The Redskins and the city of Richmond have "begun discussions about restructuring the eight-year contract that brings the Redskins to town each summer for training camp," according to a front-page piece by Michael Phillips of the RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH. Under the current agreement, the Redskins are "paid $500,000 per year, either in cash, sponsorships or in-kind services, to come to Richmond." Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney said, “The current deal is not the deal I would have negotiated with the Redskins.” The team contends that the agreement, now in Year 5, has been a "net winner for the city," releasing documents "showing that the team has directly contributed more to the city in taxes and charitable donations than the city has paid the Redskins in cash." Redskins President Bruce Allen said that the deal has been a "success for all sides so far." However, Phillips notes the deal has been a "popular political punching bag, particularly the $500,000 annual contribution." Starting in '16, the team "quit announcing daily attendance numbers at the camp, which have fallen well short of the first year." In the final year that attendance was announced, weekday crowds "consisted of about 5,000 people." This year, crowds have "seemed slightly sparser, though the team has added a number of themed days to boost attendance." It is "not known how the renegotiation of the deal would affect the money owed or the terms of the deal" (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 8/9).
