Wizards owner Pollin honored in ceremony at alma mater
By: Kevin Dunleavy
Examiner Staff Writer
March 10, 2009
When Wizards owner Abe Pollin was first shown the piece of property where he would build Verizon Center, he was told to stay in the car. Walking the streets above the Gallery Place Metro was too dangerous.
Abe Pollin timeline
1945 » Graduated from GW.
1964 » Bought Baltimore Bullets for $1 million
1973 » Moved Bullets to D.C.
1973 » Opened Capital Centre
1974 » Awarded an NHL franchise, the Washington Capitals
1979 » Took Bullets to China
1996 » Renamed team Wizards
1997 » Verizon Center opened
But 15 years later, those streets are bustling with people who live, work, and are anxious to visit the neighborhood. Pollin’s ambitious — some say crazy — idea to build the second state-of-the-art arena of his lifetime at 6th and F streets, has revived a desolate neighborhood and helped turn around a struggling city.
On Monday afternoon, 15 blocks west of the arena he single-handedly financed for $200 million, George Washington University inducted Pollin into its School of Business Sports Executives Hall of Fame. Pollin, who graduated from GW in 1945, was joined by his wife of 65 years, Irene, and NBA Commissioner David Stern, as well as many of his long-time associates and employees.
“I’m really, really proud to receive this honor from George Washington University,” said Pollin, 85, in his familiar gee-whiz style.
After making a fortune in real estate, Pollin led an investment group that purchased the Baltimore Bullets in 1964. Nine years later, Pollin built a Beltway-accessible arena in Landover, moved the Bullets south and within a year, attracted a National Hockey League expansion franchise.
With the Washington Redskins the only existing pro franchise in town, Pollin fed a rapidly growing, sports-hungry city.
Pollin, the longest tenured owner in the NBA, was instrumental in the growth of the league, playing key roles in the NBA-ABA merger and leading the movements toward free-agency, salary cap and revenue-sharing.
“The introduction to me could have been the introduction to Abe,” quipped Stern.
But it is in his hometown, where Pollin’s influence is most felt.
“It would be a completely different city if the Wizards had not played here,” said D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty in a video tribute.
