Ohio Lawmakers Return to Familiar Territory

A new year brings Ohio lawmakers back to work, and once again public funding for sports venues sits near the top of the agenda. State politicians now face renewed pressure to help pay for another major project, this time in Columbus. The owners of the National Hockey League’s Columbus Blue Jackets, along with Franklin County officials, want money to renovate the city’s downtown arena, which first opened in September 2000.

The venue falls under the control of the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority, a government entity that also oversees the Greater Columbus Convention Center, a downtown hotel, and several parking garages. Authority officials say the 25-year-old arena needs roughly $400 million in upgrades. To help cover that cost, they want $100 million from Ohio legislators who represent the Columbus area.

How the Renovation Would Be Funded

The proposed funding plan relies on multiple public sources. Beyond the $100 million request from the state, additional money would come from the City of Columbus and Franklin County. Project backers also expect to use another familiar financing tool: a special entertainment or tax district surrounding the arena. Under that model, revenue generated near the building would flow back into paying off renovation debt rather than into general public funds.

Supporters argue the plan protects the arena’s long-term viability and keeps Columbus competitive with newer NHL facilities. Critics point out that these financing structures often shift public tax revenue away from basic services while offering limited economic return.

Political Pressure at the Statehouse

The push for arena money has only just begun, but lawmakers will find it difficult to ignore. Columbus serves as Ohio’s capital city, and history shows the legislature rarely turns down venue requests from major markets. Recent precedent strengthens the case for the Blue Jackets and county officials.

In 2025, Governor Mike DeWine signed a budget that included $600 million in public funding for Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam. That money helped support a proposed football stadium-village in Brook Park. In Cincinnati, Bengals ownership secured public funds from the city, Hamilton County, and the state to renovate Paycor Stadium. Ohio taxpayers also continue to help pay down debt tied to Columbus’ Major League Soccer stadium.

A Growing List of Requests

The Columbus arena proposal does not stand alone. Plans for a new arena in Cincinnati continue to circulate, and project supporters there may soon seek state assistance as well. Taken together, the requests raise questions about how much public money Ohio should commit to sports facilities in a relatively short period of time.

For now, Columbus remains firmly on the clock. Arena backers will lobby lawmakers in the coming months, while state officials weigh another high-dollar commitment to professional sports infrastructure. The decision will test whether Ohio’s long-standing willingness to fund venues has reached its limit.

Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191

Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com

Quick Take: The Washington Nationals are finally free from MASN after nearly two decades of disputes, and Monumental Sports Network is positioned to secure their TV rights beginning in 2026. This deal would give Monumental year-round programming across baseball, basketball, hockey, and WNBA, while opening new opportunities for MLB streaming and cross-promotion in the D.C. market NBC4 Washington Awful Announcing MLB USA Today.

Nationals End MASN Era

The Washington Nationals’ long nightmare with MASN is over. After nearly 20 years of legal battles and revenue disputes, MLB announced in March 2025 that the Nationals will be free to negotiate their own local broadcast rights beginning in 2026 MLB USA Today. MASN, a baseball-only outlet controlled by the Baltimore Orioles, lacked year-round programming and limited the Nationals’ ability to grow their brand. Now, the franchise can finally chart its own course.

Monumental Sports Offers Year-Round Programming

Monumental Sports Network, which already airs the Washington Wizards (NBA), Washington Capitals (NHL), and the Washington Mystics (WNBA), is the front-runner to land the Nationals’ rights Awful Announcing. Adding baseball would give Monumental a 365-day sports calendar, ensuring fans in the D.C. region have continuous coverage. A year-round schedule means cross-promotion opportunities: Nationals broadcasts could advertise Wizards tickets, Capitals playoff runs, or Mystics championship pushes, while basketball and hockey games could drive fans toward baseball season tickets.

Ownership Connections

Mark Lerner, principal owner of the Nationals, is already a minority stakeholder in Monumental Sports, which strengthens the likelihood of a deal. Ted Leonsis, Monumental’s founder and majority owner, has also emerged as a potential buyer of the Nationals if the Lerner family decides to sell NBC4 Washington Awful Announcing. That ownership overlap makes Monumental not just a broadcast partner but a possible future steward of the franchise.

Monumental and MLB Streaming

Monumental’s ambitions extend beyond cable. The network has invested heavily in direct-to-consumer streaming, aligning with MLB’s push to expand digital access. A Nationals-Monumental partnership could serve as a model for how regional sports networks integrate with MLB’s national streaming strategy, offering fans more flexibility and modern viewing options The Nats Report.

Why This Matters

The Nationals move to Monumental would reshape the D.C. sports media landscape. MASN’s baseball-only focus left gaps in programming and limited fan engagement. Monumental’s multi-sport portfolio ensures constant content, stronger advertising opportunities, and deeper fan loyalty. For the Nationals, this deal represents not just a broadcast change but a chance to fully integrate into the city’s sports ecosystem.

Looking Ahead

Negotiations are ongoing, but industry consensus points strongly toward Monumental Sports Network becoming the Nationals’ broadcast home in 2026. With MASN in the rearview mirror, the Nationals can finally leverage their media rights to grow revenue, expand their fan base, and strengthen their position in the nation’s capital.

The Professional Women’s Hockey League is rolling out its annual PWHL Takeover Tour with a marquee Montréal–Toronto matchup in Halifax, Nova Scotia. More than a showcase, this year’s tour is widely viewed as a preview of the league’s next major expansion phase. The PWHL will test fan interest and arena viability in Calgary, Chicago, Dallas, Halifax, Hamilton, Washington, D.C., and Winnipeg, along with return visits to Denver, Detroit, Edmonton, and Québec City. Each market will host two games, giving PWHL owner Mark Walter and league executives a firsthand look at potential new homes.

Last season’s tour proved the model works. During the 2024–2025 Takeover Tour, the league drew impressive crowds in Seattle and Vancouver — momentum that ultimately earned both cities expansion franchises last April. With that success as a blueprint, the PWHL is now positioning itself for another round of growth.

A League on the Rise — With One Major Concern

Now in its third season, the PWHL continues to outperform previous women’s hockey ventures. The league currently features franchises in Boston, Montréal, Newark, Ottawa, St. Paul, Seattle, Toronto, and Vancouver. Plans are already in motion to expand to 12 teams, and PWHL executive vice president of business operations Amy Scheer has made it clear that the league is accelerating its growth strategy.

“We added Vancouver and Seattle this year, two teams. We’re going to expand at least 2–4 teams next year. We are in growth mode and this league is exploding,” Scheer said.

But amid the momentum, Ottawa has emerged as a potential trouble spot. A proposed arena renovation would reduce seating capacity by roughly 3,000 seats, bringing the venue down to 5,500 — a number the PWHL believes is too small to sustain the team’s fan base or long‑term financial health. The league has also expressed reluctance to relocate the franchise to the NHL Senators’ arena in suburban Kanata, a venue far from Ottawa’s downtown core.

With Senators ownership pursuing a new downtown arena, the PWHL is watching closely. If the current plan moves forward and the seating reduction becomes permanent, the league may be forced to consider relocating the Ottawa franchise.

PWHL Takeover Tour Could Shape Ottawa’s Future

The Takeover Tour may ultimately provide the PWHL with alternatives should the Ottawa arena issue remain unresolved. With multiple cities eager to join the league — and several already demonstrating strong attendance during previous tour stops — the PWHL will have no shortage of options.

As the tour unfolds, the league’s expansion roadmap will become clearer. What’s certain is that the PWHL is growing quickly, its fan base is expanding, and its next round of decisions could reshape the landscape of women’s professional hockey.

Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191

Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com

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