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Capital One to Be New Washington Wizards’ Arena Naming Sponsor, According to Report

By Ryan Eugene

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 7: A general view of the arena before the game between the Boston Celtics and the Washington Wizards in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 7, 2017 at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 7: A general view of the arena before the game between the Boston Celtics and the Washington Wizards in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 7, 2017 at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Washington Wizards fans love Verizon Center’s nickname, The Phone Booth. But it appears the name is coming close to an end. But with death comes life, as another popular nickname appears it will rise in its place.

Speculation was in the air Tuesday morning. Andrew Allemann of DomainNameWire.com ran a piece titled Verizon Center in Washington DC likely to become Capital One Center. That hypothesis was derived from 55 domain names being registered, including:

  • capitalonecenterdc.com
  • caponearenadc.com
  • caponecenterevents.com

So while the report came out of nowhere, there was ample evidence to lead one to think that the report had ground. On Wednesday, Washington Times sports columnist Thom Loverro confirmed the report on local DC radio channel 106.7 The Fan.

Capital One Center it is. Leonsis has spoken previously about him not receiving any Compensation from Verizon for the current sponsorship deal, as the money had already been paid to the Pollins’ before Leonsis bought the team in 2010.

The name Capital One Center will evoke memories in elder fans of the The Capital Centre, aka the Cap Centre, where the Bullets played from 1973 to 1997.

In addition to that name similarity, Capital One Center will of course suit Washington Capitols fans well as they come and rock the red.

The Wizards partnering with Capital One always made sense. They already do many in-game promotions with the company, it’s headquartered in McLean, and the founder is on the Wizards’ ownership group. Richard Fairbank is founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Capital One.

Next: John Wall: No Off Season Debut

It’s still left to be seen who the Wizards select as a jersey sponsor, but Capital One could be on that short list as well. All I know is that I want my Wizards in some Capital One commercials

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