Beginning in 2013, the Washington Redskins will hold eight straight training camps in Richmond, according to Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, who made the official announcement at a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
It would be the first Redskins training camp not held at the team's Ashburn, Va. facility since 2002, when the team was based at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa.
Some of the other highlights from the press conference, as tweeted by CSNWashington.com's Rich Tandler.
McDonnell: Redskins will build $30 million facility in Ashburn, commit to Richmond training camp for 8 years.
— Rich Tandler (@Rich_Tandler) June 6, 2012
Virginia will grant $4 million to building new Redskins Park, Loudoun County will put in about $500K.
— Rich Tandler (@Rich_Tandler) June 6, 2012
Richmond Mayor Jones: "We are looking at every possible place" for the Redskins to hold camp. Will put a task force together.
— Rich Tandler (@Rich_Tandler) June 6, 2012
Construction on upgrades to #Redskins Park to start "soon" per McDonnell.
— Rich Tandler (@Rich_Tandler) June 6, 2012
McDonnell said that the team gains about $9 million dollars per year in taxes, more than offsetting the $4 million grant to the team.
— Rich Tandler (@Rich_Tandler) June 6, 2012
So there you go. The first question that immediately comes to mind is this: If the team continues to struggle, how many on-the-fence fans in Maryland (think places like Montgomery County) will become Ravens fans if Baltimore continues to make playoff appearances? However much sense this makes for both the Redskins and the Commonwealth of Virginia, this is a pretty drastic commitment to make by a team that ostensibly has a foothold in three distinct areas.
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