Former Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal Pleads 'D.C. has to stay in D.C.'

Monumental Sports and Entertainment announced this month that they would be moving the Washington Wizards to Alexandria, Virginia.

Former Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal played in D.C. for 11 years, so he feels a connection to the area.

In a recent Andscape diary the former Wizards All-Star pleaded to Monumental Sports and Entertainment CEO Ted Leonsis to keep the team in the District of Columbia.

READ MORE: Beal Takes a Look Back at Trade from Wizards

"Ted, we love you to death," Beal said. "We understand what you want to do and (are) trying to do but you can't take the team out of D.C."

Leonsis and Virgina Govenor Glenn Youngkin had a press conference December 13th in Alexandria's Potomac Yards neighborhood.

They unveiled their plans to build an 8,000,000-square-foot campus that will hold a new arena and training facility for both the Wizards and the NHL's Washington Capitals.

"It's Chocolate City," Beal continues. "We need as a league we got to keep that; D.C. has to stay D.C."

Former #Washington #Wizards star @RealDealBeal23 makes plea in his latest @andscape diary to Wizards owner Ted Leonsis to not the #NBA franchise to Virginia. More video diary from the #Phoenix #Suns guard here: https://t.co/4zYDUEABw3 pic.twitter.com/AT3lRNYaQe

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) December 23, 2023

Chocolate City was given as a nickname to Washington D.C. after it became the first majority African American city in the United States.

There is no doubt that the moving of the Wizards affects the African American demographic more than any other in the District.

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) smiles while entering the court before the game against the Boston Celtics at Capital One Arena / Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Beal knows the city; he knows how people are feeling but when it comes to current players it seems there is a different attitude towards the move.

Specifically, Washington forward Kyle Kuzma who let people on social media know he was excited for the plans to move to Virginia.

Washington Wizards Moving: Kyle Kuzma Reacts

The plans are moving towards what looks like a definite move but there has been push back and it is a fluid situation.

We will see if people listen to Beal who has some clout in the league and D.C. and move forward with trying to keep the Wizards at Capital One Arena.

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