With the Alexandria NHL and NBA arena deal now dead, and MLB opening day today, it’s a good time to reflect on the fact that Arlington could have been the home of the Nationals.
In the early 2000s, a group bidding to land the Montreal Expos pitched the “PenPlace” site in Pentagon City. You know it now as the site where Amazon HQ2 Phase 2 and its distinctive Helix tower will be going (probably).
As recounted by WeLoveDC in 2011, local residents balked at the idea of an MLB stadium clogging nearby roads and the property owner decided a mixed-use development — ultimately an office complex that was approved but never built — would be more lucrative. The team, of course, moved to D.C. in 2005 and the Nationals won a World Series in 2019 before entering their current rebuilding phase.
Many of the arena-related concerns of Alexandria residents — traffic and parking namely — were the same concerns of those living near Pentagon City at the time.
While there was much rejoicing on social media upon news that D.C. had reached a deal with team owner Ted Leonsis to retain the Capitals and Wizards at Capital One Arena, there were also some disappointed at the loss of a potential economic development driver for Alexandria and Potomac Yard.
Likewise, we’re wondering whether anyone is still disappointed by Arlington not landing the baseball stadium. Let’s find out.