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PHOTOS: Hundreds of Washington Commanders Fans Participate in Three Nationally Televised Pep Rallies in Alexandria

 “Thank you for waking up early, thank you for being here with us. Let’s go get this win!” -- Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins

Large group of people wearing team colors of the Washington Commanders
Hundreds were in attendance at Cooper Mill to cheer on the Washington Commanders. (Photo: Cooper Mill FB page)

ALEXANDRIA, VA – Alexandria has seen some major milestones this year, including electing its first black female mayor, but for its football fans, TODAY was the big moment, when three television stations set up pep rallies in various restaurants this morning, two of them in Old Town. The Washington Commanders are one game shy of breaking into the Super Bowl, a feat not pulled off since 1991. The Commanders take on the Eagles Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia in an NFC East battle for the conference crown.  

This reporter went to Cooper Mill, a newly reconstructed Civil War structure turned restaurant/market with oversized windows at Robinson Landing one short block from the waterfront. The building opened the day after Christmas.  

Black woman and map dressed in burgundy and gold holding flag that says #RaiseHail
Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins and City Councilman John T. Chapman hold up a rally flag for the Washington Commanders. (Photo: Lucelle O’Flaherty)

Maurisa Turner Potts is founder and CEO of Spotted MP, a marketing firm in the area. She said NBC4 contacted her Tuesday, informing her they wanted to stage a pep rally Friday morning, cutting away to the Today show for live segments. Could she find them a venue? Potts sprang into action. She immediately reached out to Cooper Mill, already a client.  “Would you be game to do it?” she asked, and “Cooper Mill said game on, let’s go!”  

Potts had three days to pull it all together. “Cooper Mill rolled out the red carpet, serving breakfast pizzas, drinks, coffees, pastries. When I walked in at 3:45 a.m., music was already blaring, the energy was already alive,”she told Zebra.  

Two hundred fifty excited Commanders fans poured into the new, all brick tavern, filling every inch of the two-story venue. NBC4 cut away to the Today Show every half hour. Potts counted down, readying the crowd. With two minutes to go, the assembled audience was instructed to hold up signs, wave flags, and sport their team’s regalia. As the Today Show came into view, the crowd erupted in cheers and whoops.  

Black man with big Washington Commanders hat with four women all smiling into camera
Washington Commanders superfan John T. Chapman (Alexandria City Councilman) with crowd at the Cooper Mill pep rally. (Photo:Lucelle O’Flaherty)

Marisa Paul moved to Alexandria from Boston in 1991. It took her some time to wean herself off her team, the New England Patriots. Dressed in full Commanders’ get-up, she is now fully on board. “This is historic for us. It’s great to have this rally at a new establishment in Old Town so I’m here to support both,” Paul remarked in a conversation with Zebra.  

Paul lives just south of Old Town and has already visited Cooper Mill multiple times. 

“I wasn’t sure what to expect. I went downstairs and then heard all the commotion upstairs. It was twice that upstairs! Really exciting. I saw people parked all over Old Town with Commanders flags and I knew I was in the right place!”  

Kids in Washington Commanders gear
Children pose with the Commanders mascot. Left to right: Doug and Henry Saperstein, Aidan Reed, Clayton Rechenbach, Wyatt Winkelfoos. Photo: Ann Saperstein

Alexandria’s most famous Commanders fan also made a visit to Cooper Mill this morning. Councilman John T. Chapman was easily spotted in the huge crowd, his trademark oversized Commanders hat perched snugly on his head.  

“It’s surreal,” Chapman told Zebra. “I’ve been a fan of the home team since I was little. So for us having this success on the field is amazing and it reverberates around the community and around this region. Being able to come down to Cooper Mill, come to a pep rally before the big game is huge. Knowing we’re one win away from the Super Bowl for the first time since 1991 is huge as well. I’m just taking it all in!”  

A few blocks away, Good Morning America was camped out at Augie’s Beer Garden. Across town, WJLA7 set up shop at Glory Days Grill. Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins was making the rounds. She woke up at 6 a.m. and hurried over to Cooper Mill first. Zebra caught up with her there.   

Kids and family dog wearing Washington COmmanders gear
Chad Sparrow and his family were awash in the burgundy and gold, right down to their pup, Layla. (Photo: Lucelle O’Flaherty)

“It is super exciting. We are taking over Old Town,” Gaskins beamed. “From Cooper Mill to Augie’s and every floor is packed!” Gaskins was not surprised by the turnout. 

“People ride hard for their team. We offer a great fan experience; you’ve got Alexandrians here but also folks from all across the DMV.”  

Gaskins noted the economic impact on the city today when so many folks descend on this slice of iconic Alexandria history.  

Man decked out in Washington Commanders gear
Max Cabrera, a bartender at Augie’s Mussell House and Beer Garden, showed his colors today in the Washington Comannders burgundy and gold. (Photo: Lucelle O’Flaherty)

“It’s huge. As all of our residents know, we have always seen the beauty of our waterfront as an opportunity to be an anchor, to bring people together. So to have a new location like Cooper Mill here, it’s just a testament to that vibrant scene, that gathering space for shopping, retail, food, and the experience we’ve worked so hard to create. To help everyone recognize what Alexandrians know is so special about our city.”  

Burgundy and Gold lights the three story tower of the George Washington National Masonic Landmark honoring local NFL team Washington Commanders
The three story tower is ablaze with the Washington Commanders team color, the NFL team Alexandrians call their own. (Photo: Ted Hovis)

Even our town’s emblematic building is lit up in burgundy and gold. Drive west up King Street in the late afternoon, glance up, and you’ll catch a dazzling sunset splashed across the Commanders colors on the towering George Washington Masonic National Memorial.   

TRENDING: Next Year’s Alexandria Schools Budget Covers Teacher Hires, Future Redistricting

 

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