Events DC is a semi-public company in Washington, D.C. that owns and manages the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, RFK Stadium, and Nationals Park among other DC venues. Led by Greg O'Dell, the organization receives millions in taxpayer funding and is overseen by an independent board.
History
The Washington Sports and Convention Authority was formed on October 1, 2009 following the merger of the Washington Convention Center Authority and the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission. The plan was announced by D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty as a cost saving measure in his 2010 budget proposal. In 2011, the WSCA was renamed Events DC to align with the other brands of the District and its tourism arm, Destination DC.
Leadership
Greg O'Dell has served as its president and CEO since its founding and earns $295,000 per year. The board is chaired by Max Brown, a businessman and lobbyist for Zipcar, CSX Corporation and Corizon Health who previously served as legal counsel and deputy chief of staff to Anthony Williams. Brown is also an investor and lobbyist in esports at the same time that EventsDC started a large esports initiative.
Operations
Events DC receives more than $100 million in taxpayer money but has an independent board appointed by the Mayor. In addition to overseeing the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Nationals Park, RFK, and the DC Armory, it has provided funding to various construction and development projects in the District. It provided more than $200 million in public money into construction of the Marriott Marquisconvention center hotel and acquired the rights to the Carnegie Library. In 2017 and 2018, Events DC spent $150,000 to unsuccessfully lobby Congress to give the District greater authority over RFK Stadium, which could enable the Washington Redskins to return to DC.
Convention center and hotel
As part of the $520 million construction of the Marriott Marquis which opened in 2014, Events DC expected an increase in citywide conventions. DC hosted 22 conventions in 2011 but only 15 in 2015 and 2016. In October 2015, the DC auditor called on Events DC to increase profitability of the Convention Center after it fell below the average revenues and higher expenses per square foot of 13 other large convention centers studied. Events DC was responsible for training staff to work at the Marriot Marquis, which had a requirement of hiring district residents for 51 percent of the hotel’s staff as a condition of its public financing. Events DC trained and referred 719 District residents to Marriott, while 178 were hired by the hotel, which did not meet the local staffing requirement. In June 2016, former convention center employees filed suit against Events DC for unpaid wages. They allegedly worked overtime on various tasks but were denied comp time.
Nationals Park
Nationals Park, which opened in 2008, is managed by Events DC and built almost entirely with taxpayer funding. In 2016, O'Dell announced that $160 million was needed for upgrades and repairs to the facility.
In 2018, Events DC announced a partnership with Red Bull intended to capitalize on the growing esports market. It was later revealed that Events DC chairman Max Brown had extensive ties with the industry as an investor and lobbyist. Events DC is also the main jersey sponsor of the Overwatch League's Washington Justice.
Wizards and Mystics facility
In 2016, it was announced that Events DC would play a prominent role in the $55 million construction of an arena on the site of St. Elizabeths Hospital that would serve as a practice facility for the Washington Wizards and the new home venue for the Washington Mystics. Members of the DC Council sought to introduce legislation capping public expenditure in the case of cost overruns. In July 28, O'Dell requested an additional $10 million in funding while decreasing the number of seats in the facility. He said earlier estimates were premature. In 2018, O'Dell announced that the cost had increased to $68.8 million, due in part to additions like drywall, and catwalks and higher than anticipated costs like contractors. O'Dell boasted about the number of local business used in the construction of the facility, but could not provide a list of any of the businesses. Local businesses reported that they were unable to find work at the site. Events DC significantly underestimated the costs of operating the facility and in 2019 the Events DC board approved more than $1 million in additional costs.
Community services
In December 2009, Events DC, then known as WCSA, was criticized for quoting a usage fee of $77,000 to a nonprofit organization, Remote Area Medical, who wished to use the D.C. Armory to host free health clinics.
