Leonsis, D.C. mayor kick off $800 million Capital One Arena renovation project

A new era for Capital One Arena started with the ceremonial swing of sledgehammers on Thursday.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser joined Ted Leonsis, the owner of the Washington Wizards and Capitals, to launch the $800 million renovation of the teams’ Chinatown home.

Leonsis’ Monumental Sports also unveiled fresh renderings of the planned construction Thursday, showing off expanded concourses, flashy new glass exteriors and video boards that will be installed outside the building.

The planned renovations, which are expected to be completed before the 2027-28 NBA and NHL seasons, were approved by the D.C. City Council on Tuesday. As Leonsis noted, the construction expands outward into the adjacent Gallery Place, where Thursday’s ceremony began.

To celebrate the occasion, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Councilwoman Brooke Pinto joined Bowser and Leonsis on the stage.

“It’s a catalytic investment,” Bowser said, describing the renovations as good for the teams, fans, players and businesses. “We’re going to transform this area into a dynamic entertainment district and … we are all working our level best to make this a premier entertainment district for our region.”

The investment will bring a slew of new features to the 27-year-old arena, including fresh lighting throughout the concourse, expanded facilities for athletes and additional back-of-house space for the site’s hospitality staff.

Wizards and Capitals players will enjoy a new family area, a player’s lounge and medical training rooms after the renovations. The Wizards will have an on-site training facility, while the Capitals will add a film room to their locker room.

Bowser and city council members agreed to use $515 million in public funds for the renovation, with Leonsis’ Monumental Sports shouldering the remainder of the bill. As part of the agreement, Leonsis sold the arena to the city for $87.5 million and will lease the facility for $2 million annually for the next 25 years.

The vision, according to Leonsis, wasn’t just to update the arena with a fresh coat of paint. He wanted it to feel like a new building with a completely reconfigured silhouette. He wanted a monument.

“In this greatest city in the world with its extraordinary and historic monuments, we believe this building will be a monument but built on momentum — something bold and bright for now and the future,” Leonsis said. “The arena will be a marvel of modern design and technology, the intersection of style and comfort.”

The revamped design was reportedly inspired by the city’s legendary L’Enfant Plan of 1791. The stadium will feature a “People’s Plaza” designed to be a meeting space that’s connected with the city.

“These are the modern-day town halls, these arenas,” Silver said.

Practically-minded fans should know that the renovation will also feature more bathrooms, new concession stands and more easily accessible entrances and exits.

But before that, there will be roped-off areas, the sounds of jackhammers and minor inconveniences. It’s all part of the six-phase, three-year process and Leonsis begged fans for patience.

“There’s going to be a lot of dust here,” he said Thursday. “This project is massive. It’s $800 million; it’s a significant, significant program.”

Minor renovations will occur year-round, but the construction is expected to kick into high gear during the summers — the offseason for the Wizards and Capitals.

“But after you see what we’re going to do for the players, the fans and the city, it’ll be worth the wait,” Leonsis said. “This will become one of the leading tech-based downtown arenas.”

Thursday’s ceremonial event could have continued a days-long sports celebration for the District’s politicians. It began Tuesday when city council members approved funding for Capital One Arena. 

At almost the same time, federal lawmakers included language to lease the RFK Stadium site in Northeast to the city for 99 years, potentially paving the way for a new NFL arena.

But the good vibes came crashing down on Wednesday evening as Republican leaders spiked the continuing resolution to fund the federal government due to concerns about spending, jeopardizing the RFK Stadium deal.

Bowser maintained a smile throughout the event, focusing on the assumed success of Capital One Arena instead of RFK Stadium, which she repeatedly called a “blight” on the city.

“It’s very frustrating. …” she said. “We’ve done all we were supposed to do.”

Despite the concerns about the RFK Campus, Bowser and Leonsis described the arena deal as a massive win for the city and its teams. Their shoulder-to-shoulder press conference was a far cry from December 2023, when the Wizards and Capitals announced plans to leave the District for a glitzy new home in Alexandria, Virginia.

That deal died in Virginia’s legislature, though, paving the way for Monumental to broker a new deal with the District.

“What a difference a year makes,” Pinto joked on Thursday.

Her light-hearted comment was met with raucous applause from the dealmakers, politicians and NBA players in attendance. Through the new deal, the Wizards and Capitals will play at the arena at least through 2050.

Wizards players delivered custom No. 50 jerseys to Bowser, Pinto, Leonsis and Silver to mark the occasion.

“Me and Ted are going to be together for a long time,” Bowser said with a smile.