WASHINGTON — DC Government inked a $400,000 agreement with two consulting firms to conduct a sports study with the goal of identifying potential financing models for District investments in new and existing sports facilities.
The study, which was ordered by Mayor Bowser in July as part of the creation of the Department of Planning and Economic Development’s “Sports Team” to “work closely with the District’s professional teams and coordinate across District agencies, including the Chief Financial Officer and Events DC, to maintain, attract, and grow world-class sports teams and sporting events in Washington, DC” DMPED stated in a release.
The study, which is expected to be completed in six to eight weeks, comes amid Mayor Bowser’s push to bring lure the Washington Commanders back to DC with a new stadium on the RFK site. The city is also in negotiations with Monumental Sports and Entertainment owner Ted Leonsis on a taxpayer funded package for major renovations at 25-year-old Capitol One arena. The Commanders and Monumental Sports Entertainment declined comment.
“DC is a proud sports town that values our professional teams and the critical role they play in the District’s vibrancy,” said Acting Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Nina Albert in a statement. “The Sports Study will continue our work to support DC’s sports teams and further understand their contribution to our city’s economic and cultural landscape.”
The team selected to lead the Sports Study is Jones Lang LaSalle Americas Inc (JLL) and the Robert Bobb Group. JLL has also worked with District government in many capacities dating back to 2001, including work done with DMPED focused on the Southwest Waterfront and Nationals Park. DMPED’s release called JLL “a leading national real estate advisory company that has worked with more than 50 municipalities and professional sports teams to deliver successful results for their clients.”
The Robert Bobb Group is a DC-based, minority-owned consulting firm that focuses on public-private partnership consulting and has worked with the District in the past to improve efficiencies in District operations and have conducted similar work for other municipalities around the country.
DMPED said the consultants “will conduct an analysis of current needs, existing financing mechanisms, and comparative research.” Additionally, DMPED says the study “will also deliver a credible understanding of the actual and potential fiscal, economic, and community impact of sports and major sports teams to inform conversations and decisions about potential future investments.”
In addition, the Study will analyze 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 the District.
To learn more about the DMPED Sports Team and to get in contact with the team, visit dmped.dc.gov/SportsTeam.
