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ENROLLED ORIGINAL
INTHE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
OCTOBER 23, 2025
TodesignatetheDistrictofColumbiaastheOfficialSportsCapitaloftheUnitedStates;andtoamend TitleIIof the Washington Convention Center AuthorityAct of 1994 to requirethe
WashingtonConventionandSportsAuthoritytodevelopandimplementaplantopromote,support,andenhancetheDistrict’sstatusasthenation’spremierdestinationforsportsevents,teams,andactivities.
BE ITENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA, Thatthis
actmay be citedasthe“OfficialSportsCapitalofthe UnitedStatesDesignationAmendment Act
of 2025”,
TITLEI.DESIGNATIONOF THE DISTRICTAS THE OFFICIALSPORTSCAPITAL
OF THE UNITED STATES.
Sec.101.Shorttitle.
Thistitlemay be citedas the“Senseof theCouncilon theDesignationoftheDistrictof
Columbia astheOfficialSportsCapitaloftheUnitedStatesAct of2025”.
Sec.102.TheCouncilfindsthat:
(1)TheDistrictofColumbiaishometonumerousprofessional,collegiate,andamateursportsteams,includingtheWashingtonWizards,WashingtonMystics,WashingtonNationals,WashingtonCapitals,D.C.United,WashingtonSpirit,D.C.Defenders,OldGloryDC,andDC Breeze.
(2)TheDistricthashostedpremiernationalandinternationalsportingevents,includingthe MLB All-StarGame, NBA All-StarGame, NHL Winter Classic,WNBA All-Star
Game,theMubadalaCitiDCOpen,WorldCupqualifiers,andtheArmy-NavyGame,showcasingitscapacityasaglobalsportshub.
(3)TheDistriet’suniquestatusasthenation’scapital,anditsaccessibility,infrastructure,andsportsculturemakeitthemostfitingcitytoserveastheOfficialSportsCapitalofournation.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
To designatetheDistrictof Columbia as theOfficialSportsCapitalof theUnitedStates;and to
amend TitleIIof theWashington ConventionCenterAuthorityAct of 1994 torequirethe
‘WashingtonConventionandSportsAuthoritytodevelopandimplementa planto
promote,support,andenhancetheDistrict'sstatusasthenation’spremierdestinationfor
sportsevents,teams,andactivities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
actmay be citedasthe“OfficialSportsCapitalof theUnitedStatesDesignationAmendment Act
of2025”.
TITLE I.DESIGNATION OF THE DISTRICT AS THE OFFICIAL SPORTS CAPITAL
OF THE UNITED STATES.
See.101.Shorttitle.
This titlemay be citedas the“Senseof theCouncilon theDesignationof the Districtof
Columbia as theOfficialSportsCapitalof theUnitedStatesAct of 2025”.
Sec. 102.The Council findsthat:
(1)TheDistrictofColumbiaishometonumerousprofessional,collegiate,and
amateursportsteams,includingtheWashingtonWizards,WashingtonMystics,WashingtonNationals,WashingtonCapitals,D.C.United,WashingtonSpirit,D.C.Defenders,OldGloryDC,andDC Breeze.
(2)TheDistricthashostedpremiernationalandinternationalsportingevents,includingtheMLB All-StarGame,NBAAll-StarGame,NHL WinterClassic,WNBA All-StarGame,theMubadalaCitiDC Open,WorldCupqualifiers,andtheArmy-NavyGame,showcasingitscapacityasaglobalsportshub.
(3)TheDistrict'suniquestatusasthenation’scapital,anditsaccessibility,infrastructure,andsportsculturemakeitthemostfittingcitytoserveastheOfficialSportsCapitalofournation.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
(4)TheDistrictcontinuestoinvestinworld-classsportsvenuessuchastheCapitalOneArena,NationalsPark,AudiField,RobertF.KennedyMemorialStadiumCampus,andtheCareFirstArena,furtherenhancingitsreputationasapremiersportsdestination.
(5)TheDistrictplaysacriticalroleinadvancingequityandinclusivityinsports,fosteringyouthparticipationthroughprogramsliketheDepartmentofParksandRecreation’scommunityathleticsinitiatives,andsupportingdiversityinsportsleadershipandopportunities.(6)DesignationoftheDistrictasthe“OfficialSportsCapitaloftheUnitedStates”willboosttourism,economicdevelopment,andnationalrecognitionoftheDistrict’srichsportscultureandhistory.
Sec,103.ItisthesenseoftheCouncilthattheDistrictofColumbiashallbedesignatedastheonly“OfficialSportsCapitaloftheUnitedStates”.
TITLE II.PLAN TO PROMOTE THE DISTRICT AS THE OFFICIAL SPORTS
CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES.
Sec.201. Shorttitle.
Thistitlemay be citedas the“SportsIncentivesand MarketingAmendment Act of
2025”.
Sec.202.TitleIloftheWashingtonConventionCenterAuthorityActof1994,effectiveSeptember28,1994(D.C.Law10-188:D.C,OfficialCode§10-1202.01efseg.),isamendedasfollows:
@)Section203(D.C.OfficialCode§10-1202.03)isamendedbyaddinganewparagraph(10N)toreadasfollows:
“(LON)TodirectnoJessthan$500,000perfiscalyeartosupportthesolicitationandselectionofaqualifiedorganizationtohostmarqueesportsrelatedeventsdesignedtoattractsportsbusinessprofessionals,includingsportsmediaexecutives,leaguecommissioners,andsportsagencyprofessionals;”
(b)A newsection203bisaddedtoreadasfollows:“Sec.203b.PlantopromotetheDistrictastheOfficialSportsCapitaloftheUnitedStates.
“(a)TheAuthorityshalldevelopandimplementaplantopromoteandenhancetheDistrict'sstatusastheOfficialSportsCapitaloftheUnitedStates,whichshallinclude:“(1)Initiativestoattractandretainmajorsportingevents,conferences,
conventions,andtournaments:
“(2)Strategiestoincreaseinvestmentinyouthsportsandcommunityathleticprograms;
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
(3)Partnershipswithprofessional,collegiate,andamateurteamstoengageresidentsand visitors;
“(4)MarketingandbrandingeffortstohighlighttheDistrict’sroleasthenation’spremiersportshub;and
“(5)A dedicatedfocusondevelopingtheDistrictasthenationalleaderin
electronicsports,includingsupportforelectronicsportstournaments,careerpathwayprogramsintoelectronicsports,digitalinfrastructure,andengagementoflocalyouthandemergingtalent.
“(b)Nolaterthan120daysaftertheeffectivedateoftheOfficialSportsCapitaloftheUnitedStatesDesignationAmendmentActof2025,passedon2ndreadingonOctober7,2025(EnrolledversionofBill26-119),theAuthorityshallsubmittotheCounciltheplanrequiredpursuanttosubsection(a)ofthissection.”.
TITLE III.STANDARD PROVISIONS.
Sec.301.Fiscalimpactstatement.
The Counciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementinthecommittee reportas thefiscal
impactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,
approvedOctober 16,2006 (120 Stat.2038; D.C. OfficialCode § 1-301.47a).
Sec.302.Effectivedate.
ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto)anda30-dayperiodofcongressionalreviewasprovidedinsection602(c)(1)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember
24,1973(87Stat.813;D.C.Code§ 1-206(c)(1)).
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Councilof theDistrictof Columbia
Districtof\Columbia‘APPROVEDOCTOBER 23792025 3
DocketNo.826-0119
[X]ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR:
[XJACTION
COUNCILOF THEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004
FirstReading,CC
‘SecretarytotheCouncil
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ontops[X]ITEM ON CONSENT CALENDAR:
[XJ]ACTION FinalReading,CC
[X]VOTE DATE October7, 2025,
[X]VOICE VOTE Approved
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Council Member Aye |Nay |NV | AB |Rec | CouncilMember | Aye |Nay|NV |AB |Rec|CouncilMember | Aye |Nay|NV |AB |Rec
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