WASHINGTON 鈥� Monumental Sports & Entertainment CEO Ted Leonsis joined 草莓传媒 Monday morning to talk about many developments taking place within his organization. In addition to discussing the developments with the Capitals, the Wizards, and the new Entertainment & Sports Arena in Ward 8, Leonsis dropped the surprise announcement that MSE is launching a second Arena Football League team in Baltimore to compete with the expansion Washington Valor.
MSE already expanded its footprint in professional sports by adding the Valor, giving them a stable of teams in the NBA, NHL, WNBA and, now, the AFL. The unprecedented move will give MSE ownership of two of the five teams in the league in 2017. The team will play at Royal Farms Arena in downtown Baltimore, and should be named in the next 30 days, according to Leonsis.
鈥淲e鈥檒l be the only sports and entertainment platform to manage two teams in two cities,鈥� Leonsis told 草莓传媒鈥檚 Bruce Alan. 鈥淚 believe in the AFL. I believe in indoor sports.鈥�
Although NFL viewership is down, Leonsis said he didn鈥檛 see that as a result of a disinterest in football as a sport as much as the style and presentation of the game. He鈥檚 hoping the Baltimore addition spurs further expansion in the area.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a team in Philadelphia. Maybe we can get someone in Newark next to put their hand up and have like an Acela division. I think it would be good for all of those cities and towns, good for the cities, good for the fans.鈥�
Leonsis downplayed his recent remarks.
鈥淚 apologize, I didn鈥檛 mean to scare anybody,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e love Washington D.C. We have a great mutual respect for our city, and we have a 99-year lease on the land. 鈥� We鈥檙e very, very committed to Washington, D.C.鈥�
He didn鈥檛 rule out a potential future move within the District to a new home for his MSE properties, though.
鈥淲e鈥檇 have to wait and see, and that鈥檚 honestly what I was trying to communicate,鈥� Leonsis said. 鈥淚s Verizon Center, where it鈥檚 located today, the best use of that land? I mean, I think the city and we can talk about that five years from now.鈥�
Leonsis also discussed the progress on the Entertainment & Sports Arena, and suggested that he would like to add an NBA D-League franchise to that building as well, saying he was hopeful the structure would be up and running two seasons from now.
Despite an offseason in which they missed out on homegrown superstar Kevin Durant and the Wizards鈥� slow start to the season, Leonsis remained optimistic about both his new head coach as well as the team in general.
鈥淪cott鈥檚 a players鈥� coach. He鈥檚 upbeat, he鈥檚 not down, he鈥檚 optimistic,鈥� Leonsis said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 been given all new tools, new players.鈥�
Leonsis cited early injuries as part of the issue and downplayed reports of discord between the team鈥檚 two young star guards, John Wall and Bradley Beal.
鈥淚 do think people have overreacted to 鈥榓 rift,’ 鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e heard Bradley Beal refer to John as his big brother.鈥�
When asked about longtime Wizards general manager Ernie Grunfeld, whose contract expires at the end of the season, Leonsis was supportive but measured.
鈥淚 have confidence in everyone who works for me, but we have to be accountable,鈥� he said.
As for the Capitals 鈥� who have made the playoffs eight of the last nine years, but have not reached a conference finals during that span 鈥� Leonsis remained optimistic.
鈥淎ll I can do as an owner is put us in position year after year to be competitive,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou just have to believe organizationally, with the players that we have, one of these years it goes our way.鈥�
Listen to the full interview above.
