Overview

Capital One Arena is a major sports and entertainment arena located in the downtown Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C.. It opened on December 2, 1997, and since then has served as a focal point for professional sports, concerts, and other large public gatherings in the city. The facility was developed as part of a broader effort to bring year-round cultural and athletic programming to the downtown corridor.

Primary tenants and regular uses

The arena is the long-term home of the National Hockey League franchise, the Washington Capitals, who compete in the NHL, and the National Basketball Association's Washington Wizards of the NBA. It also hosts the Washington Mystics of the WNBA for many of their home games, and is used by collegiate teams including Georgetown University for selected basketball contests. The building has accommodated indoor football and lacrosse franchises in the past, including the arena football team Washington Valor and the National Lacrosse League's Washington Power.

Naming history and development

When it opened the venue was known by its original corporate name. In the mid-2000s, naming rights changed hands and the arena became associated with telecommunications firms; in 2006 a naming-rights agreement involved Verizon Communications. In 2017 a new agreement brought the current name into use. The shifts in corporate sponsorship reflect a common pattern for large urban arenas where naming rights are commercially negotiated.

Major events and entertainment

Apart from regular season sports, Capital One Arena has hosted numerous high-profile entertainment and sporting events. The facility has long been on touring schedules for major concert acts and special events, and it has been a recurring venue for professional wrestling: WWE produced shows there including SummerSlam 2005, Survivor Series 2009, and Capitol Punishment 2011. Earlier, World Championship Wrestling (WCW) presented multiple editions of its annual pay-per-view Starrcade at the arena near the turn of the century.

Design, role and significance

The arena was designed as a flexible, multi-purpose venue with seating and features that can be adapted for ice hockey, basketball, concerts, family shows and other formats. Its presence helped stimulate retail and cultural activity in the surrounding district and provides a transit-accessible gathering place for local fans and visitors. While corporate naming has changed, the building remains a landmark sports and entertainment center for the nation's capital.