Plans To Develop A New Sports & Entertainment Complex In Alexandria, Virginia, Solidifies Need For Stronger Access To The Washington, D.C. Region
Washington, D.C. – The Capital Access Alliance (CAA), a coalition of transportation and business leaders from Virginia and around the country seeking to make air travel to and from Washington, D.C., more accessible and affordable, released a new ad titled, “Slam Dunk,” as part of its ongoing digital advertising campaign.
The 30- and 15-second ads highlight the recently announced proposal to build a brand-new sports and entertainment complex in Alexandria, Virginia’s Potomac Yard. The Alexandria enclave, directly next door to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and near the future site of the new Amazon HQ2, would be the new home of the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals. The new CAA ad makes the case that this $2 billion investment underscores the need for stronger direct access to the Washington, D.C., region.
The ad also highlights the strong support for the new sports arena from Virginia’s senior Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), even as he’s led the fight against a small number of new flights claiming they could lead to more traffic in the area.
Click Below To Watch
“Virginia leaders and Northern Virginia residents are understandably excited about the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals potentially moving to Alexandria, especially when estimates show the new complex could generate billions in local revenue and create thousands of new jobs,” said CAA spokesperson and Northern Virginia resident Brian Walsh.
“Similarly, adding more flights at DCA should receive a lot of enthusiasm and support. A study by one of the country’s top consulting firms makes clear that more flights will be a boost for the local economy and hundreds of new jobs. If this proposal comes to fruition, fans nationwide will want to visit our region to see the games. Unfortunately, they’ll have to pay the highest airline ticket prices in the country because the outdated federal perimeter rule continues to stifle competition,” continued Walsh.
“The fact that Potomac Yard was chosen as the possible new location for this complex is a testament to Northern Virginia’s continued population and economic growth. It’s all the more reason modernizing the outdated perimeter rule and adding more direct flights to and from DCA are long overdue. Air travelers deserve more choices at more affordable prices. As Virginia leaders support this new complex, they should also support making the national capital region more affordable and accessible for everyone who wants to visit,” concluded Walsh.
A study by one of the nation’s top management consulting firms found that additional flights at DCA could generate up to $400 million in economic value and create more than 1,000 jobs for the region. A recent poll shows Virginia voters oppose the current perimeter rule by a two-to-one margin, and nearly six out of 10 Northern Virginia residents support reforming the perimeter rule.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data also confirms that DCA can safely handle this very modest increase, and investments to improve DCA’s infrastructure allow the airport to accommodate more passengers. Data also indicates that DCA is the region’s top-performing airport, beating Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) in on-time arrivals and departures.
A bipartisan proposal before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Transportation, and Science would add a modest number of new flights at DCA – a reasonable compromise from an original proposal in the U.S. House to add as many as 28 new flights. As Members of Congress work to pass the FAA Reauthorization bill, they should include this proposal in the final package.
About CAA
CAA consists of diverse members from around the country and various industries, including transportation, general business groups, the small business sector, entrepreneurs and job creators, organizations focused on economic development, and leaders in the civic and policy communities.
Watch the full ad HERE.
Learn more about Capital Access Alliance HERE.
###