sports | FFXnow

Potomac Yard developer blames Tysons talk for failure of pro sports arena deal

Published March 28, 2024 at 11:00AM

A rendering of Monumental's proposed sports arena in Alexandria's Potomac Yard (courtesy JBG Smith)

The deal to bring the Washington Capitals and Wizards to Alexandria’s Potomac Yard is officially dead, and the developer says suggestions that an arena could be built in Tysons instead were the final nail in the coffin.

Alexandria City officials revealed yesterday (Wednesday) that they had ended negotiations with developer JBG Smith, Wizards and Capitals owner Monumental Sports & Entertainment, and other stakeholders for a stadium in the proposed Potomac Yard Entertainment District. About an hour later, Monumental owner Ted Leonsis and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the two professional sports teams will stay at Capital One Arena in Chinatown after all.

News

Damage from deflation requires closure of Herndon’s indoor tennis center

By Fatimah Waseem

Published March 27, 2024 at 3:30PM

Herndon's indoor tennis court center is closed early for the season (courtesy Town of Herndon)

The Town of Herndon’s indoor tennis center has closed early for the season, the Herndon Parks and Recreation Department announced yesterday (Tuesday).

The closure was prompted by damage to the tennis enclosure, according to Reid Okoniewski, a spokesperson for the town’s parks and recreation department.

Countywide

Poll: What would you think of a Capitals and Wizards arena in Fairfax County?

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 26, 2024 at 11:45AM

A rendering of Monumental's proposed sports arena in Alexandria's Potomac Yard (courtesy JBG Smith)

State lawmakers punted consideration of a casino in Fairfax County to next year, but that hasn’t stopped some proponents from seeking to assist in the divisive plan to bring the Washington Wizards and Capitals to Northern Virginia, whose odds of a comeback win are looking slim.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, who represents Fairfax County’s Richmond Highway corridor, recently pitched the idea of bringing both a casino and the sports arena to Tysons to a representative of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the basketball and hockey teams, the Washington Post reported on Sunday (March 24).

Around Town

Tennis and pickleball retail store gets set for expansion to McLean

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 8, 2024 at 10:15AM | Updated April 14, 2024 at 10:58AM

The Rockville-based store Tennis Topia is expanding with a new location in McLean (photo by Doug McKinney/Tennis Topia)

(Updated at 4/14/24) A retail store that sells tennis and pickleball equipment is expanding to McLean after almost two decades in Maryland.

Tennis Topia anticipates opening its second location on April 20 at 6262 Old Dominion Drive, taking over suites F and G, which respectively belonged to a hair studio and a dry cleaner.

Around Town

New Fairfax pickleball center serves up grand opening with pro players exhibition

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 28, 2024 at 2:30PM

Down the Line Sports Center's Fairfax location has five indoor pickleball courts (courtesy Fairfax City Economic Development)

Professional pickleball players, local officials and community members are expected to turn out in abundance for the upcoming grand opening of Down the Line Sports Center in Fairfax City.

After a soft opening in early February, the indoor pickleball facility at Courthouse Plaza (10390 Willard Way) will officially introduce itself to the city tomorrow (Thursday). The event will kick off at 5 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting, followed by a meet-and-greet with six pro athletes visiting from around the country.

Around Town

Capital One Park in Tysons sets schedule for second season of baseball

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 2, 2024 at 3:30PM

Capital One Park in Tysons will kick off its second season of baseball on Feb. 17, 2024 (courtesy Capital One Center)

Capital One Park is winding up for another year of baseball.

Capital One Center unveiled a schedule yesterday (Thursday) for the ballpark’s second season since it opened at 1820 Dolley Madison Drive in Tysons on March 31, 2023.

News

GMU hopes to construct new multi-purpose baseball and cricket stadium by 2025

By James Jarvis

Published February 1, 2024 at 11:45AM

Aerial view of GMU's Fairfax Campus with proposed multi-purpose ballpark location outlined in red (via George Mason University)

George Mason University is poised to complete the construction of a functional cricket field at its Fairfax campus by the end of this summer and a new ballpark by 2025.

During a virtual town hall meeting on Monday (Jan. 29), GMU staff and Sanjay Govil, owner of the Washington Freedom cricket team and a founding investor in Major League Cricket (MLC), outlined the project and listened to feedback from local stakeholders.

News

Pickleball dropped from renovation of Barton Hill tennis courts

By Fatimah Waseem

Published February 1, 2024 at 9:45AM | Updated February 6, 2024 at 10:29AM

The Barton Hill tennis courts in Reston (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 10:30 a.m. on 2/6/2024) After more than a year of impassioned and often acrimonious public testimony, Reston Association will drop plans for pickleball courts as part of the renovation of Barton Hill’s tennis courts.

At a meeting on Jan. 25, the RA Board of Directors voted to remove pickleball courts from the scope of the renovation, which had inspired passionate testimony from both pickleball lovers and neighboring residents concerned about safety, security, parking and the noise associated with the burgeoning sport.

News

Pickleball Club of Tysons on track to open indoor courts this spring

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 22, 2024 at 11:00AM

Pickleball Club of Tysons founders Marc Greenberg and Tarlika Amin announce that the indoor, six-court facility will open in spring 2024 (via Pickleball Club of Tysons/YouTube)

Construction is underway to convert a warehouse in Tysons into an indoor pickleball facility.

The Pickleball Club of Tysons is now accepting membership reservations on its website after receiving the necessary approvals from Fairfax County to begin work at 8520 Tyco Road last week, according to co-owner Alesya Semukha-Greenberg.

News

Georgetown University baseball team finds new home in Tysons

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 9, 2024 at 10:15AM

Georgetown University's baseball team has selected Capital One Park in Tysons as its home for the 2024 spring season (courtesy Georgetown Hoyas Baseball)

Northern Virginia has lured another D.C. sports team across the Potomac River.

Georgetown University’s baseball team will play most of its home games this year at Capital One Park in Tysons, the Hoyas announced yesterday.