After spending over $40 Million last summer to improve Chinatown’s Capital One Arena, more money will be put into the Washington Wizards’ home court. Today Monumental Sports and Entertainment announced plans for even more renovations this summer.
Washington Wizards home games will look a lot different next season and it will have nothing to do with who they’ll have playing. Or coaching.
It’s because even more changes are coming to Washington D.C’s Capital One Arena this summer. Although it hasn’t been technically referred to as the Verizon Center since 2017, the last traces of the old “phone booth” will finally be wiped away.
Last year, Monumental Sports and Entertainment overhauled the Wizards’ in-game experience, and made major upgrades throughout the arena. Yesterday, Monumental announced “Phase II”: $15 million of additional renovations.
Phase II is set to begin this summer and will be privately funded.
As part of the upgrades, Capital One Arena will continue the tradition of video board history-making in the nation’s capital. Over a decade ago, the arena (then the Verizon Center) debuted the first-ever, indoor, high-definition LED scoreboard. Now, they’ll be adding a SkyRing: 9,000 square feet of LED video, wrapping the roofline of the arena bowl.
The SkyRing will be the first of its kind in an indoor stadium. Measuring a total of 390 feet in diameter, it will be the largest display of any kind in any U.S. arena to date.
In addition to the SkyRing, Phase II includes upgrading and adding video screens throughout the arena. All the ribbon boards will get upgrades. The center scoreboard is in for a huge, 360-degree face lift. Plus, new dual-sided video screens in each corner of the arena will ensure fans see every second of the action from every possible angle.
Phase II isn’t only about video screens, though. After giving the 400-level a complete make over last summer, Monumental decided things weren’t quite finished in the top tier. Now, they’re adding a Devil’s Backbone lounge, full of delicious beer on tap from Virginia’s own Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company.
The 200-level sections sadly missed out on the renovation fun last year. In Phase II, though, they will finally get a complete overhaul much like the 100 and 400-levels did in 2018. The new 200’s will feature improved concessions, including TLC (Tenders, Love & Chicken) and The Exchange, which will resemble a walk-in market.
Monumental also hopes to partner with local D.C. chefs to bring some of the city’s finest cuisine courtside.
If you haven’t had the chance to check out the renovations they’ve already made to Capital One Arena, get over there and enjoy the self-serve beer wall.