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Loudoun, Redskins preparing marketing blitz
The Redskins may play in Maryland and bear Washington, D.C.'s name, but did you know the team spends most of its time in Loudoun County?If you didn't, then you soon will -- and you'll hear about it over and over again.
In an effort to drum up tourism and to ensure that the team maintains a presence in the county for years to come, Loudoun officials have been in talks with the football team about marketing the county's name more closely with Redskins Park, the team's 45-acre practice facility in Ashburn. In addition, part of this partnership may involve marketing Loudoun with a Redskins hall of fame facility that may be built in the county.
"Wouldn't that be something to say, 'Redskins Park at Loudoun County?'" said Supervisor Lori Waters (R-Broad Run), who chairs the Board of Supervisors' economic development committee. "This is exciting news."
The partnership would allow Loudoun to place its name throughout all Redskins-owned media outlets. A county banner advertisement would appear on the team's Web site, and mention of the county would be made regularly on Redskins-owned radio stations and television programs. Also, "Home of the Washington Redskins" would appear on the county Web site and on other county material.
"The Redskins are a highly desirable asset," said a recent county report on the partnership. “... The result of this will be their continued presence and involvement in Loudoun.”
The report warned that other jurisdictions were courting the team to relocate its training facility.
"No, no, no," said team spokesperson Karl Swanson. “We get inquiries all the time from other jurisdictions. But we are settled here.”
Echoing that was Janice Schmidt, Redskins senior vice president for marketing, who said the team “has invested a lot in Loudoun," and that this marketing partnership is further evidence of the team's desire to be more involved in the community.
Regarding a future Redskins hall of fame in Loudoun, Schmidt said plans are now in the "exploratory phase" and no details on when and where it would be built have been determined.
"It would be good for the team and the county," she added.
Waters agreed. Citing the thousands of fans who flocked to Ohio in August to see former Redskins Art Monk and Darrell Green inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Waters was already imagining what impact a similar attraction would have on Loudoun's tourism industry.
"What if just some of those fans were to visit Loudoun?" she asked. "The value of having Loudoun County mentioned with the Redskins would be tremendous."
If the plan is given the go-ahead by the Board of Supervisors, Loudoun's bill for the marketing partnership would total $250,000, which would be taken from funds that are required to be spent on expanding tourism in Loudoun, Waters said.
Contact the reporter at jjacks@timespapers.com
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