In what the organization says is an homage to the District’s roots, the Washington Wizards announced Friday night that the organization’s G League team will be called the Capital City Go-Go.
Washington is one of the last teams in the league to have its own G League, formerly the D-League, team. The Go-Go is expected to start play in a new arena located on the campus of St. Elizabeths Hospital in Ward 8 starting in the fall of 2018. When it does, it will become the 27th team in the G league. There are 30 teams in the NBA.
Wizards owner Ted Leonsis said a friend showed him a text last winter that suggested calling the G League team the Go-Go, the organization discussed the idea, then settled on it. Further explanation from the press release:
“A pillar of DC’s music scene, the Go-Go subgenre was invented in the nation’s capital by Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers. The Young Senators, Black Heat, Trouble Funk, Rare Essence, Experience Unlimited and other impactful acts have helped make Go-Go a prevalent part of the region’s unique identity through multiple generations and an influential style that can be heard throughout several musical styles to this day.”
The WNBA’s Washington Mystics, also owned by Leonsis will also play their regular-season games in the yet-to-be-named arena, where the Wizards will also practice. Greg O’Dell, president and chief executive officer of Events DC, said they will address naming rights in the future. O’Dell also said that the building is on track to be ready in September of 2018.
• Todd Dybas can be reached at tdybas@washingtontimes.com.
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