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- DC Pro Teams Host a Community "Day of Play" at RFK
DC Pro Teams Host a Community "Day of Play" at RFK
W|W DL 64
Number 64
DC Pro Teams Host a Community "Day of Play" at RFK
Featured Focus:
Community Programs, Youth Development, Health & Wellness
Scope of Impact: Local
Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) activated its D.C. teams for a community "Day of Play" at the RFK Campus, aligning with the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) spring break. Here’s the rundown:
Multi-Sport Engagement: The Capitals, Wizards, and Mystics each hosted interactive stations. Kids hit the pavement for street hockey drills with Caps youth staff, honed basketball skills with Wizards development coaches, and enjoyed Pop-A-Shot games courtesy of the Mystics.
Community Focus: Hosted by Events DC, the free gathering provided organized sports activities, giveaways, food, and music, specifically targeting families and youth looking for engaging options during the school holiday. Team mascots Slapshot and G-Wiz added to the fun.
Strategic Initiative: This event serves as a visible component of MSE's larger "District of Play" commitment – a multi-year, multi-million dollar investment aimed at boosting youth sports access and fostering healthy communities across Washington, D.C..
We’re seeing a national trend right now around boosting youth sports participation. In fact, we’ve highlighted a handful of initiatives in the last couple of weeks (DL61, DL56, DL55, DL49) backed by cities, professional sports teams, and media outlets, to name a few.
We love that Monumental Sports & Entertainment is joining-in by uniting their three teams under the banner of a “Day of Play at RFK,” part of a bigger “District of Play” program. It lines up with Spring Break to maximize participation and offer activities for kids and parents alike. It’s a great way for MSE to give back to the DC community.
However, what we love the most about this initiative is how it came to be. The “District of Play” program stemmed directly from the community benefits package negotiated as part of the public-private partnership for the Capital One Arena renovation, home of the Wizards, Mystics, and Capitals. This represents a sophisticated approach where community benefit programs are woven into the core strategy and public narrative of MSE and the District of Columbia.
YOUR NEXT PLAY:
Opportunities like this are available across the country, and they’re a WIN|WIN for everyone involved. In your experience, what are the hardest hurdles to overcome to make these intricate partnerships a success?
The full rundown of all of this year’s events, which were held on April 16. | Overview of MSE's multi-million dollar youth sports initiative that aims to “raise the game” by expanding access and increasing participation. | Washingtonian article covering MSE's large-scale basketball giveaway to DC Public School students. |
Aspen Institute report detailing recent youth sports investments in DC. | Spectrum and TeamSnap will sponsor more than 720 youth sports leagues across the country through 2027. | Spectrum and TeamSnap will sponsor more than 720 youth sports leagues across the country through 2027. |
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