In a move that ESPN’s Tony Korhneiser described as “villainy” and Mike Wilbon, his “Pardon the Interruption” co-host, described as “awful,” Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday that the NBA’s Washington Wizards and the NHL’s Washington Capitals are planning to leave Washington, D.C., and set up shop in northern Virginia in 2028.
It’s only fitting that the latest quarrel between taxpayers and billionaires is taking place in our nation’s capital.
“This is the most visionary sports and entertainment development in the world, bringing together entertainment, sports, and technology in the most advanced innovation corridor in the United States: a once-in-a-generation and historic development for the Commonwealth, sports fans, and all Virginians,” Youngkin said in a statement.
As she vowed to keep fighting to keep the teams in town, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said the district had offered to spend $500 million toward the effort, but that Ted Leonsis, who owns the teams, and his group wanted $600 million. Wilbon was correct when he argued on air that that difference was not enough for Leonsis to walk away from a deal. After all, Wilbon argued, fans had hardly seen a return for all the money they’d put into the two underperforming teams.
It’s only fitting that the latest quarrel between taxpayers and billionaires is taking place in our nation’s capital, because we’re generally united as a country in our insistence on wasting money on such boondoggles. For example, the day before Youngkin announced that the professional basketball team and professional hockey team would be moving to Virginia, voters in Oklahoma City approved a 1% sales tax to fund a $900 million arena to retain the NBA’s Thunder franchise through 2050. (That’s the team formerly known as the Seattle Supersonics that left that city after its then-owner failed to get taxpayers to pay for a $500 million arena there.)
The Thunder’s ownership group will spend $50…
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