It’s that time of the year again. Will the Washington Redskins leave Ashburn’s Redskins Park?

The team has held training camp at the facility, located off of Loudoun County Parkway, since 2002.

Yet every year appears to be the one that will pull the region’s team closer to the nation’s capital. More specifically, George Mason University.

The discussion came up last year as well, with the Washington Post’s Mike Jones reporting that the Redskins planned to move training camp to the Fairfax-based university.

It never materialized, and the team announced on March 24, 2011, that they would be staying in Ashburn, its ninth straight year in the county.

“I have heard about the passionate fans and the huge, enthusiastic crowds that come out to support our team during training camp,” Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan said in a media statement when he was hired in 2009. “I’m looking forward to sharing in this experience for the first time.”

The team first moved to Ashburn when it opened Redskins Park in 2000, but then moved camp to Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa. before returning to Loudoun.

In 2009, Shanahan said he may think about moving camp, but that it is difficult to find the perfect environment.

“I would like to go to a camp, but I’m not sure if that’s possible because you have to have a quality field [and] meeting rooms. We’ll look into what’s best for the Redskins.”

Pigskin business

The Redskins franchise is a massive economic boon for Loudoun, as visitors flood into the region for the start of training camp each year. Although the facility found visitors more scarce last year, the event still draws a healthy crowd of large-walleted individuals to splurge on county amenities and spend money at local businesses.

Tony Howard, president of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, said if the team stays in Loudoun, it will benefit local businesses.

Last year, Howard said that Redskins fans travel hours to watch the team practice, which brings a money flow into area restaurants and hotels. Only 60 percent of the training camp attendees are Loudoun residents.

“It’s a very positive development to have the fan base of the Washington Redskins come out and visit,” Howard said.

When there was talk of moving the team last year, the Loudoun business community spoke out.

“It would be a shame to lose [training camp], we love that it’s here,” Cheryl Kilday, former president and CEO of the Loudoun Convention Center and Visitors Association said at the time. “It’s a great activity and event.”

Kilday said that the relocation of training camp could result in a loss of nearly $1 million in local revenues. She also said the Hilton Garden Inn Dulles North, which is close to camp, could face losing its $150,000 contract with the Redskins for the training camp weeks. Greg Miller, the hotel’s owner and manager, was unavailable for comment.

In 2010, Miller said that training camp occurs during a slow time of the year for the hotel, and the facility relies on the contract and cash from concession sales to help keep it afloat.

“The investment we’ve made as a county is considerable, and we really wouldn’t want them to leave that investment and relationship behind,” Miller said.

Business-wise, the county is all-in on the Redskins. In 2008, the Board of Supervisors signed a $250,000 marketing deal with the team. Basically, the county paid that money to be able to label itself the official home of the Washington Redskins. The plan also included a marketing agreement, but the previous Board of Supervisors rejected the renegotiation.

Freshly-elected Supervisor Shawn Williams (R-Broad Run) is trying to rekindle the marketing relationship.

“The Redskins are an important part of the local community and I know Redskins fans would be thrilled to see the Hall of Fame here in Ashburn,” said Williams, who is touting the proposal as a focus on economic development. “It is vital that the business community see that Loudoun is open for business.”

Football smarts

With the conference championships and the Super Bowl still to be played, it’s early to start looking toward training camp. Still, the Redskins’ public relations team is either being tight-lipped about upcoming moves, or the decision has yet to be made.
“We are exploring all options,” Redskins Vice-President of Public Relations Tony Wiley said.

The Redskins had made similar comments in the past, without pulling the trigger.

Still, it could be early in the decision-making process.

Josh Apple, a journalism student at George Mason and sports editor of the Connect2Mason website, covered the potential move last year.

When questioned on Jan. 17, he said he hadn’t heard anything about a move this year. Still, he said, rumors didn’t start surfacing about it last year until closer to camp actually starting.

Jackie Saunders, director of media relations at One Loudoun, said that no one in her office had heard anything regarding the Redskins move this year.

“I have not heard anything myself, but with the new Board of Supervisors who knows,” Saunders said.

While businesses in the county hope the Redskins stay put, Shanahan has a different agenda – winning games. After a regress season, winning just five games, and the Redskins’ fourth-straight finish at the bottom of the NFC East, Shanahan may be fighting for his job.

Staff writers Hannah Hager and Crystal Owens contributed to this report.