
The attorney general for the District of Columbia has stated that the NBA's Washington Wizards and NHL's Washington Capitals are required to continue playing their games at the downtown arena until 2047. This assertion is based on a 2007 bond agreement that extended the teams' lease for an additional 20 years beyond the original timeframe, which was set to expire in 2027.
The letter from the attorney general comes in response to Monumental Sports and Entertainment's plans for a new $2 billion arena across the Potomac River in Alexandria, Virginia. However, these plans have faced obstacles in the Virginia legislature, with a recent development involving a state senator blocking the arena deal from being included in the state budget.