In an interview with WTOP on their “Ask the Owner” segment, Monumental Sports and Entertainment chairman Ted Leonsis answered questions on everything from the state of the Washington Wizards to how legal sports betting will transform the sports marketplace.
His most noteworthy comments came on a potential Capitals’ White House visit.
Video
When asked about when, not if, the Caps will visit the White House, which a few players voiced concerns over, Leonsis was diplomatic, saying it was up to the team.
“There’s been some reach out from the White House and this will be a team decision, I’ve said that from Day One,” Leonsis said. “They’re in discussions right now but I think that they will have an answer to that soon. Again, it’s our players and coaching staff that will decide and whatever they decide I think that the team would support that.”
Both Devante Smith-Pelly and Brett Connolly have stated they would not attend a White House visit should the team go. Based on reports from Isabelle Khurshudyan, the Caps and the White House have discussed a date for a visit sometime in the winter.
On the state of his NBA team, the Washington Wizards, Leonsis mentioned they would not trade stars John Wall, Bradley Beal, and Otto Porter, Jr., and that the goal was playoff contention this season.
Leonsis on Wizards: "I was asked point blank, are you going to tank? That’s an offensive question. You can’t go to your players, your coach and say, ‘We’re going to lose.’”
— Noah Frank (@NoahFrankWTOP) January 31, 2019
Leonsis on if changes might come for the Wizards: “We would have to look at the entire organization whenever we don’t meet our goals."
— Noah Frank (@NoahFrankWTOP) January 31, 2019
Is he happy with Ernie Grunfeld? “I’m happy if we meet our goals." (says goals are to make playoffs)
— Noah Frank (@NoahFrankWTOP) January 31, 2019
On possibility of dealing Wall, Beal, Porter before NBA Trade Deadline: "We're not trading any of those players"
— Noah Frank (@NoahFrankWTOP) January 31, 2019
With regards to sports gambling, Leonsis wants to test it out with the arena football team, the Washington Valor, before it hits primetime.
Leonsis says he wants to use the Arena Football League as the testing grounds for various interactive gaming (sports betting) opportunities and technologies
— Noah Frank (@NoahFrankWTOP) January 31, 2019
Leonsis has been an avid supporter of sports betting. In a video with the Washington Post, Leonsis said the legalization of sports betting in DC was “a very very positive development, especially for the fans.”
When asked about if he could lower the cost of concessions at Capital One Arena, similar to how Mercedes Benz Arena in Atlanta has low costs for food, he said that the arena’s contract with Aramark, along with the options outside the arena, are reasons against lowering prices.
“No, I think that our business model is we’ve sold the rights to Aramark and Aramark does the programming of it and they’ve been great, great partners” Leonsis said. “My feeling frankly is that because we’re downtown there’s so many options outside the arena before and after the game that people can pick and choose what they want to do and I’m satisfied with how we have a game experience. I just looked the other day at the cost of going to a game in the NHL. There’s like six US cities that are above us, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago—we’re offering a very fair value to our fans.”
Headline photo: @TedLeonsis
Share On