Washington, D.C. is known as one of the great sports cities in the world. However, it is expected that both the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL) and Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA) will soon be playing outside of the district if a recent relocation proposal from Virginia is accepted. In a February 9, 2024 Op-Ed piece in The Washington Post, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the city has proposed a $500 million investment package to revitalize the aging Capital One Arena to ensure that the NHL Caps and NBA Wizards remain in the heart of the nation's capital for the long term. According to the Mayor, "We have seen the positive impact of arenas on cities," emphasizing the importance of having a vibrant arena for sports, entertainment, and art in a modern city. This investment is part of the city's broader efforts to redefine city life, with a focus on community events rather than the shrinking population of commuters between 9 a.m. and 5p.m.

According to the article, the renovation and modernization of the existing facility will cost approximately $800M. The arena was opened in late 1997.

As the Mayor stated, "The city is committed to maintaining this mutually beneficial success, which is why we have put forth a strong offer to support the next phase of the arena and the surrounding neighborhood."

Arena: Capital One Arena

Home of: National Hockey League’s (NHL) Washington Capitals; National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Washington Wizards

City: Washington DC

Owner: The District of Columbia

Year Arena Built: 1997

Modernization Budget: $800M

Link to the full op-ed Opinion | Muriel Bowser: Washington’s sports teams should stay in Washington - The Washington Post