rebuffed a proposed football stadium for the Washington Redskins (now the Commanders).

“Imagine typical rush hour traffic on the George Washington Parkway and Route 1 and then throw in a playoff hockey game at 7 p.m.,” said Mark Haney, a local resident. “Madness.”

Fresh off a fight over single-family-only zoning, Roy Byrd, Chair of the Coalition for a Livable Alexandria, told WJLA there was real concern about gridlock and traffic along Route 1 that would be exacerbated with the new arena.

At the meeting, Youngkin’s speech was accompanied by a chorus of boos and jeers from outside of the tent.

“We want you here,” said Wilson.

“We don’t want you here,” someone outside of the tent shouted.

Some protestors gathered outside of the tent.

“There’s been no plans presented to the public,” said one Potomac Yard resident protesting the move. “What about the environmental impact? There are wetlands here. We found out about this plan this week. Where’s the transparency?”

One of the only acknowledgements of the battles ahead came from Senator Mark Warner.

“Our job is to make sure neighborhoods adjacent, here in Potomac Yard and in Del Ray, feel engaged and know their quality of life will be protected and, at the end of the day, their quality of life will be improved,” said Warner. “We’re going to need to be missionaries out in to the community to hear concerns, legitimate and otherwise.”

City Council members said after the announcement that transportation planning would be a major focus of the public planning process following the announcement.

“This is not a done deal yet,” said City Council member Kirk McPike. “There is a lot of negotiation and a lot of discussion, both between the people on the stage but also between Alexandria and our residents. Traffic conditions are going to be a major concern.”

McPike said the city will try to incentivize Metro use over driving, but there will also be improvements to the nearby roads to accommodate drivers.

“We will address transportation issues, a lot of our investments locally will be about improving the roadways and improving the flow of traffic, which we’ll have to do anyway as this area develops out.”

City Council member Sarah Bagley said the project will still need to have a public development special use permit process.

“[This project] is going to go through a similar public process, though the Planning Commission and public hearings,” said Bagley. “The public will have ample opportunities to weigh in with questions about transportation, about housing, about environmental impacts: all the normal SUP and DSUP processes.”

“Nothing here is finalized,” said City Council member Alyia Gaskins. “What we’ve presented is a framework and a concept, now begins the work to engage with our community to figure out what we need to protect against, what are the benefits people want to see, and what is the vision that the community wants integrated into this process.”

City Manager James Parajon said the city will continue to work on transportation planning.

“We have a pretty good game plan for how to manage the traffic and the amazing visitors and residents who will take part,” Parajon said. “It involves several hundred million dollars in improvements we’ll be working with the state on.”

Parajon said Potomac Yard was ideal because it featured multiple routes to get to the station: via driving, bus rapid transit, Metro and bicycle. At the end of the day, though, Parajon said the area was always going to see an uptick in traffic with new development.

“This has always been planned to be a fairly intensive and significant area for activity, which means there is going to be vehicular traffic in this area,” Parajon said. “But this site has been designed to offer maximum choice for people to get to and from the area.”

Parajon also said, like McPike, that the new arena was far from a done deal — though with the presence of every City Council member at the announcement, a future rejection of the arena development seems unlikely.

“What’s occurred is the development of a proposed framework that still requires multiple improvements, multiple approvals, by the legislature and by the city,” Parajon said. “It will be a robust and very involved public engagement process.”

Local residents outside the building had little faith in the city’s promises to address their concerns.

“We will tie this up in litigation,” said Adrien Lopez. “If this is being shoved down our throat without public consultation, we’re going to have to lawyer up and tie this up in litigation if they’re talking about bringing it here by 2028. That’s crazy.”

“Leonsis is worth billions of dollars and could finance his own stadium if he wanted to,” said Patrick Hedger. “If it’s such a great deal, taxpayers shouldn’t be asked to pay for it.”

Upon being told the new sports arena was going to be build next-door, a barista at a nearby Starbucks shook her head and muttered, “oh god.”

The broader impact

The topic came up at a meeting of the Local Emergency Planning Committee, on which ALXnow editor Vernon Miles serves. In the meeting, committee members said the arena could serve as both a hub and hurdle for emergency planning.

“In theory, it does offer a facility for such things as large mass care and large reception centers,” said Red Cross representative Paul Carden said. “At the last inauguration, the convention center in downtown D.C. brought together a medical team to set up 20,000 cots. It was a place to send large numbers of people that might need care.”

Others noted that the facility must be factored into the city’s emergency planning.

“It does add a [chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear] element to the city,” said Jerome Cordis from the city’s Public Health Advisory Commission.”How they staff up and what types of threats are things to be considered.”

While the discussion of the merits and costs of a new arena in Potomac Yard are just starting to be discussed among the Alexandria public, D.C. residents have already begun lamenting the loss of the teams — though Washington Wizards fans at least should be used to that.

What this means for Potomac Yard

Terry Clower, professor of public policy in the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, said the proposed development is a game changer for the city’s Potomac Yard plans.

“Certainly, it is potentially a real changer for the visioning for what they were going to do in Potomac Yard,” Clower told ALXnow. “It is a spectacular amenity for the city of Alexandria and for folks that live nearby who happen to be basketball or hockey fans, or fans of concerts in the venue”

Clower said it remains to be seen whether the new development will bring new economic investment to the region or just cannibalize development from the Gallery Place area.

The impact to watch, Clower said, will also be on how the Monumental Arena affects the plans for Potomac Yard to be a technology hub.

“The interesting piece is — this might change, in some ways not necessarily good or bad — what was originally envisioned for development there,” Clower said. “Now you’re talking about a distinct shift into more entertainment, as opposed to technology businesses and residences.”

Clower also said protests from nearby residents aren’t particularly surprising, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t raising legitimate issues.

“One thing we have in this region whether we’re talking about data centers and arenas, you will definitely have folks who will bet in that ‘not in my backyard’ category,” Clower said. “But there are legitimate concerns. Traffic is not easy even today.”

Lastly, Clower said there’s little hope for a change to the Alexandria Wizards and the Alexandria Capitals.

“I don’t think there will be a name change,” Clower said. “This is not like moving them to some outer ring suburb, this is very much the team identity. It still remains a regional asset, in large part because they’re doing it at what amounts to an inner ring suburb Metro.”

The press release from the governor’s office is below.

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Gov. Youngkin and Washington Capitals/Wizards owner expected at event in Potomac Yard tomorrow, WBJ reports

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Updated at 8:35 a.m. — It’s official.

Earlier: A big announcement about the Potomac Yard sports arena — possibly a new home to the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards — could come tomorrow morning.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin will join Monumental Sports & Entertainment Chairman and CEO Ted Leonsis at an event tomorrow morning in Potomac Yard, the Washington Business Journal reported.

The Journal reported that negotiations are coming down to the wire, with D.C. still haggling over the stadium even as tents are being set up at 3405 Potomac Avenue.

The location of the meeting is directly adjacent to the Potomac Yard Metro station and near the under-construction Virginia Tech campus. Multiple members of Alexandria’s City Council have also confirmed that they will attend, including John Taylor Chapman, Alyia Gaskins and Canek Aguirre.

The Washington Post previously said reports indicate the Major Economic Investment (MEI) Project Approval Commission met on Monday and voted to approve a complex that was tantamount to a mini-city, with a music venue and hotel in addition to the sports center.

The construction and ownership of the stadium would be overseen by a new Virginia stadium authority to be leased to Monumental.

At 6:30 p.m., ESPN NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski posted on X that the event will “unveil plans for a proposed new arena complex and entertainment district for Wizards and NHL’s Capitals.”

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BREAKING: Washington Capitals and Wizards could move to Potomac Yard

As seen in Potomac Yard (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Virginia lawmakers are meeting today to consider a deal to bring the Washington Capitals and Wizards to Potomac Yard, the Washington Post first reported.

The teams could be moving to a new mixed-use facility in the Potomac Yard neighborhood, multiple officials involved with the proposal told the Post. A Virginia stadium authority would own the complex and lease it to Capitals and Wizards’ owner, Monumental Sports & Entertainment.

The reported sports complex would feature both basketball and hockey facilities, as well as a large underground parking area and a possible concert venue. The Post reported the artist’s rendering described as a “little mini-city development.”

The announcement comes after reports of Monumental Sports & Entertainment asking D.C. for $600 million in public funds for the renovation.

The Alexandria Economic Development Partnership said it couldn’t comment on the story. Neither would Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson.

“No comment on economic development,” Wilson told ALXnow, “but we are bullish on the future of Potomac Yard! So much opportunity for the city’s future.”

The new Potomac Yard Metro station opened in the neighborhood earlier this year and Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus is under construction.

It isn’t the first time stadium discussion has surfaced in Potomac Yard. In the 1990s there were plans to install a football stadium in the area, pushed by then-Governor L. Douglas Wilder and Washington Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke, but Alexandria Mayor Patsy Ticer led a successful fight against the stadium.

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Alexandria firefighter Tiffany Matthews owns the Washington Prodigy women’s pro-football team

Alexandria firefighter Tiffany Matthews (staff photo by James Cullum)

You might say Tiffany Matthews wears a lot of hats.

Matthews is a senior instructor at the Alexandria Fire Department’s academy, training the city’s freshest recruits how to run into burning buildings and save lives. In her off-duty hours, though, she’s the founding owner of the Washington Prodigy women’s pro-football team. In fact, she’s been involved in  professional football just as long as she’s been with AFD — 19 years.

An Alexandria native, Matthews joined the U.S. Army after graduating in 1998 from T.C. Williams High School, where she played varsity basketball. Watching Sunday football was a special event for her family, she said, and her interest in the game started by watching her brother play on the George Washington Middle School football team. The team’s coach was impressed enough to make her his assistant.

“I’d be watching my brother playing and I was just observing to the point where I was calling out plays,” Matthews recalled. “The coach noticed and asked me if I wanted to hold his clipboard…. Once I had that clipboard, I was kind of motivated on the sideline.”

Matthews, now 43, was a U.S. Army private stationed in Germany when she started playing flag football. In 2004, after being discharged, she started working as an Alexandria firefighter. That same year she was also recruited as a running back for the D.C. Divas.

The season runs every year from April to June, In 2012, she broke away from the Divas to found the Washington Prodigy. She had just 14 athletes, including herself as a player/owner/head coach. Now the team is one of 16 teams in the Women’s National Football Conference (WNFC). She stopped playing in 2018, and the team now boasts 40 players in the six-game season, which runs from April to June. Home games are played at Anacostia High School in D.C., and as far away as Texas, Florida and Tennessee.

The Washington Prodigy (via Facebook)

None of the players are paid, and Matthews says she wants the WNFC to have the same name recognition and popularity as the Women’s National Basketball Association.

“I think we deserve it,” she said. “The coaches plan and meet weekly, and the players come to practice two or three times a week.”

She also said she’s on-board with the WNFC incorporating flag football into its offerings.

“The league is going in a great direction,” Matthews said. “And I think they do a very good job of making sure we’re (team owners are) on the same page by bringing in large endorsements and sponsorships like Adidas, and Dick’s Sporting Goods.”

Matthews plans on retiring from the fire department in six years, after which she says she will focus on the team.

If asked, Matthews describes herself as a firefighter first, and a pro-sports team owner second.

“It depends on the environment,” she said “I’m a firefighter. That’s pretty much my response, unless I’m in a sporting environment and they already kind of know that I’m involved with footballers in some sort of fashion.”

Team photo via Facebook

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HAT-TRICK: Alexandria’s Noah Lyles wins gold in 100m, 200m and 4×100 relay at World Championships

World champion sprinter Noah Lyles speaks after receiving the key to the city at Market Square on Monday, October 10, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

The fastest man on the planet is an Alexandrian.

Noah Lyles cemented his place in history last week with a hat trick at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, by winning the 100-meter and 200-meter races, and brought home the gold for Team USA as anchor in the 4×100 relay.

Lyles, who raced to his third straight 200m championship, was also the first man to win both the 100m and 200m races since Usain Bolt in 2015. He’s now poised to take on the competition next year in the Olympics in Paris, France.

https://twitter.com/adidasrunning/status/1695169257171013870

Lyles ran the 100m last Sunday (Aug. 20) in 9.83 seconds — a personal best, and followed it up by clocking in 19.52 in the 200m on Friday (Aug. 25). Luckily, he wasn’t injured in a golf cart crash on Thursday.

On Saturday, he anchored Team USA in the 4x100m to win gold with a time of 37.38.

Last year, Lyles broke the American record in the 200m with a time of 19.31 seconds, breaking Michael Johnson’s 200-meter record of 19.32 seconds set at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

The 26-year-old is a mental health advocate and last year received the key to the city from Mayor Justin Wilson after earning the bronze medal in the 200m at the Tokyo Olympics. He’s a graduate of Alexandria City High School and now lives and trains in Clermont, Florida.

https://twitter.com/NBCOlympics/status/1695525136009474204

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Alexandria’s speedster Noah Lyles wins 100m at World Championships

World champion sprinter Noah Lyles speaks after receiving the key to the city at Market Square on Monday, October 10, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s Noah Lyles was crowned world’s fastest man after taking home the gold medal in the 100 meters at the  2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Sunday.

The 26-year-old Lyles was emotional as he received his medal for running the race in 9.83 seconds, a personal best for the Olympic bronze medalist. Lyles also said that he’s been challenged since the Olympics, and that he had an empty feeling in the days since.

“They can doubt you ,call you crazy, and even make fun of you but as long as you believe in yourself that’s all that matters,” Lyles tweeted after his win.

Robert Griffin III, former quarterback for the Washington Redskins, tweeted that Lyles ran the race that “no one thought he could. But he believed he could win and THAT’S ALL THAT MATTERED. Now he is a WORLD CHAMPION in the 100m.”

Lyles, a graduate of T.C. Williams High School, will run the 200 meters on Wednesday in Budapest.

Last summer, Lyles broke the American record in that race with a personal best of 19.31 seconds, breaking Michael Johnson’s 200 meter record of 19.32 seconds, which was set at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.

https://twitter.com/travismillerx13/status/1693311822328181008

https://twitter.com/NBCOlympics/status/1693310408390586616

https://twitter.com/TidalLeague/status/1693313454986142151

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Notes: Alexandria named ‘one of the best places to travel’ by Money Magazine

It’s a beautiful spring morning in Alexandria!

Today’s weather: Mostly sunny with a high of 72 degrees during the day, and cloudy with a low of 56 degrees tonight.

🚨 You need to know

Alexandria has been named one of the best places to visit, Patch first reported.

Money Magazine listed the city as a top destination, and called the city a “lux jumping-off point for D.C.-area visits.“

According to Money Magazine:

Along the King Street Mile in Old Town, you’ll find charming cobblestone streets lined with lanterns, outdoor cafes, Instagram-worthy murals and trendy bars. There’s also a vibrant art community — explore the many galleries or peek in at artists at work at the Torpedo Factory Art Center.

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Alexandria recreation facilities getting new water bottle filling stations courtesy Virginia American Water

Soccer practice (photo via Alexandria Soccer Association/Facebook)

The charitable foundation wing of utility company American Water said it’s awarding $25,000 to the Alexandria Soccer Association (ASA) to install water bottle filling stations at recreation facilities.

A release from Virginia American Water didn’t specify how many refilling stations that’ll get the ASA, but that the new refilling stations will be located at fields across the city.

The full release is below:

The American Water Charitable Foundation (AWCF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established by American Water, the nation’s largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility company, has partnered with Virginia American Water to award $25,000 to Alexandria Soccer Association to support the installation of water bottle filling stations at recreation facilities within the City of Alexandria.

“Alexandria Soccer Association is one of the largest youth-serving organizations in the City of Alexandria, bringing together thousands of families through soccer” says Carrie Williams, president of the American Water Charitable Foundation. “By installing water bottle filling stations, they are providing children access to safe, reliable drinking water and working to eliminate single-use water bottles. Projects like this align directly with American Water’s commitment to environmental stewardship and giving back to the communities we serve.”

Alexandria Soccer Association (ASA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, established in 1970 to offer soccer programs for residents of all ages and abilities within the city. ASA programs are intended to develop good character, mental and physical fitness, and interpersonal skills through soccer activities. ASA programs empower their participants to achieve their greatest potential, and part of that is becoming environmentally conscious citizens.

“ASA, in partnership with the City of Alexandria Department of RPCA, is thrilled to be a recipient of the American Water Charitable Foundation grant that will fund the installation of water bottle filling stations at fields across the City,” says Thomas Park, Executive Director, Alexandria Soccer Association. “Filling stations are an important asset that encourage hydration and help discourage single use water bottles that litter our planet and harm the environment. ASA’s values align with AWCF and the City to improve the health and wellbeing of our community and the spaces where we recreate.”

Funding for the bottle filling stations were made through AWCF’s State Strategic Impact grant program which was launched in 2022 to help support high-impact projects and initiatives throughout American Water’s regulated and regulated-like footprint. State Strategic Impact grants are part of AWCF’s Keep Communities Flowing grant program, focused on three pillars of giving: Water, People and Communities.

Photo via Alexandria Soccer Association/Facebook

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Poll: Are you watching the World Cup?

Man playing soccer (image via Emilio Garcia/Unsplash)

It’s World Cup season and it’s all anyone seems to be talking about this week.

The major sporting event — built on the backs of brutal working conditions for migrant workers — is heading into the semifinals after some tense games last week.

The opening game has 7.2 million viewers in the United States, with an estimated average 227.7 million viewers of the games worldwide every day.

Have you been watching the games? Did you tune in for a single specific game or team, or have you mostly opted out?

Image via Emilio Garcia/Unsplash

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City Council approves plan for new lights across five athletic fields

Field lighting proposal at Hammond Middle School (image via City of Alexandria)

The Alexandria City Council unanimously approved a plan to install lights on a handful of athletic fields, but city leaders also acknowledged neighbor concerns about the project.

The plan is to eventually install new outdoor lighting at five fields around the city, with those lights phased in as the budget and construction timetables allow. Three of the fields could be illuminated as early as FY2023:

  • Francis C Hammond Middle School, 4646 Seminary Road
  • George Washington Middle School, 1005 Mt. Vernon Avenue
  • Jefferson Houston K-8 School, 1501 Cameron Street

The other two, Patrick Henry K-8 School and Recreation Center (4643 and 4653 Taney Avenue) and Eugene Simpson Stadium Park (426 East Monroe Avenue), can’t be illuminated until 2024 and 2025 respectively. The aim of the lights is to extend the usable hours of some of the city’s more overcrowded fields.

The tone of the City Council meeting on Saturday was more cooperative than other debated city topics. While some civic discussions in Alexandria have been combative in the past, local resident organizations were quick to point out areas of agreement with local sports organizations and outline areas for compromise. The meeting featured a range of supporters of the lights and some nearby residents against the lights, but a sizable group of residents who supported the lights but had specific concerns about the lights exacerbating ongoing issues at the fields.

“Varsity Park members are not opposed to lights on the fields, including at Hammond Middle School,” said Bill Rossello, President of the Seminary Hill Association, “but we have significant concerns we feel have not been heard heretofore. All we’ve gotten back is indirectly communicated staff-splaining.”

Rossello said the Hammond field is frequently used by non-permitted adult groups throughout the year. Rossello echoed concerns shared from other neighbors who said their issues lie more in the handling of activities on the field than the lights themselves.

“In warm-weather months, these groups often use the field until dark,” Rossello said. “These groups are known to make a party out of a soccer match, consuming copious amounts of beer, playing music from very loud speakers, setting up food trucks at the site, and relieving themselves on resident properties across the street.”

Rossello said the Seminary Hill Association is asking for:

  • Use limited to permitted youth sports groups
  • If activity is not permitted, the lights are left off
  • Bathrooms installed on-site
  • Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities staff monitoring field use
  • Trash picked up early each day
  • Rental to adult groups prohibited

Ultimately, the City Council unanimously approved the lights, but several members of the Council said the discussion on Saturday was only the beginning of addressing issues related to use of the fields.

At a previous meeting, Planning Commissioners raised concerns that it can be difficult for someone facing an issue with one of the fields to get a clear answer on who to address those concerns to. One of the recurring items discussed was the need to have a phone number at each site so either local residents or those using the fields have a clear point of contact for issues related to field use.

“I appreciate these questions concerning management and monitoring of fields,” said Vice Mayor Amy Jackson. “As these issues arise what I want to get back to is… making sure the lights don’t continue to be on when they don’t need to be on.”

Jackson also said there have been games on lighted fields where the lights shut off and it wasn’t clear who to contact to get those turned back on.

However, I also want to bring up the flip side of the lights: sometimes those lights will go off in the middle of a game and I’ve been there when it happens,” Jackson said. “It’s disconcerting to players and parents, and there’s no one who can get ahold of anyone to turn on the lights. Again, that phone number comes in really handy. Broken hearts are left on the field if the lights are off and the game’s not over.”

Mayor Justin Wilson said discussion about field use will continue post-approval as the project is implemented.

“I appreciate everyone who added insights into this conversation,” Wilson said. “We’re working to address the concerns we heard and I think as we go forward we’ll work to address any concerns that arise.”

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