Capital One Arena – Home of the Washington Wizards | Arena Guide

Capital One Arena stands as Washington D.C.'s most significant sports venue, serving as the home of both the NBA's Washington Wizards and the NHL's Washington Capitals since the arena opened as the MCI Center on December 2, 1997. Located at 601 F Street NW in the Penn Quarter neighbourhood — between the U.S. Capitol and the White House — Capital One Arena is credited with transforming what was once a downtrodden stretch of the D.C. downtown into one of the city's most vibrant restaurant, bar, and entertainment districts. The arena is directly above Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station — served by the Red, Green, and Yellow Lines — making it one of the most transit-accessible sporting venues in the world. With a capacity of 20,356, it is one of the NBA's largest arenas and also hosts Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball, major concerts, and Washington Mystics (WNBA) home games. The arena has been home to the Washington Capitals' 2018 Stanley Cup Championship — the franchise's first in 44 years — and the Washington Wizards' most successful modern era, including their playoff run under John Wall and Bradley Beal. Named after the original MCI Center name in 1997, the arena took the name Verizon Center in 2006 and Capital One Arena in 2017 following a 10-year naming rights agreement with Capital One Financial Corporation, a major D.C.-area employer headquartered in McLean, Virginia. The Penn Quarter arena sits within walking distance of the National Mall, the National Portrait Gallery, Ford's Theatre, the International Spy Museum, and the full breadth of Washington D.C.'s extraordinary cultural and historic offerings — making it one of the NBA's most compelling destination arenas for international and domestic visitors.

Capital One Arena was built to consolidate Washington D.C.'s major sports franchises — the Bullets (now Wizards) and Capitals — in a single downtown arena, replacing separate facilities in downtown D.C. and suburban Landover, Maryland. Ground was broken in 1995 and the MCI Center (the arena's original name following a naming rights deal with the telecommunications company MCI) opened on December 2, 1997. The arena's location in Penn Quarter was deliberately chosen to catalyse redevelopment of an underutilised neighbourhood, and the strategy proved spectacularly successful — Penn Quarter today is one of D.C.'s most vibrant districts. The arena was renamed Verizon Center in 2006 and Capital One Arena in 2017 following a 10-year naming rights deal with Capital One Financial Corporation. The venue's defining sporting moment came on June 7, 2018, when the Washington Capitals defeated the Vegas Golden Knights to win their first Stanley Cup Championship in franchise history — ending a 44-year wait and producing one of Washington's greatest sports celebrations. Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball joined the Washington Mystics as regular tenants alongside the Wizards and Capitals. Ted Leonsis committed the franchises to a long-term future at Capital One Arena in 2023, with renovation plans expected in the coming years.

Capital One Arena on Wizards game nights delivers a distinctly Washington D.C. experience — a sophisticated, worldly crowd that includes D.C. residents, government workers, lobbyists, and international visitors, all united by the basketball on the floor and the Penn Quarter setting. The pre-game neighbourhood — with Zaytinya, Jaleo, Clyde's, Penn Social, ChopHouse & Brewery, and dozens of other options — is one of the NBA's most compelling environments to spend two hours before tip-off. The Metro connection makes arriving and leaving without a car completely seamless. Inside the arena, the Wizards' fanbase has been tested by years of near-miss playoff experiences, but brings genuine knowledge and engagement. For peak atmosphere: playoff games and matchups against the Boston Celtics or Philadelphia 76ers generate real intensity from the D.C. faithful.

Capital One Arena does not currently offer a formal public tour programme. Check capitalonearena.com for any future announcements. The Penn Quarter neighbourhood surrounding the arena provides an outstanding walking experience — the National Portrait Gallery (directly opposite, free admission), Ford's Theatre, the International Spy Museum, and the National Mall are all within easy reach. Box office: 202-628-3200; non-event days Mon–Fri 12 PM–4 PM.