Ted Leonsis writes statement regarding coronavirus response for Capital One Arena

Last Thursday, Ted Leonsis wrote a statement on his blog regarding why Capital One Arena did not cancel events immediately after DC Health recommend that they do so earlier this week.

In his blog, Leonsis wrote that the NBA and NHL can make decisions for the Wizards and Capitals, and that Monumental Sports & Entertainment “cannot make those decisions independently.” Having said that, a D.C. mandated ban would have been the only way games would have been cancelled earlier. DC Health only issued a recommendation, which Monumental Sports notified the NBA and NHL about.

The blog certainly gives a rationale and explanation of how this process played out. It also is a response to critics of his organization’s decision making, including Sam Amick of The Athletic.