(Richmond) The project to relocate the Wizards and the Washington Capitals to northern Virginia easily cleared a first hurdle before the state legislature on Friday.
Lawmakers voted 17-3 to advance the measure, a priority of Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, in the House of Delegates.
Several Democratic lawmakers tempered their support by saying that at this point, talks should continue.
“This process is going to take at least the remainder of our session to pass, or not pass, this legislation,” said Delegate Mark Sickles, who supported the bill.
The project would move the clubs across the Potomac River.
Virginia is the most populous state in the United States without a team in one of the four major leagues.
Youngkin and Ted Leonsis, CEO of Monumental, announced in December that they had an agreement on a relocation deal for the Capitals and Wizards.
The plan calls for building a $2 billion development in Alexandria’s Potomac Yard area. We want to build an arena, a training center and the Monumental head office.
There would be a separate place for arts and entertainment – all about ten kilometers from Capital One Arena, current home of the Capitals and the Wizards.