Barely left in a reconstruction project, the Wizards could engage in a much more complex process: a move. The first in the franchise for 50 years, and the first in the NBA for ten years. We are still only at the beginning of the rumors, but is this story really serious?
According to Basket News, the group Monumental Sports & Environment, owner of the Washington Wizards, have started discussions for a possible relocation of the franchise from the capital. A destination in mind? Northern Virginia. Nothing very serious for the moment since we are only talking about “preliminary discussions”. The owners of the Sorcerers are even aiming for a group shot since the negotiations also concern the Washington Capitals, the NHL (Ice Hockey) franchise of DC
The motivations behind this idea are not very clear, although Monumental Sports & Environment would also discuss for an improvement of the infrastructures. So, are we really at the dawn of a sports revolution in the American capital? Or is it just a little bit of pressure in the hope of getting a little more consideration from the city for the local sport? Given the town in question and the market it represents, the second option is quite feasible.
In recent years, the NBA has shown some stability in the location of its 30 franchises. Indeed, the last trip across state lines dates back to 2013 when the Nets left New Jersey for Brooklyn. In the meantime, the Warriors have only traveled a few miles to move from Oakland to San Francisco. In other words, after a few decades of searching for itself between expansions and moves, the NBA has had a solid foundation since the early 2000s.
The Wizards have been in the capital or its metropolitan area since 1973. At the time, they were the “Bullets” and came from Baltimore, where they had spent ten years. Even before? Two seasons in Chicago under the name of “Packers”, then of “Zephyrs”. Since then, the only changes to the franchise have been changes to its surname. First “Capital Bullets”, they then became the “Washington Bullets” from 1974 to 1997 before using the current “Washington Wizards” until today.
It is also since this same year that Hogwarts has been housed at the Capital One Arena. New city for a new arena, are we facing the beginnings of a double revolution for the franchise and its new Frenchie, Bilal Coulibaly? We will surely not have the answer for many months but we are keeping an eye on this story.
Source texte : Basket News
2023-06-26 11:08:00
#Wizards #reportedly #relocation #Northern #Virginia
