Washington DC forms new division to attract major sports events

Washington DC officials have announced further plans for a new division that will collaborate with professional teams to plan, coordinate and support sports across the district.

Last week, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the creation of the DMPED Sports Team, which will work closely with the district’s professional teams and coordinate across district agencies and with Events DC to maintain, attract, and grow world-class sports teams and sporting events in the US capital city. The DMPED Sports Team will also focus on supporting the development of the next generation of DC athletes and coaches.

Now Bowser and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) have released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a DC Sports Study to support the newly formed DMPED Sports Team’s work.

The DC Sports Study will require a selected contractor to work with the Sports Team to identify and recommend deal structures for financing DC sports facilities, leveraging insights from DC and beyond, with a focus on maximising the fiscal, economic, and community benefits of sports to communities. In addition, the study will analyse the economic impact of sports and entertainment venues in the District to date, as well as the impact of potential relocations of existing major sports teams into and out of the District. The submission deadline for proposals is August 24, 2023.

Bowser said: “DC is the sports capital because of our teams, our fans, and the athletes – our professional athletes and our young all stars – who have helped build a community and culture of sports in the district.

“We know how important sports are to our city and particularly for DC’s Comeback, and we are focused on exploring creative strategies to support our sports teams and their needs. We’re looking for an outstanding and innovative partner that will work with our DMPED Sports Team and provide recommendations that are tailored to our city’s unique needs and sports landscape.”

The Sports Team, led by Jonathan Kayne, director of special projects and finance at DMPED, will serve as the central point of contact within the Bowser administration for the district’s professional sports teams, as well as professional leagues looking to host large events in the district.

DC is home to the NFL’s Washington Commanders, MLB’s Washington Nationals, the NHL’s Washington Capitals, NBA’s Washington Wizards, and MLS’s DC United.

A partnership led by Josh Harris, founder and managing general partner of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), announced the closing of their acquisition of the Washington Commanders on July 21. The franchise’s new owners are said to be considering sites in Maryland, DC and Virginia for a new stadium.

Last month, it was reported that James Comer, the chairman of the influential congressional committee that oversees Washington, DC, is preparing to introduce legislation that could enable the district to build a new stadium for the Washington Commanders NFL team. The legislation could allow a new stadium or another mixed-use development to be built at the site of RFK Stadium, boosting Mayor Muriel Bowser’s efforts to lure the team back to the city.

DC is one of the biggest cities in the US to have never staged the Super Bowl. While shortcomings identified at RFK Stadium and FedEx Field are believed to be part of the reason DC has not hosted the NFL’s flagship game, the NFL has usually picked host venues in parts of the country that are warm in February.