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Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Washington Commanders new stadium: D.C. Mayor Bowser concerned about RFK deal
While the Washington Commanders hope to one day make the RFK Stadium site home again, it's the D.C. Council that is playing games on that famed plot of land. Nothing ever comes easy in politics, especially when the nation's capital is involved. The case involving the Commanders is no different as budget battles and political one-upmanship are on full display – setting up a fight between Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the D.C. Council, with the team caught in between. On July 1, the mayor appeared on The Team 980 with Kevin Sheehan, where she was asked about her feelings surrounding the deal, which has not yet been approved. "I'm concerned right now that everybody buckle down and get to work," Bowser said. "I'm not concerned about our deal. Our deal is solid. It pays off for D.C. And at the end of the day, I think everybody wants the same thing." Sheehan pushed Bowser to put her level of concern on a scale of zero to five, with five being the most concerned. "I would put my level of concern – because when you're a big city mayor you're concerned about everything – I'll put it at a four," Bowser said. The Commanders have been targeting a stadium opening date in 2030, allowing them enough time to host some big events in the future – notably games in the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup. Without approval soon, the team claims those plans will be put in danger, forcing the D.C. area to miss out on those marquee dates. As illustrated in the current deal that was announced on April 28, the city would provide $1.1 billion in public funds to help build the stadium on the old RFK site. The Commanders would contribute $2.7 billion in what figures to be a nearly $4 billion project. Washington's team leadership held a dinner on Monday night for councilmembers to discuss the situation, which needs seven votes to approve. According to the Washington Post, there are currently four councilmembers in favor of the deal. There is currently a July 15 deadline in place as outlined in the exclusive negotiating window. With public hearings set for July 29 and 30, it appears the council is in no rush to move the legislation forward. More importantly, the council is slated to go on recess from August until mid-September, meaning no deal on the intended date could put the project in danger of falling apart. Fox 5 Washington DC reported on July 1 that Council Chairman Phil Mendelson has heard talks of a potential Plan B from the Commanders, which could include going to President Donald Trump and members of Congress to make the deal happen in time. This comes on the heels of a decision by Mendelson to separate the stadium deal from the 2026 budget process. A Commanders spokesperson released a statement in response to the news on June 25: The Washington Commanders are committed to working with the Council around the clock to keep this project on schedule and deliver a world-class stadium for the District by 2030. This is about more than just a stadium: it's an investment in families, local workers, and long-term economic opportunity that will transform this community, District, and the region. Any substantive delays will jeopardize D.C.'s ability to attract premier concerts, global talent, and marquee events—including the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup. Most importantly, it will slow new jobs at a time when the District needs them the most. We are hopeful the Council will continue to work in an expedited way to approve this deal and deliver a significant win for the people of D.C. Mendelson has indicated there will be no vote while the council is on recess, which could delay the project's fate until September or later. "It would be incredibly extraordinary to call the Council back in August," Mendelson said, via NBC4 Washington. 'I can't think of one time in 50 years of home rule that we have called the Council back." He also would not commit to a vote in early September. "I'm not gonna budge from this, and that is that we are working well with the Commanders and as diligently as possible to try to get to a point where the Council can vote as quickly as possible," Mendelson continued. The Commanders franchise left the RFK Stadium site in 1996 for FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland – where they still currently play home games at what is now known as Northwest Stadium. While there is no indication that the Commanders would leave and relocate to another city like other NFL teams have done when faced with similar issues from local officials, there is always a chance they could opt for another site in the surrounding area. Maryland, where the Commanders currently play, and Virginia have shown interest in a new stadium for the team in the past. For now, the goal remains focused on making the return to RFK a reality. All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Commanders new stadium: Washington D.C. mayor concerned RFK site deal
New York Post
24-06-2025
- Climate
- New York Post
Inside NYC's coldest spots as outside temps soar past 100: ‘Go in the freezer'
Beating the heat seems like an impossible feat. New Yorkers are desperately seeking refuge from the blistering heat scorching the Big Apple this week — and are desperately ducking into any store, shadow or corner that offers some relief. Temperatures hovered around 100 degrees Tuesday, according to a thermometer toted around the city by The Post — but the real feel clocked in at an incredible 113 in some parts of the Big Apple. Advertisement 6 Temperatures clocked in over 100 degrees outside Robert Giammarinaro's butcher shop in Bayside. Kevin Sheehan/NYPost The sweltering heat was enough to make even a butcher shop look like paradise — and its meat-filled freezers like a getaway. 'Best part about being a butcher on days like this, you want to cool off, you go in the freezer! Coldest place in the city,' Robert Giammarinaro, 64, the owner of Robert's Butcher Shop in Bayside, told The Post. Advertisement The 39-year-old shop's freezer was recording an icy 26 degrees — while The Post's thermometer registered a jaw-dropping 121 degrees on the hot sidewalk outside. The 35th Avenue shop also had three air conditioners running throughout the shop, otherwise 'you'd die,' Giammarinaro said. 6 The butcher shop freezer was an icy 26 degrees. Kevin Sheehan/NYPost Luckily, he makes up for the financial damages the ACs cost on hot days — prepared foods like pastas, salads and meatloaf fly off the shelves on hot days because customers don't want to have to stand over a hot stove themselves. Advertisement 'It doesn't bother me because I love New York. I love the weather in New York. I love the changing seasons. There's no place better. I've been a lot of places, all over the world, but there's no other place I would rather live and work than right here,' said Giammarinaro. In Brooklyn, Mel Watkins and his daughter, 9-year-old Makenzi Brown, found refuge in a Cypress Hills Baskin-Robbins. 6 Mel Watkins and daughter Makenzi Brown kept cool inside a Baskin Robbins in Brooklyn. Reuven Fenton/NY Post An ice cream parlor might seem like a more typical place to cool off — but the pair was met with a broken AC. Advertisement It was 75 degrees inside the shop, while outside teetered on 102. 'When I go outside, it feels like I'm going to have a heat stroke – that's how hot it is. It's cooler in here than it is outside. That's all I care about,' little Makenzi said. The pair was celebrating her fourth-grade graduation with milkshakes, which were making up for the lack of air conditioning. 'It's 99 degrees out. We just came from her graduation and it was hot there, too – no AC. It's crazy hot. It feels good to get out of the heat. I don't like the heat – I'm like heat anemic. I get hot too quick. I'd rather drive under the AC all day in the car,' said Watkins, 35. 6 The real feel reached 112 degrees in some corners of the Big Apple. Aristide Economopoulos 'We live only two blocks from here, but it's cheaper to go get ice cream than run my own AC with Con Edison's crazy pricing for electricity, and that's even with solar panels on the roof. So we're cooling off here instead.' An ice cream shop in Little Neck, Queens had much better luck — as outside temperatures were reaching 115, according to The Post's thermometer. 'Everyone who walks in stops and says ahhhhh! It's so cool in here,' Ashley Chai, 18, who was slinging ice cream at the Horace Harding Expressway Carvel, said. Advertisement On her breaks, Chai has been racing to the walk-in freezer, which was set to 34 degrees, and 'just standing there.' 'People are coming in and buying multiples of whatever they order. That last guy bought six six-packs of flying saucers,' added coworker Philicia Lin, 18. 6 Ashley Chai, left, and Priscilla Lin were slinging ice cream at a Queens Carvel on Tuesday. Kevin Sheehan/NY Post 6 Nasir Glover spent the day chasing shadows as he handed out campaign flyers in East Elmhurst. Kevin Sheehan/NY Post Advertisement Unfortunately, the insane heat coincided with Primary Day — and meant there was little relief for campaign workers on their final day. Nasir Glover, 18, of Newark, spent the height of the day chasing down shadows outside the Queens Public Library at East Elmhurst as he doled out flyers for City Council hopeful Shanel Thomas Henry. But even the shade provided little relief for the high school graduate, who was working a 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. shift for the insurgent candidate — The Post's thermometer registered 107 degrees outside the library. Advertisement 'This morning the sun was beaming! The only thing I could do was find shade. Shade and I needed some place to sit so I went back in and I grabbed a chair,' Glover told The Post. 'The first hour was terrible! But I hid in the shade and my body just kind of got used to it. I'm just chilling now enjoying the day and making $300. I'm going to hop right in a cold shower put my AC on Max and take a nap first thing when I get home!'
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dave & Buster's dials back some of its ‘confusing' experience changes
This story was originally published on CX Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CX Dive newsletter. Dave & Buster's is simplifying the guest experience as it continues to scale back overcomplicated changes, interim CEO Kevin Sheehan said on a Q1 2025 earnings call Tuesday. The restaurant is testing out a simplified rate structure for the Power Cards customers purchase to play games, according to Sheehan. The company wants to improve the customer journey from the moment they buy a card to selecting options for extra points. The company is also speaking with location operators to determine the kind of experience customers want from a trip to Dave & Buster's, according to Sheehan. This includes ensuring Dave & Buster's isn't just choosing ubiquitous games but options that are attractive for its unique customer base. While Dave & Buster's simplified operating strategy is driving some improvements, the company's overall results remain weak. The restaurant chain's revenue fell 3.5% year over year to $567.7 million in the first quarter of 2025, according to a company earnings report. Comparable store sales dropped 8.3% year over year during the period. While negative, the first quarter performance was an improvement from fourth quarter 2024 results, which saw a 10.8% year-over-year revenue drop and a 9.4% decline in comparable store sales. Dave & Buster's is focused on a back-to-basics strategy that reverses some of the changes made under former CEO Chris Morris. 'I think we all agree that last year, we kind of made it a little too confusing for the guests,' Sheehan said during the call. 'So we're trying to simplify it.' Under Morris, plans included flexible game pricing designed to attract customers during off-peak hours, but recent Dave & Buster's research and feedback found that customers want to know exactly how much play time they will get for their money. Such experiments with game pricing are no longer on the table, but a few of the changes spearheaded by Morris, such as remodels with an emphasis on appearance and efficiency, are continuing on a smaller scale.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PLAY Q1 Earnings Call: Dave & Buster's Emphasizes Operational Fixes and Traffic Recovery
Arcade company Dave & Buster's (NASDAQ:PLAY) met Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, but sales fell by 3.5% year on year to $567.7 million. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.76 per share was 25% below analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy PLAY? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $567.7 million vs analyst estimates of $568.4 million (3.5% year-on-year decline, in line) Adjusted EPS: $0.76 vs analyst expectations of $1.01 (25% miss) Adjusted EBITDA: $136.1 million vs analyst estimates of $137.4 million (24% margin, 0.9% miss) Operating Margin: 11.1%, down from 14.5% in the same quarter last year Locations: 234 at quarter end, up from 224 in the same quarter last year Same-Store Sales fell 8.3% year on year (-3.8% in the same quarter last year) Market Capitalization: $894.5 million Dave & Buster's leadership attributed the company's recent performance to a return to core operational strategies and an effort to correct previous missteps across marketing, menu design, and store operations. Interim CEO Kevin Sheehan acknowledged that results remain below expectations but noted progress after refocusing on proven promotions, simplified messaging, and increased operator engagement. Management highlighted early momentum from reintroducing the Eat & Play combo, adjustments to menu pricing, and changes to the incentive structure for store managers. CFO Darin Harper explained that improvements in traffic, particularly on weekends and among higher-income guests, were the most significant contributors to the quarter's results. The leadership team maintained a cautious stance, emphasizing that recovery efforts are still in early phases and that further work is needed to restore sales and profitability. Looking ahead, management expressed optimism that recently launched initiatives, such as the Summer Pass and a renewed focus on guest experience, will support further gains in sales and traffic. Sheehan outlined a clear roadmap centered on continued execution of the back-to-basics plan, ongoing menu enhancements, and more targeted marketing investments. He stated, 'We are improving our execution every day and have a very clear roadmap of work to do to continue to drive improvements and meaningful growth in the business.' Harper added that capital spending will be more disciplined, with a focus on remodeling and high-return investments. Management acknowledged that it will take several more quarters to fully realize the impact of these strategies, noting the potential for further sequential improvement as new promotions, games, and incentive structures take hold. Management traced the quarter's results to improvements in traffic, promotional effectiveness, and operational changes, while noting that higher marketing and maintenance spending weighed on margins. Traffic-led improvement: Leadership identified a rebound in guest traffic—especially on weekends and among higher-income customers—as the primary driver of better results, with proprietary tracking showing increased awareness of new promotions and games. Eat & Play combo relaunch: The reintroduction of the Eat & Play combo, a bundled food and game offer, drove higher average check and double-digit customer opt-in rates, helping to boost both food and beverage sales without relying on deep discounting. Menu and pricing adjustments: Management addressed prior menu complexity and pricing issues by reskinning the menu for clarity and testing new configurations. Further menu enhancements, including the return of popular entrées, are scheduled for rollout after extensive operational testing. Remodel and incentive changes: Ongoing store remodels, particularly those with updated entertainment offerings, outperformed the broader system. A new store manager incentive plan tied to same-store sales growth was introduced, aiming to foster a stronger sense of ownership and drive local engagement. Marketing and maintenance investments: Higher marketing spend and renewed investment in game room maintenance were cited as temporary margin pressures, as management prioritized guest experience and promotional effectiveness to drive long-term traffic and revenue recovery. Dave & Buster's expects its ongoing operational changes, new product launches, and disciplined capital spending to drive gradual improvement in sales and profitability. Expanded game and promotional offerings: Management is rolling out new games and launching the Summer Pass, an unlimited gameplay and discount program, to attract repeat visits and increase guest engagement throughout the summer months. Early feedback on these initiatives has been encouraging, and the company believes they will help sustain positive sales momentum. Operational discipline and menu innovation: The company is focused on disciplined capital allocation, limiting total capital expenditures and refining its remodel strategy to maximize returns. Upcoming menu enhancements, including popular legacy dishes, are expected to further improve guest satisfaction and check averages. Incentive alignment and international growth: The new store manager incentive model is designed to align operator performance with company goals, particularly same-store sales growth. Additionally, Dave & Buster's plans to accelerate international franchising, with at least seven new locations expected over the next year, providing a capital-light avenue for expansion. In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will closely monitor (1) the pace and sustainability of traffic gains, especially during key promotional periods like summer, (2) the effectiveness of menu enhancements and targeted marketing spend in boosting guest satisfaction and check averages, and (3) progress on international franchising and remodel returns. Execution on these fronts will be critical to demonstrating a sustained recovery in sales and margins. Dave & Buster's currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 12.1×. Should you double down or take your chips? See for yourself in our full research report (it's free). The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dave & Buster's Stock Soars as Solid Outlook Offsets Weak Results
Positive comments about the business helped send Dave & Buster's shares 17% higher Wednesday even though the game-themed restaurant chain missed quarterly profit and sales estimates. Interim CEO Kevin Sheehan explained that operating results significantly improved throughout the quarter. Dave & Buster's believes it will produce strong revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and free cash flow of Dave & Buster's Entertainment (PLAY) soared 17% Wednesday, a day after the game-themed restaurant gave a positive outlook despite weaker-than-expected first-quarter results. Interim CEO Kevin Sheehan said in the company's earnings release Tuesday that Dave & Buster's was "making good progress and our operating results significantly improved over the course of the first quarter." Sheehan noted in a call with investors that May's performance was "very encouraging with a particularly robust Memorial Day weekend of solidly positive sales to kick off the summer and we expect this momentum to continue," according to an AlphaSense transcript. Sheehan added the company was confident its current actions "will lead to significantly improved revenue, adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow and shareholder value in the months ahead." Sheehan explained that Dave & Buster's "back to basics" strategy was working and driving a "material recovery" in its revenue trajectory. The comments came after the company reported first quarter adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.76, about 25% less than the average estimate of analysts surveyed by Visible Alpha. Revenue fell 3.5% year-over-year to $567.7 million, also missing forecasts. Comparable store sales were down 8.3%. However, Dave & Buster's noted that they improved every month since the beginning of the quarter in February. With today's advance, Dave & Buster's Entertainment shares moved into positive territory for 2025. Read the original article on Investopedia Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
