The future of women's hockey in Washington, DC, is looking bright, thanks to the ambitions of Ted Leonsis, the owner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment. Leonsis, who already owns the WNBA's Washington Mystics, is keen to bring a women's hockey team to the nation's capital, but he's setting some conditions. He's open to hosting more women's hockey games at Capital One Arena and potentially bringing a team to DC, but only if there's flexibility in the ownership structure of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL).
Leonsis believes DC should be the 'women's professional sports capital of the world' and wants to be a leader and innovator in this space. The PWHL's recent expansion plans, including the addition of up to four new franchises this summer, have created a buzz in the area. The DC region has already shown its enthusiasm for women's hockey, with a record-breaking attendance of 17,228 fans at the PWHL Takeover Tour game between the Montreal Victoire and the New York Sirens in January. The crowd even chanted 'We want a team!' during the game, indicating a strong desire for a permanent women's hockey franchise in the area.
However, Leonsis acknowledges that the Capital One Arena is undergoing renovations, making it challenging to commit to a specific timeline for expansion. He's had discussions with PWHL executive Stan Kasten about hosting more games in DC, aiming for two games next year and three the year after. But the league's current ownership structure, where all teams are owned and operated by the Mark Walter Group, is a potential barrier to Leonsis' plans. A Monumental Sports & Entertainment spokesperson emphasized that they're open to bringing a team to DC if there's flexibility in the ownership structure.
The DC area has been considered a potential landing spot for a women's hockey team for some time. The PWHL evaluated the District, Pittsburgh, London, Ontario, and other locations for potential host cities. Leonsis' support for women's sports is well-known, and he's been vocal about his desire to make DC the 'capital of women's professional sports.' He envisions a future where DC hosts women's hockey, baseball, and volleyball teams, capitalizing on the growing popularity of women's sports.
In April 2024, Leonsis expressed his ambition to 'replicate what we’ve done at Monumental' and expand women's sports in DC. He told CNBC's Squawk Box, 'I could see one day us replicating what we’ve done at Monumental and we could have a women’s hockey team, we could have women’s baseball teams, we could have women’s volleyball teams. I think the whole platform [of women’s sports] is getting ready to explode.'
With Leonsis' enthusiasm and the PWHL's expansion plans, the stage is set for women's hockey to take center stage in Washington, DC. The question remains whether the league will be flexible enough to accommodate Leonsis' vision and bring a women's hockey team to the District, potentially making DC the women's professional sports capital of the world.
