Redskins considering HQ move to Prince George’s County

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The Washington Redskins are considering moving their headquarters to Prince George’s County, and county officials want to study the idea.

The Maryland Stadium Authority received a letter from Prince George’s officials on May 31 asking for a feasibility study for a facility. The market and economic analysis would cost about $25,000, a third of which the county would pay for, and the remaining two-thirds would be paid by the Maryland Stadium Authority and the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.

The team’s current headquarters, Redskins Park, has been in Ashburn, Va., since 1992. The 159-acre site used to be a dairy farm. The Redskins play their home games in FedEx Field in Landover.

“Basically, we’re taking a look at all of our options,” said Tony Wyllie, senior vice president of the Redskins. “We have a good relationship with Prince George’s County.”

The stadium authority will consider the request at its meeting Tuesday, along with a request for a feasibility study on a new proposed convention center and arena project in Baltimore.

“We were contacted by the county in the last couple of months about the discussions of moving the year-round training facility,” said Maryland Stadium Authority Executive Director Michael J. Frenz, who added that he expects the board to approve the request.

In the letter requesting the study, Prince George’s County Acting Chief Administrative Officer P. Michael Errico and Chief Administrative Officer for Economic Development David S. Iannucci said the county was approached by the team about the idea of relocating.

Iannucci said that Prince George’s County has the right of first refusal for the move because of its agreement with the team through FedEx Field. County officials are particularly interested in the practicality of using land near Bowie’s MARC station since there is unused property that is county-owned, he said.

The study would also take a look at how many jobs the relocated headquarters and training facilities would bring, as well as players who might move from Virginia to Maryland as a result.

“Having a corporate, year-round training facility would benefit the local community, and players may choose to live in Prince George’s County,” Iannucci said. “Our first step is to ask basic questions.”

Iannucci said that Prince George’s County Del. Jay Walker was involved in the initial discussions with the team and the local governments.

Walker did not return phone messages for comment.

County officials also requested that the study be expedited.

The MSA’s board must vote on the feasibility study request before it can be sent to the General Assembly. There, budget committees would have 30 days to review the request before granting approval.

MSA will work with Crossroads Consulting Services LLC, its on-call consultant based in Tampa, Fla., about the time frame.

The state is allowed to pay for up to $500,000 each fiscal year on feasibility studies conducted by the MSA.

The other feasibility study to be reviewed on the convention center complex will cost about $150,000, and is expected to be paid for by the state. Gov. Martin O’Malley and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake officially requested the study in May. The study would examine how an expanded convention center and attached arena would increase the city’s convention and tourism business.