Redskins Training Facility Idea Facing Early Opposition in D.C.
D.C. Commissioner Brian Flahaven is solid on his stance about a Washington Redskins training facility in the D.C. area. Short and simple, he’s not on board with it. His reasons are mostly from an investment point of view.
When I contacted commissioner Flahaven last week about this idea he said, “I’m not a fan of this idea, particularly because the city would be essentially giving prime, Metro-accessible real estate for a private facility that would offer few, if any, benefits to the neighborhood and city.”
Headlines started buzzing last week about D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray’s quiet but active plans to try and get the Washington Redskins to move their training facility to the D.C. area.
This plan, said Flahaven, is not generating a lot of support from the public at all.
“Most residents in the neighborhood are opposed, particularly since we have few details about the plan,” Flahaven explained. “We think the Mayor needs to seek resident feedback before pursuing a deal with Dan Snyder.”
The location, Reservation 13, will be discussed a community meeting that is scheduled to happen soon.
“The Mayor’s office has not released any plans or indicated where on the site the facility would be located,” Flahaven said.
Moving the Redskins back to D.C. has been an ongoing dream not just for Mayor Gray, but for former Mayor Marion Barry. After the Super Bowl week, Barry fired off a rash of tweets in frustration with the Redskins, following with an explanation later on.
He told the Washington Post “Dan Snyder is in Maryland, the team is in Maryland, and we get nothing…They get to use our name.”
Even though he said he was nothing more than frustrated, he continued, saying the “Redskins have been a great disappointment since they left Washington D.C…A lot of us have had a hard time holding to our loyalties after seeing Super Bowl after Super Bowl and play-off game after play-off game.”
Even though I’m sure Barry is biggest of Redskins fans, I don’t think relocation will change performance. This is a matter of bringing in revenue for the District. They don’t like how Loudoun County gets the privilege of saying they have a pro football team in their area and it’s starting to show. Everyone wants a piece of the action. If that wasn’t the case, why isn’t the Mayor not trying to woo the Redskins to move completely? He’s a politician, that’s why. In the end, this is a great ad for re-election, and more money in the bank.
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