Chairman Ted Leonsis Head coach Dean Cokinos | President Roger Mody | |
Team colors Red, navy blue, silver, white Owner(s) Monument Sports and Entertainment | ||
The Washington Valor is a professional arena football team based in Washington, D.C. scheduled to begin play in the Arena Football League (AFL) in 2017. The team's planned home arena is the Verizon Center. The Valor is owned by Monument Sports and Entertainment (Ted Leonsis, chairman), which also owns the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA), Washington Mystics of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the new Baltimore Brigade franchise.
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The initial announcement was made on February 10, 2016 of being close to a deal. The official announcement was made on March 10, 2016. The name team name Valor, and colors of red, white, blue and silver were announced on July 14, 2016. The Valor will be the first AFL franchise to play in the DC market since the Washington Commandos folded in 1990.
Washington Commandos
In 1987, one of the charter teams to play in the new league was the Washington Commandos. The Commandos first ever AFL game was played against the Pittsburgh Gladiators at Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, losing to the Glads 48-46. The team would play its home games during its first season at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland in 1987. The Commandos would not play in 1988, but would return as the Maryland Commandos the following season. The team moved to Virginia in 1990, again as the Washington Commandos and played at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia, home of the George Mason University basketball teams. The team was folded after the 1990 season.
"Washington Warriors"
In 1999, Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder announced his purchase of an expansion franchise to play in 2003. Snyder even gave them a name, the "Washington Warriors". He attempted to trademark the name as well as the name "Warriors", but after legal battles, the trademarks were nullified. After years of promising to put a franchise on the field, the Warriors expansion franchise never materialized and was abandoned.
Washington Valor
On February 10, 2016, The Washington Post and radio station WTOP-FM first broke the story that Monument Sports and Entertainment (Ted Leonsis, chairman), which also owns the NBA's Washington Wizards, WNBA's Washington Mystics, and NHL's Washington Capitals were "close to a deal" in bring a new Arena Football League expansion franchise to the Verizon Center. On March 10, 2016, AFL commissioner Scott Butera announced that the deal was finalized and that the new Washington, D.C., team would begin play in 2017. The official website, Facebook and Twitter pages launched on March 15, 2016. On July 14, 2016, the teams name was announced as the Washington Valor with the teams colors being red, white and blue. Jerseys and helmets designs were released on December 10, 2016.
Valor owners Monument Sports and Entertainment also acquired a franchise in Baltimore on November 14, 2016. The team's name was later revealed as the Baltimore Brigade.