District of Play ESPY Nomination

Washington, D.C. (July 1, 2025) – Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE)’s groundbreaking youth sports initiative, “District of Play,” has been named a nominee for the 2025 ESPN Corporate Community Impact Award, part of the prestigious Sports Humanitarian Awards held annually during ESPYS week. The award recognizes “a corporation that uses the power of sports to help advance a social issue, cause or community organization,” spotlighting programs like “District of Play” – MSE’s multi-year, multi-million-dollar investment designed to expand access to youth sports and build healthier, more connected communities across Washington, D.C.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin was also named a Sports Humanitarian Awards finalist for the 2025 Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award based on his initiative THE GR8 CHASE for Victory Over Cancer®. The award honors individual athletes who have demonstrated continuous leadership with a measurable positive impact on their community.

Held annually the night before the ESPY Awards, the Sports Humanitarian Awards celebrate athletes, teams, and organizations using sports as a catalyst for social good. Winners are selected by an independent panel of industry leaders and announced at the live ceremony in Los Angeles on July 15, 2025, broadcast on ESPN (time TBD).

“As a public school kid from an underprivileged household, sports were my lifeline. A Police Athletic League coach once gave me my first basketball—the first I could call my own. I played with it constantly, cleaned it, and even brought it to bed. That ball changed my life,” said Ted Leonsis, Founder, Chairman, Managing Partner and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment. “‘District of Play’ was built on that same belief: that access, opportunity, and community through sports can transform lives. That’s why I gave every D.C. public elementary student a basketball—because sometimes, that’s all it takes. This nomination honors every kid who’s found purpose through play, and the tremendous impact Monumental is building in the District.”

Winners of both awards will be announced during a ceremony in Los Angeles on July 15, 2025. The Awards will be featured in ESPN studio programming and during The 2025 ESPYS, airing live on Wednesday, July 16, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC from The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

About District of Play

Launched in September 2024 as part of a historic public-private partnership to reimagine Capital One Arena, District of Play is a bold commitment to ensuring every child in D.C. can access high-quality sports and wellness opportunities. In its first year alone, the initiative has touched the lives of more than 200,000 residents, delivering programming that promotes youth development, health equity, and community pride. The initiative recently received a Commitment to Action Award from Fight for Children and DC Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie.

“District of Play” focuses on improving existing youth sports infrastructure, introducing new programs for youth often left on the sidelines, and scaling community impact through the full reach of the Washington Capitals, Wizards, Mystics, Capital City Go-Go, Monumental Sports Network (MNMT), and the MSE Foundation (MSEF). The multi-million-dollar District of Play includes dozens of programs and commitments, including the highlights below.

Key programs include:

Girls Empowerment Program: A robust slate of initiatives including a first-of-its-kind partnership with Coach Across America’s She Changes the Game® program and a free sports bra distribution event for local middle school student athletes.

Court Refurbishments: MSE has committed to refurbishing a number of basketball courts each year, resulting in one in each Ward over four years beginning with the recently-renovated THEARC space.

District Dribble: In collaboration with the Wizards and Mystics, MSE distributed more than 29,000 basketballs to every PreK – 5th grader across 80 DC Public Schools.

Coaching Ecosystem Support: MSE has funded USA Basketball certifications for 415 DCPS coaches, hosted free coaching clinics at CareFirst Arena, and sponsored internships for student-athletes through Flag Star’s internship program.

Community Engagement: Programs like Midnight Basketball in Ward 8, a 3v3 tournament at Barry Farm, and the creation of a new playground at Huntwood Courts bring families together and activate safe play spaces.

More information and a full list of District of Play initiatives can be found at www.monumentalsports.com/DistrictOfPlay.

About THE GR8 CHASE for Victory Over Cancer®

As part of his quest to become the League’s all-time goals leader, Ovechkin, the Capitals, Hockey Fights Cancer and The V Foundation For Cancer Research partnered on “THE GR8 CHASE for Victory Over Cancer,” an initiative to raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer research. Ovechkin, starting with his 885th career goal, is donating money for every goal he scores during the remainder of his NHL career, with Monumental Sports & Entertainment matching his contributions. To date, more than $150,000 has been raised for the cause. Donations raised by the campaign will go to the V Foundation through Hockey Fights Cancer and support the Alex Ovechkin GR8 CHASE Pediatric Cancer Research Grant. THE GR8 CHASE for Victory Over Cancer® is one of several community initiatives supported by Ovechkin.

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About Monumental Sports & Entertainment
Monumental Sports & Entertainment is America’s leading integrated sports and entertainment company and is ranked as one of the most valuable globally. Our people, players, teams, and events bring excitement and joy to millions. We invest and innovate to consistently raise the game so we can deliver extraordinary experiences that will inspire and unite our community, our fans, and our people. To learn more, please visit monumentalsports.com.