Ted Leonsis, the owner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, is eyeing the future of women's hockey in Washington, DC. He's open to bringing a women's hockey team to the city, but it's not just about the games. Leonsis envisions a broader impact, aiming to make DC the 'capital of women's professional sports'.
In an interview with WTOP's Ben Raby, Leonsis expressed his enthusiasm for the sport's growth, stating, 'We should be the women's professional sports capital of the world. We want to play that part and be in that role as a leader and innovator.'
This sentiment comes as the PWHL (Professional Women's Hockey League) expands, with up to four new franchises set to join this summer. The DC area has already shown its appetite for women's hockey, with a record-breaking attendance of 17,228 fans at the PWHL Takeover Tour game between Montreal and New York in January. The crowd's chants of 'We want a team!' echoed the desire for a more permanent solution.
Leonsis acknowledges the potential for growth, but he's realistic about the challenges. He's spoken to PWHL executive Stan Kasten about hosting games, aiming for two next year and three the year after. However, a key condition for Leonsis is a change in the league's ownership structure. Currently, all teams are owned by the Mark Walter Group, and there's no immediate plan to alter this.
Despite this, Leonsis remains optimistic. He's already a vocal supporter of women's sports, owning the WNBA's Washington Mystics. His vision for DC includes a women's hockey team, baseball team, and volleyball team, a platform he believes is 'getting ready to explode'.
The DC area's interest in women's hockey is evident, and Leonsis is keen to capitalize on this. With the right conditions met, he's ready to bring a team to the city, solidifying DC's position as a leader in women's professional sports.
