Redskins are coming back baby! To the Commonwealth?
Some of you may not know this, but my first campaign I ever worked on was State Senator Bill Stanley’s election for his 1st full term in the Virginia Senate in 2011. As a young college student at the time and, not knowing Bill very well, I was unaware of his admiration and love of the Washington Redskins.
As we began to tour the small community where I am from in Cana, Virginia, Bill Stanley was trying to explain his position on ObamaCare to a country gentleman who ran a shoe store back home. And best I remember, the conversation went something like this:
Senator Stanley: Its like forcing people to buy something they don’t like. It’s like making people eat broccoli, or pay taxes, or….or…Matt what do you not like?
Me: The Washington Redskins
Senator Stanley: (Turning to my boss) Why the hell did we hire him? Matt, you’re fired!
Thankfully I was not fired (those of you who know Bill know he was joking), but from that day forward I began to “halfway like” the Redskins to keep my job. But after spending an entire election season as Redskins fan, I continued to watch the Redskins and then became a full-blown Redskins fan during college.
So as a Redskins Convert, it makes me proud to hear that the Redskins may be trying to move to Virginia! According to two stories from the Washington Post this week, it looks like the Washington Redskins may be coming across the Potomac to build a stadium in Loudoun County in the coming years. The team, who already has pre-season practices in Richmond, is thinking of moving everything to Virginia.Sources close to the team have this to say:
“Virginia is playing stronger and smarter than the other two entities,” said a team source who has direct knowledge of the negotiations. “Maryland got started later and has a lot to put together.” And for the moment, the person added, “D.C. is not in play.”
And apparently, Governor McAuliffe is all for the idea of moving the team to the Commonwealth, unlike DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. Bowser wants the team to change its name if it moves back into the District, while TMac is perfectly OK with the team staying the Redskins. TMac, who received election funds from Dan Snyder, is excited for the idea of bringing the team to Virginia and has no problem with the team name.
Of course, the General Assembly already has a Caucus in the Commonwealth. Senator Chap Peterson & Delegate David Ramadan, along with Republicans and Democrats, started the Redskins Pride Caucus. I imagine if given the opportunity, Virginia would jump to the occasion to get the stadium.
The idea for the stadium would be in the Loudoun County area, close to the Sliver Line and Dulles International Airport. The economic development would be massive, and it would be a wonderful opportunity for the Commonwealth. I would love to see the Redskins in Virginia, and it would be nice to drive up I-81, get to NOVA, and go watch the best team in America play football. I hope the deal goes through, and I hope the Washington Redskins find a home in the Commonwealth.
