Washington Capitals, Mystics, and Wizards proprietor Ted Leonsis, NBA commissioner Adam Silver, District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, and different officers celebrated the beginning of an $800 million renovation undertaking of Capital One Area within the downtown space.
Capital One Area renovation undertaking will maintain the Washington Wizards, Capitals within the constructing by means of their 2049-50 seasons
In accordance with The Athletic’s David Aldridge, the renovation will maintain the Wizards and Capitals within the constructing by means of their 2049-50 seasons and permit for added future occasions to be held within the constructing. Capital One Area will likely be open for different occasions roughly 220 to 230 nights a 12 months.
The occasion unveiled renderings for what Capital One Area ought to seem like when it’s totally redesigned in time for the 2027-28 NHL and NBA seasons. Questions mounted close to Capitol Hill relating to town’s plan of luring the NFL’s Washington Commanders. A lot is unknown right now for the skilled soccer workforce.
The place we’ve made historical past. The place we’ll make extra. The place we’re turning the previous inside out to make the long run.
Introducing the New @CapitalOneArena: The place Monuments Meet Momentum. pic.twitter.com/LniNKtpirz
— Monumental Sports activities & Leisure (@MSE) December 19, 2024
Moreover, the development undertaking includes utilizing seventh Avenue, N.W. to higher join Gallery Place Mall with neighborhoods that run alongside it to Chinatown and downtown. The plan additionally requires utilizing F Avenue and a brand new “Grand Pavilion” to function the entry and exit level for as much as 90 % of followers arriving to Capital One.
In December 2023, Leonsis and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin introduced a deal to construct an enviornment within the Potomac Yards neighborhood in Alexandria, Va.
When Virginia’s laws for a stadium authority was not accepted, Leonsis and Mayor Bowser reached an settlement to maintain the groups at Capital One Area, as a part of a $515 million, publicly funded undertaking.
Wizards’ area will characteristic new restoration services, larger superior video assessment system
A provision to switch the land together with RFK Stadium to the district was faraway from Congress’ spending invoice. Nonetheless, holding the groups in D.C. was nonetheless a major victory for Bowser.
“I’ve acquired to say, what a distinction a 12 months makes,” Ward 2 council member Brooke Pinto mentioned. “Ted Leonsis, thanks a lot for believing on this metropolis. … Thanks in your dedication to our metropolis.”
Monumental Sports activities and Leisure, Leonsis’ firm, can pay for the remainder of the undertaking. Metropolis leaders are hoping the revamped enviornment will drive income within the area, serving as a central hub of the nation’s capital.
Right here’s a rendering of what the outside of Capital One Area will seem like, as soon as the renovations are full, from the vantage level of seventh and F Streets NW. Rendering provided by Monumental Sports activities & Leisure. pic.twitter.com/hX1Y4jhDVT
— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) December 19, 2024
“While you see these indicators, ‘Please excuse our mud,’ there’s going to be lots of mud right here,” Leonsis mentioned. “This undertaking is huge. It’ll most likely take three seasons to do it, and it’s $800 million. It’s a important, important program. However after you see what we’re going to do for the gamers, the followers, and town, it’ll be well worth the wait.”
Per Aldridge, Monumental mentioned the Wizards’ area will embody new restoration services with hydrotherapy swimming pools and therapeutic massage areas, together with “larger media and analytics integrations” that may present larger superior video assessment of upcoming opponents.
Capitals’ area may have ergonomically designed lockers with built-in drying techniques, customized storage for gear
The Capitals’ area may have “ergonomically designed lockers with built-in drying techniques, customized storage for gear, dressing areas, lounge areas, and new weight and purposeful coaching areas.” This consists of hot and cold tubs and compression remedy areas designed particularly for hockey gamers.
Doubling the scale of locker rooms whereas including suites and different facilities is a prime precedence as nicely. The development work will happen in a number of phases from now by means of fall 2027. Section 2 will start subsequent summer time, with the development of the brand new locker rooms, a big household lounge, and new media services.
Section 3 will happen throughout the 2025-26 season. This section includes prep work beginning on exterior upgrades, together with the brand new major entrances on F Avenue and including extra restrooms and concession areas.
Section 4, in the summertime of 2026, will entail main exterior upgrades, together with a brand new façade and enhancements to the Grand Pavilion, revamped concessions, and upgraded suites.
Capital One Area in Washington, D.C. has been the house of the NBA and NHL groups since December 1997
Moreover, Section 5 is slated to start throughout the 2026-27 season. The fifth section will improve membership degree and varied facilities, together with enhancing entrance pathways and exits all through the constructing.
The ultimate section is scheduled for the summer time of 2027. The final building stage will see the completion of the Grand Pavilion, together with the development of further bogs, concession areas, and loge containers.
“That is practically a billion-dollar funding for [players’] profit and for the neighborhood’s profit,” Silver mentioned, alluding to future All-Star Video games and different occasions that may happen.
“The NBA and NHL may have lower than half the dates on the finish of the day as a result of what’s occurred now with these leisure palaces — they’re full, it appears, virtually each evening of the 12 months.”
Capital One Area has been the house of the NBA and NHL groups since December 1997.
