Fans react to proposed plan that would move Wizards, Capitals to Potomac Yard

WASHINGTON (7News) — The future of Capital One Arena, the home of both the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals, is being called into question.

On Wednesday morning, project leaders announced massive plans to build a 70-acre sports and entertainment complex that would bring the two franchises across the river to Alexandria, Virginia.

7News spoke with several fans and heard mixed reactions about the potential move.

"It's a little sad for me. I grew up in D.C.," said Jonathan Franklin. "I really liked it when they moved out of Landover back to here. I only work a few blocks from here, and I really enjoy the convenience of going to Caps games here."

"It was a little saddening because this is convenient," said Aicha Barry who enjoys taking her children to Wizards games. "It's in the heart of D.C. This is where we come to hang out, now we have to move to Alexandria which is not as fun, but we can do it. It's twenty minutes away, right?"

"I do it now with the Commanders, out there at FedEx Field," said Vertrese Chambers. "I would travel wherever they are but this is just convenient. It's right here by the Metro station."

MORE | DC Mayor talks about plan to keep Washington Capitals and Wizards at Capital One Arena

While some fans said they would not mind driving the extra miles, others said it was the convenience that brought them to games to begin with.

"I like going to Capital One. Of course, we live around here so it makes it easier," said Tyler Jackson. "I don't know if we will drive out to Northern Virginia to go to games."

"It brings a lot of people in and I love seeing on game days the people on the Metro with all their jerseys, and people are on campus always going to games," said Rose Haley who goes to school in D.C. "We'll win free tickets on campus which is always really fun so it is really sad but hopefully we can continue that tradition when they move."

Many fans shared in their concern about what a move would mean for the arena's surrounding businesses.

"I'm afraid of what is going to happen to the area right here," said Ben Kirson who is visiting his son in D.C. "I think the restaurants will suffer, they'll go out of business, there will be more vacancies, and just a general decline."

"If they pick up and leave it's going to hurt the economy, it definitely is," Chambers added. "They'll still survive but there just won't be as much money because of the fact that this just brings in a lot because they be having concerts and stuff like that."