Coalition Hails Labor Opposition to Potomac Yard Arena Deal
ALEXANDRIA, Va., February 20, 2024 – The Coalition to Stop the Arena at Potomac Yard (“Coalition”) today applauded the announcement by the AFL-CIO and its member unions that they will oppose the proposed arena deal at Potomac Yard. The Coalition, a bipartisan, grassroots group of Northern Virginia and District residents and national advocacy organizations called the announcement a “major blow” to Governor GlennYoungkin and Monumental Sports’ proposed deal to spend an estimated $5 billion of public money on an arena for the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals.
The following statement is attributable to the Coalition to Stop the Arena at Potomac Yard:
“Today, the workers of the DMV stood up to the billionaire owners of Monumental Sports and JBG Smith and their millionaire supporters and said ‘no.’ They said ‘no’ to an arena where good, union jobs are not protected. They said ‘no’ to a deal that does not protect immigrant workers from wage theft and exploitation. And they said ‘no’ to a bad deal for the District, Virginia, and Alexandria that would enrich JBG Smith, one of the most anti-union companies in America. Governor Youngkin and leaders in the Virginia General Assembly and the City of Alexandria should use today’s announcement to acknowledge what is already obvious to citizens and workers: It’s time to call off this Monumental Mistake.”
