Transcript at the link with the audio.
https://wamu.org/story/23/07/28/d-c-s-new-police-chief-pamela-smith-on-what-can-be-done-to-reduce-violent-crime-in-the-district/
NNAMDI
A somewhat similar situation is playing out with Capital One Arena. You met with owner Ted Leonsis last month about potential improvements to that nearly three decade old arena. Amongst talk that a new venue could be built in Arlington for the Wizards and Capitals, what did you discuss with Mr. Leonsis and should D.C. sports fans worry that we're soon going to be rooting for the Arlington Capitals?
MENDELSON
Well, I'm glad you brought this up.
NNAMDI
Morgan doesn't like that.
MENDELSON
There's a lot of distractions here about the new football stadium. And we shouldn't forget that we have existing teams and we want those existing teams to stay in the District. And both--I shouldn't say both because actually Monumental Sports is more than one team. Both ownership groups have significant costs. The District has contributed to the arena when it was constructed in the 1990s, again, in 2007 when I believe we provided about $50 million through borrowing. Again, we don't have money in our capital budget. But I do think that we need to continue to support the Capitals and the Wizards and the Mystics. And I don't know what that looks like, which is why I've met with Ted Leonsis. And I think that it's important that the District have conversations with them and that the District not forget about them in its zest and zeal to attract a football team.
MENDELSON
With the Nationals we own the stadium. So we have obligations there and that stadium is now 15 years old and there are pieces of it from deferred maintenance that are falling apart like the scoreboard. And so substantial repairs need to be made. And that's on us because we're the landlord. And that's also we have to figure out that financing and not screw that team in our zest and our zeal for a new team.
BASKIN
Well, it does seem impossible that D.C. would forget Ted Leonsis. But has he made any specific demands or asks, polite asks, in ways that he thinks D.C. could better support Capital One Arena, for example?
MENDELSON
My conversations have been--I would characterize general. But yes he has asked if the District will once again provide some financial assistance for major costs, renovations, upgrades to that facility. The facility is I believe one of the oldest in the hockey league. And I find it hard to believe, but 25 years later it's got a lot of upgrades that need to be made.
BASKIN
And so how should we be thinking as a city about prioritizing that ask?
MENDELSON
Well, in my view we should be prioritizing equally Monumental Sports and the National Stadium. And then after that--although as my position with regard to a football team is if they want to build a stadium on their nickel I'm okay with that. That could be a high priority because it's not costing us.
NNAMDI
Which is what Abe Pollin did with the arena in which basketball and hockey is now played. On to other issues. Here is John in Northwest Washington. John, you're on the air. Go ahead, please.
