Training camp moving to Richmond in 2013 is part of the deal for Virginia to keep the Redskin headquarters ($$) and training facility. Virginia will be contributing money to upgrade the facilities in Ashburn. There will be about $30 million in upgrades and expansions. DC might get a camp down the road, but they won't for the foreseeable future. I wouldn't be surprised if they even had some camps in the Tidewater areas of Virginia at some point in the future.

by selxic on Jun 6, 2012 12:02 pm • link • report

This is one failure of the Gray administration that I'm pretty happy about.

by andrew on Jun 6, 2012 12:11 pm • link • report

andrew: Amen to that.

by Geoffrey Hatchard on Jun 6, 2012 12:14 pm • link • report

Keep in mind this means that the preseason camp will be in Richmond, not all training and practice. That's still going to be at Ashburn and won't change.

Though it does likely mean, as selxic points out, that they'll likely be upgrading Ashburn as part of the deal and likely not moving anywhere anytime soon. But it's not because they're moving from Ashburn to Richmond — that's just their preseason camp. Lots of teams do those away from their normal locations. Carolina goes to Furman University, Falcons have gone to north Georgia, etc.

by Steve D on Jun 6, 2012 12:23 pm • link • report

Carolina goes to Wofford College, alma mater of owner Jerry Richardson who helped kick in a bunch of money to them. That's to keep them anchored as a team for both SC and NC.

The Falcons have been at Furman on two occasions but left a few years ago to go to a permanent training camp at Flowery Branch GA where their practice facility is located.

by JQ on Jun 6, 2012 12:32 pm • link • report

Ah yes, that sounds right on the Panthers. Knew I probably didn't have the exact locations correct anymore, just making the point of what preseason training camp is for most teams...

by Steve D on Jun 6, 2012 12:35 pm • link • report

Better not be a PLA on the $30mil in upgrades and expansions to the far our suburban practice facility ;)

Happy to see this news. Means we likely won't have to hear any furthur about this terrible idea for quite some time, and we can hopefully get enough development at Reservation 13 in the meantime that it would be impossible next time around anyways.

by Kyle W on Jun 6, 2012 12:39 pm • link • report

This has nothing to do with Snyder, Gray, McDonnell, or anyone other than Mike Shanahan.

Shanahan is old school and likes having training camp away form the home base. Remember, back in the day the Redskins used to have training camp at Dickinson College in PA, then Frostburg State. Old school coaches like the idea of an away camp with minimal distractions and a bunker mentality. I wouldn't be surprised if the final site isn't a college so that the players can stay in the dorms, just the way they used to back in the good old days (the best view of this was when HBO's Hard Knocks filmed the Kansas City Chiefs training camp at a small school in Wisconsin, complete with un-air conditioned dorms, tiny beds, and players riding bikes around campus).

Ironically, it was Snyder that began the trend of moving training camp back to the home facility. He did it for 2 reasons:

1. It meant more money in his pocket as he could control admission and parking. They dropped the idea of charging for admission and parking after the fans went nuts, but still cleaned up on concessions. Plus he didn't have to pay rent to another facility.

2. Snyder felt that it would help attract big name free agents if he could promise them a training camp in their own homes with their families rather than sweating it out in a dorm somewhere. This was back when Snyder was all about bringing in big name...remember Jeff George?

If you are Redskins fan, this move to Richmond is a good sign. It means that Snyder is giving up more and more control to Shanahan who, unlike Snyder, actually has a clue about football (and a Super Bowl ring).

If you live in DC, this is of course also a good sign that the city will no longer be tilting at this ridiculous windmill idea of moving the practice facility.

by dcdriver on Jun 6, 2012 1:13 pm • link • report

@DCDriver,

I think it has to do with more with shoring up your media presence in Southern VA and stem the growth of Panthers /Titans footprint.

by RJ on Jun 6, 2012 2:24 pm • link • report

I keep hearing the choice of Richmond is about expanding or reestablishing Richmond and the rest of Virginia as Redskins country, but I see it as a political deal with an extra benefit. Virginia wanted to keep the Redskins headquartered in Virginia. Richmond likely made hosting a training camp in Richmond a condition if the team wanted public money to sweeten the deal and stay in Ashburn. Also, it is now being reported that a training camp will be hosted in Richmond for the next 8 years.

by selxic on Jun 6, 2012 2:52 pm • link • report

Wait, so we never got a plan for Res13? I thought the mayor and Snyder were negotiating a deal.

Seems like the nondeal fell through and proves that the faux outrage was over the top, divisive, and just another reason to attack Gray.

by HogWash on Jun 6, 2012 2:56 pm • link • report

As someone here already mentioned, as a Skins fan and a District resident, this is a WIN-WIN situation.

by 20011 on Jun 6, 2012 9:07 pm • link • report

You say over the top and divisive, I say DC residents let him know how terrible an idea it would be to bring a training facility to Res 13. If we have to be a bit over the top to prevent this type of stupidity moving forward, I am in every time.

by Kyle-w on Jun 6, 2012 10:17 pm • link • report

Overlooked in all of this, the team will continue to be headquartered in Virginia.

by selxic on Jun 6, 2012 11:15 pm • link • report

If we have to be a bit over the top to prevent this type of stupidity moving forward, I am in every time.

That's fantastic. It just proves that those who share this view need to be led to water rather than finding it themselves. Group think isn't always a good thing.

In this casee, the group was railing against something that never was.

by HogWash on Jun 7, 2012 9:46 am • link • report

New moniker:

"Corporate welfare McDonnell"

by H Street Landlord on Jun 7, 2012 10:05 am • link • report

Why would Snyder move the teams actual corporate HQ to DC from Virginia?

Virginia Top Income Tax Rate: 5.75%
DC's Top Income Tax Rate: 8.95%

We're going to have to pay for a multi-billion dollar new stadium in 2027 anyways, let's at least develop the area surrounding the site with great amenities and retail and other revenue generators for the city in the meantime.

by PGDC on Jun 7, 2012 12:12 pm • link • report