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For the arena in Manchester, New Hampshire, see Verizon Wireless Arena. The Verizon Wireless Arena is an indoor events arena in Manchester New Hampshire, and seats over 10000 for hockey and over 11000 for basketball and concerts
Verizon Center
The Phone Booth

Verizon Center
Location601 F Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20004-1603
OpenedDecember 2, 1997
OwnerWashington Sports and Entertainment (land leased from the City of Washington)
OperatorWashington Sports and Entertainment
Former namesMCI Center (1997–2006)
TenantsWashington Capitals (NHL) (1997-present)
Washington Wizards (NBA) (1997-present)
Washington Mystics (WNBA) (1998-present)
Georgetown Hoyas (NCAA)
Washington Power (NLL) (2001-2002)
Capacity20,173 (basketball)
18,277 (hockey)

The Verizon Center (formerly MCI Center until March 5, 2006) is a sports and entertainment arena in Washington, D.C., USA, named after telecommunications sponsor Verizon Communications. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Events 1409 - The University of Leipzig opens 1755 - The second Eddystone Lighthouse is destroyed by fire Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D For the BAA team see Washington Capitols. For the ABA team see Washington Caps. The National Hockey League ( NHL) is a professional Ice hockey league composed of 30 teams in North America Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar The Washington Mystics is a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA team based in Washington D Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) The Georgetown University Men's Basketball team (which like all sports teams at Georgetown University, is named the Georgetown Hoyas) is a well-known basketball The National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA, often pronounced "N-C-Double-A" is a voluntary association of about 1200 institutions conferences organizations The Washington Power were a member of the National Lacrosse League during the 2001 and 2002 seasons The National Lacrosse League (NLL is the league of men's indoor lacrosse in North America. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90000 to attack the Sassanid Empire, in a Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D The United States of America —commonly referred to as the "Verizon" redirects here this article is about the corporation see also Verizon Wireless, Verizon Online DSL and Verizon FiOS. The arena has been nicknamed the "Phone Booth" because of its association with telecommunications companies. The arena is home to the Washington Capitals of the NHL, Washington Wizards of the NBA, Georgetown University men's basketball, and Washington Mystics of the WNBA. For the BAA team see Washington Capitols. For the ABA team see Washington Caps. The Georgetown University Men's Basketball team (which like all sports teams at Georgetown University, is named the Georgetown Hoyas) is a well-known basketball The Washington Mystics is a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA team based in Washington D

Contents

History

The arena opened as the MCI Center on December 2, 1997 in downtown Washington's Chinatown. Events 1409 - The University of Leipzig opens 1755 - The second Eddystone Lighthouse is destroyed by fire Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Chinatown in Washington DC is a small historic neighborhood east of downtown in the present day consisting of a handful of ethnic Chinese and When Verizon bought out MCI in 2006, the arena's name was changed accordingly. The building replaced the US Air Arena, which was located on the Capital Beltway in Landover, Maryland. The Capital Centre (also briefly known as US Airways Arena and USAir Arena) was an indoor arena located in Largo, Landover Maryland Interstate 495 (abbreviated I-495) is a Freeway -class Interstate highway which circles Washington D Landover is an area of Prince George's County in the State of Maryland in the United States of America. Some complained that the building's construction, by closing off a block of G St, corrupted the historic L'Enfant layout of the Washington city streets. The Streets and Highways of Washington DC are based on a plan that provides for vehicular transportation in the capital and a distinctive city layout

Others were concerned it would lead to the displacement of Chinese businesses in Chinatown. While largely considered a commercial success, the Verizon Center was the catalyst that led to gentrification of Washington's Chinatown, with rent increases after construction of the Arena forcing many small Chinese businesses to close. Gentrification, or urban gentrification, is the change in an Urban area associated with the movement of more affluent individuals into a lower-class On the other hand, the Arena is not only a popular venue for sports and concerts, but helped to turned "Gallery Place/Chinatown" neighborhood into one of the prime sites for commercial development in Washington. Virtually all Chinese residents in the D. C. area already live in the suburbs, and displacement that occurred over the years has been mostly commercial rather than residential.

In 2007, what was claimed as the "first true indoor high-definition LED scoreboard" was installed at the Verizon Center [1]. A scoreboard is a large board for publicly displaying the score in a game or match

2008 marks the first year that the Wizards and Capitals will both play playoff games in the building in the same calendar year. Furthermore in D.C. sports lore 2008 also marks the first time the Wizards, Caps and Washington Redskins made the playoffs since 1988. Washington DC -area athletes and sports teams participate in all levels of sports competition The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team based in the Washington D

Tenants

The Verizon Center is the home arena of the NHL's Washington Capitals, the NBA's Washington Wizards, the NCAA's Georgetown University Hoyas men's basketball team, and the WNBA's Washington Mystics. The National Hockey League ( NHL) is a professional Ice hockey league composed of 30 teams in North America For the BAA team see Washington Capitols. For the ABA team see Washington Caps. The National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA, often pronounced "N-C-Double-A" is a voluntary association of about 1200 institutions conferences organizations Georgetown University is a Jesuit Private university located in Georgetown Washington D Cultural traditions "What is a Hoya?" The University admits that the precise origin of the term "Hoya" is unknown The Washington Mystics is a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA team based in Washington D It was home to the Washington Power of the NLL from 2001–2002. The Washington Power were a member of the National Lacrosse League during the 2001 and 2002 seasons The National Lacrosse League (NLL is the league of men's indoor lacrosse in North America. It seats 20,173 for basketball, and 18,277 for hockey.

Notable events

Verizon Center, then known as MCI Center, on game night (Washington Wizards vs. New Orleans Hornets), January 20, 2006.
Verizon Center, then known as MCI Center, on game night (Washington Wizards vs. New Orleans Hornets), January 20, 2006. The New Orleans Hornets are a professional Basketball team based in New Orleans Louisiana, United States. Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.
Washington Capitals game on March 8, 2006 featuring the Verizon Center markings on the ice surface.
Washington Capitals game on March 8, 2006 featuring the Verizon Center markings on the ice surface. For the BAA team see Washington Capitols. For the ABA team see Washington Caps. Events 1618 - Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.

As well as the home games of the Center's four sports tenants, the arena also hosts numerous special events, from concerts to Champions on Ice to the Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus. Champions on Ice was a touring Ice show in the United States. Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus was started when the Circus created by James Anthony Bailey and P

Notable games

The Washington Wizards in an NBA game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, December 5, 2007
The Washington Wizards in an NBA game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, December 5, 2007

June 16, 1998 - Washington Capitals vs. The National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA, often pronounced "N-C-Double-A" is a voluntary association of about 1200 institutions conferences organizations The annual NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship tournament determines the top Ice hockey team in the NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division This article is about the year For the film see 2009 Lost Memories. The Cleveland Cavaliers (also known as the Cavs) are a professional Basketball team based in Cleveland Ohio. Events 63 BC - Cicero reads the last of his Catiline Orations. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Detroit Red Wings: The Caps lose 4–1 to the Red Wings to be swept four games to none in the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals. It was the first, and as yet still only, visit to the Stanley Cup Finals for the Caps.

February 21, 2003 - Washington Wizards vs. New Jersey Nets: Michael Jordan scores 43 points, becoming the All-Time oldest player, and only player, at age 40 or older to ever score 40 points in an NBA Game. The Wizards win 89–86.

April 5, 2003 - Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: Peter Bondra passes Mike Gartner as the Washington Capitals' career scoring leader. Peter Bondra (Born February 7, 1968, in Lutsk, Ukraine, USSR) is a former Slovak professional Ice hockey Michael Alfred Gartner (born October 29 1959 in Ottawa, Ontario) is a retired Canadian professional Ice hockey right winger who played 19 seasons A tip-in ties the record early in the 3rd period and an empty net goal with 12 seconds left in the game sealed the record for Bondra. The Caps won 5–3.

April 30, 2005 - Washington Wizards vs. Chicago Bulls: The Wizards win their first playoff game in nearly 17 years with a 117–99 win over the Bulls. Oddly enough, it is the first NBA playoff game ever held within the District of Columbia (the team always played at USAir Arena in Landover, Maryland). Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D

May 6, 2005 - Washington Wizards vs. Chicago Bulls: Jared Jeffries picked up a loose ball and went in for an uncontested tiebreaking dunk with 32 seconds left, thus giving the Washington Wizards a 94–91 win over the Bulls and taking the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series from them four games to two. Jared Scott Carter Jeffries (born November 25 1981, in Bloomington Indiana) is an American professional Basketball player for the The game marks the first playoff series victory for the Wizards in twenty three years.

January 21, 2006 - Georgetown Hoyas vs. Duke Blue Devils: The then-unranked Georgetown University Hoyas would defeat the then-undefeated #1 ranked Blue Devils 87–84, marking the first notable game of coach John Thompson III's career, as well as an important boost enroute to the NCAA tournament, where they would reach the Sweet Sixteen.

March 26, 2006 - George Mason Patriots vs. Connecticut Huskies: The Patriots, playing in front of a mostly partisan crowd due to George Mason University being just across the Potomac River from the arena, defeat the top seeded UConn Huskies to become only the second double-digit seed to reach the NCAA Final Four. George Mason University (also referred to as GMU or Mason) is a large Public university in the United States. The Connecticut Huskies, also known as the UConn Huskies, are the athletic teams of the University of Connecticut.

April 5, 2008 - Washington Capitals vs. Florida Panthers: The Capitals defeat the Panthers 3–1 to clinch the Southeast Division title and their first playoff berth in five years. The win marked an unprecedented comeback in NHL history, as the 2007–2008 Caps became the first team in NHL history to make the playoffs after rallying from 14th or 15th place at the season's midpoint [2]. The game was the third home game of the week and all three were sellouts in which the entire Verizon Center crowd was wearing red [3].

Ownership

The arena is owned by Washington Sports & Entertainment (which owns the Wizards and formerly owned the Capitals and Mystics), but on land leased from the city of Washington. At the end of the 30 year lease, the land is set to revert back to the ownership of the city, with the mayor of Washington to make mandatory biennial reviews of the city's continuing need for the arena. As a result of the current ownership the floor is heated too much for basketball games giving the Verizon Center some of the worst ice in the NHL.

Fan fixtures

Two notable fan fixtures at Washington Capitals games at Verizon Center since the late '90s include Goat and The Horn Guy. For the BAA team see Washington Capitols. For the ABA team see Washington Caps. "Goat," aka William Stilwell, sits in Section 105 and loudly stomps and starts cheers for the team, with his loud voice that The Washington Post once called "the loudest voice and stompiest stomp on F Street. The Washington Post is the largest and most circulated Newspaper in Washington D " [4] "The Horn Guy," aka Sam Wolk, blows out three blasts on a horn to which the arena responds "Let's Go Caps!," a chant that can be heard during radio and TV broadcasts, home and away. [5]

"Attendance Champions" banners

The six "Washington Mystics Attendance Champions" banners that hang at the Verizon Center have been the focal point of much criticism over the years, with many people believing that the rafters should be reserved for achievements by sports teams and not by the fans. Critics think it is insulting to have banners for championships and retired numbers hang next to "attendance champion" banners.

The Washington City Paper has called them "embarrassing" [6], a 2005 ESPN. The Washington City Paper is a US Alternative weekly newspaper serving the Washington D com article by Todd Wright commented, "it's time to lose those Mystics attendance banners hanging from the rafters" [7], the Sports Road Trip website mocked the banners by stating "Oh. Todd Wright (born in Cincinnati Ohio) is an American Sports radio personality . . Mystics. . . WNBA "attendance champions" in '98 and '99. "Wheeeeeeee!" [8].

When Washington Post writer Jon Gallo was asked about the banners, he stated "The attendance banners were largely achieved because the Mystics gave away approximately 30 percent of their tickets before Sheila Johnson took over the team. The Washington Post is the largest and most circulated Newspaper in Washington D Sheila Crump Johnson is the team president managing partner and governor of the WNBA 's Washington Mystics, a position she gained before the 2005 season If the Mystics had made everyone pay for a ticket, then they would not have had the best attendance in the league. " [9].

Ice quality issues

In December 2007, Capitals Chris Clark gained a bit of press by stating that he believed the Verizon Center had the worst ice in the NHL. Chris Clark (born March 8, 1976 in South Windsor, Connecticut) is a Professional Ice hockey right winger and is current "There's a lot of ruts in the ice. It's soft. It's wet half the time. I could see a lot of injuries coming from the ice there. It could cost [players] their jobs. . . Even guys on other teams say the same thing. When we're facing off, they say, 'How do you guys play on this?" Caps owner Ted Leonsis addressed this criticism directly [10]. Theodore "Ted" J Leonsis (born January 8, 1957 in Brooklyn New York) is a long-time AOL executive and owner of the NHL

Other

References

  1. ^ Verizon Center shows off "first true indoor HD LED scoreboard" - Engadget
  2. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/05/AR2008040502708.html
  3. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/05/AR2008040502826.html
  4. ^ "I Was Blessed:" The Goat Story - D.C. Sports Bog
  5. ^ The Horn Man Blows - D.C. Sports Bog
  6. ^ Washington City Paper
  7. ^ ESPN - Venue Visitation: 107 and Counting - Espnradio
  8. ^ Washington Wizards
  9. ^ Washington Mystics - washingtonpost.com
  10. ^ Ted's Take - Toughness

External links

Preceded by
US Airways Arena		Home of the
Washington Wizards
1997 – present		Succeeded by
current
Preceded by
first arena		Home of the
Washington Mystics
1998 – present		Succeeded by
current
Preceded by
US Airways Arena		Home of the
Washington Capitals
1997 – present		Succeeded by
current
Preceded by
US Airways Arena		Home of the
Georgetown Hoyas
1997 – present		Succeeded by
current
Preceded by
The Arena in Oakland		Host of the
NBA All-Star Game
2001		Succeeded by
First Union Center

The Capital Centre (also briefly known as US Airways Arena and USAir Arena) was an indoor arena located in Largo, Landover Maryland The Washington Mystics is a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA team based in Washington D The Capital Centre (also briefly known as US Airways Arena and USAir Arena) was an indoor arena located in Largo, Landover Maryland For the BAA team see Washington Capitols. For the ABA team see Washington Caps. The Capital Centre (also briefly known as US Airways Arena and USAir Arena) was an indoor arena located in Largo, Landover Maryland Cultural traditions "What is a Hoya?" The University admits that the precise origin of the term "Hoya" is unknown The Oracle Arena, also known by its former names of the Oakland Coliseum Arena, the Oakland Arena, the Arena In Oakland, and The New Arena is The National Basketball Association staged its first All-Star Game in the Boston Garden on March 2, 1951. The 2001 NBA All-Star Game was a matchup between the Eastern and the Western Conference All-Stars The Wachovia Center, formerly known as the CoreStates Center and the First Union Center, is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia Pennsylvania
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