Washington Valor

Washington Valor
Established 2016
Play in Verizon Center
in Washington, D.C.
WashingtonValor.com
Logo
League/conference affiliations

Arena Football League (2017–present)

Team colors Red, navy blue, silver, white
                   
Personnel
Owner(s) Monument Sports and Entertainment
Chairman Ted Leonsis
President Roger Mody
Head coach Dean Cokinos
Team history
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (0)

The Washington Valor[1][2] is a professional arena football team based in Washington, D.C. scheduled to begin play in the Arena Football League (AFL) in 2017. The team's planned home arena is the Verizon Center. The Valor is owned by Monument Sports and Entertainment (Ted Leonsis, chairman), which also owns the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA), Washington Mystics of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), and Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL).

The initial announcement was made on February 10, 2016 of being close to a deal.[3] The official announcement was made on March 10, 2016.[4] The name team name Valor, and colors of red, white, blue and silver were announced on July 14, 2016. The Valor will be the first AFL franchise to play in the DC market since the Washington Commandos folded in 1990.[5]

History of AFL in Washington, D.C.

Washington Commandos

Main article: Washington Commandos

In 1987, one of the charter teams to play in the new league was the Washington Commandos. The Commandos first ever AFL game was played against the Pittsburgh Gladiators at Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, losing to the Glads 48-46. The team would play its home games during its first season at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland in 1987. The Commandos would not play in 1988, but would return as the Maryland Commandos the following season. The team moved to Virginia in 1990, again as the Washington Commandos and played at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia, home of the George Mason University basketball teams. The team was folded after the 1990 season.

"Washington Warriors"

In 1999, Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder announced his purchase of an expansion franchise to play in 2003. Snyder even gave them a name, the "Washington Warriors". He attempted to trademark the name as well as the name "Warriors", but after legal battles, the trademarks were nullified.[6] After years of promising to put a franchise on the field, the Warriors expansion franchise never materialized and was abandoned.[7]

Washington Valor

On February 10, 2016, The Washington Post and radio station WTOP-FM first broke the story that Monument Sports and Entertainment (Ted Leonsis, chairman), which also owns the NBA's Washington Wizards, WNBA's Washington Mystics, and NHL's Washington Capitals were "close to a deal" in bring a new Arena Football League expansion franchise to the Verizon Center.[8][9] On March 10, 2016, AFL commissioner Scott Butera announced that the deal was finalized and that the new Washington, D.C., team would begin play in 2017. [10] The official website, Facebook and Twitter pages launched on March 15, 2016. On July 14, 2016, the teams name was announced as the Washington Valor with the teams colors being red, white and blue.[1] Jerseys and helmets designs will be released later in the summer.

Valor owners Monument Sports and Entertainment also acquired a franchise in Baltimore on November 14, 2016. [11]

Roster

Washington Valor roster
Quarterbacks

Fullbacks

  • Currently vacant

Wide receivers

 Offensive linemen
  • -- John Collins
  • -- Moqut Ruffins
  • -- Visesio Salt, Jr.
  • -- Adam Shead

Defensive linemen

  • -- Laith Wallschleger
  • -- Reggie Wilson
Linebackers
  • Currently vacant

Defensive backs

  • Currently vacant

Kickers

  • Currently vacant
 Injured reserve
  • Currently vacant

Other league exempt

  • Currently vacant

League suspension

  • Currently vacant

Refused to report

  • Currently vacant

Inactive reserve

  • Currently vacant

Recallable reassignment

  • Currently vacant

Rookies in italics
Roster updated October 14, 2016
10 Active, 0 Inactive

→ More rosters

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Russell, Jake. "And the name of D.C.'s arena football team is … the Washington Valor". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
  2. ↑ "Name of DC's Arena Football team announced". WTOP. 2016-07-14. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
  3. ↑ Jonathan O'Connell and Dan Steinberg (February 10, 2016). "Ted Leonsis close to securing Arena Football League team to play at Verizon Center". Washington Post.
  4. ↑ "AFL Lands New Team in Nation's Capital". AFL. March 10, 2016.
  5. ↑ Scott Allen (March 10, 2016). "Ted Leonsis to announce D.C. is getting an Arena Football League team". The Washington Post.
  6. ↑ Dave McKenna (April 29, 1995). "Warriors, Come In to Play!". Washington City Paper.
  7. ↑ Scott Allen (February 11, 2016). "'Washington Maul' and 12 other name ideas for D.C.'s future Arena Football League team". The Washington Post.
  8. ↑ Ted Leonsis close to securing Arena Football League team to play at Verizon Center, Jonathan O'Connell and Dan Steinberg, Washington Post, February 10, 2016
  9. ↑ Ted Leonsis to announce D.C. is getting an Arena Football League team, Scott Allen, The Washington Post, March 10, 2016
  10. ↑ AFL Lands New Team in Nation's Capital, ArenaFootball.com, March 10, 2016
  11. ↑ NEWSROOM MONUMENTAL SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT ACQUIRES AFL TEAM TO PLAY IN BALTIMORE, Monumental Sports and Entertainment website, November 14, 2016
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