Redskins To Move Training Camp To Richmond In '13, Keep Team HQs In Loudoun County

The Redskins yesterday announced that the team will retain its corporate headquarters in Ashburn, Va., and begin working with the city of Richmond to identify a suitable training camp site to hold summer practice there, starting in ’13. Gov. Bob McDonnell approved an initial $4M performance-based grant to support the retention and expansion. The City of Richmond is considering a number of locations for Redskins summer practice (Redskins). In DC, Kumar & Maske noted as part of the deal, a $30M expansion "will be coming to the team’s Loudoun County facility,” Redskins Park. McDonnell yesterday said that the state “has been working to negotiate a deal for about a year.” He added that both Maryland and DC “offered more money, but the Redskins selected Virginia.” Loudoun County will provide $2M "over the next four years,” while Richmond has “agreed to pay as much as $400,000.” Redskins GM Bruce Allen said that that the upgrades at Redskins Park “will include a new weight room, a new training room, a new cafeteria and improvements in the technological department.” Recent data indicates that the “Redskins support 1,832 jobs in the state, directly and indirectly.” The team "generates nearly" $200M in economic activity in Virginia. The Redskins Park expansion “is estimated to support 393 jobs during construction," while generating $52.8M in total economic activity. The team's HQs currently supports, directly and indirectly, 350 jobs and provides $2.2M in state and local tax revenue, "not including the corporate income tax paid by the team” (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 6/6).

BUSINESS-FRIENDLY: McDonnell said that “from what his administration can figure out, the other localities offered ‘significantly more’ than Virginia’s package.” McDonnell: “What we have going for us is the fact that we have an incredibly business-friendly environment.” He said of the state’s funding, “It is a reasonable investment. We’ll get far more than $4 million in state tax dollars.” He added had the team left Virginia, “there would be an immediate and sudden impact” on the annual revenues it generates (FREDERICKSBURG.com, 6/6).