If you tell a DC local you’re heading to the "MCI Arena Washington DC," they’ll know exactly where you’re going, but they might chuckle at how long you’ve been away. Most people call it Capital One Arena now. Before that, it was the Verizon Center. But for a specific generation of Washingtonians, it will always be the MCI Center—the "Phone Booth"—the building that basically saved downtown.
It’s weird to think about now, given how packed 7th and F Street get on a Friday night, but in the mid-90s, this area was a ghost town. It was a lot of surface parking and empty storefronts.
Then came Abe Pollin.
Abe was the owner of the Wizards (then the Bullets) and the Capitals. He decided to move his teams from the suburban Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland, back into the heart of the District. It was a massive gamble. We’re talking over $200 million of his own money at a time when DC was literally on the verge of bankruptcy. Honestly, it’s one of the few times a sports mogul actually put his money where his mouth was to help a city.
The House That Abe Built
The doors officially opened on December 2, 1997.
The first game wasn’t even a win—the Wizards lost to the Seattle Supersonics—but nobody really cared because the vibe had shifted. Suddenly, you didn't have to drive out to Maryland to see Chris Webber or Peter Bondra. You could take the Green Line and walk right into the arena from the Gallery Place-Chinatown station.
That convenience changed everything.
People forget that the MCI Arena Washington DC wasn't just for sports. It was designed to be a "building of motion." It had a Discovery Channel store inside it (remember those?), a massive sports museum, and even a radio studio. It was trying to be a mall and a stadium at the same time.
Some of that stuff didn't last. The museum is gone, and the retail shifted. But the core mission worked: it brought people back downtown.
Why the "MCI" Name Disappeared
So, what happened to the MCI name? It wasn’t a rebranding for the sake of it. It was corporate musical chairs.
- 1997–2006: The building is the MCI Center.
- 2006: Verizon buys MCI, and the name switches to the Verizon Center.
- 2017: Capital One takes over the naming rights.
It’s kinda funny that two out of the three names for this place involve telecommunications. That’s why the "Phone Booth" nickname stuck for so long. Even today, you'll hear old-school fans use it, though "Cap One" is definitely the standard now.
The Chinatown Trade-off
You can't talk about the MCI Arena Washington DC without talking about Chinatown.
The impact here is... complicated. On one hand, the arena brought in 20,000 people a night who needed to eat, drink, and spend money. This led to a massive $9.2 billion redevelopment of the surrounding blocks. Property values skyrocketed.
On the other hand, the actual "Chinese" part of Chinatown has mostly vanished.
In 1990, about two-thirds of the neighborhood's residents were Asian. By 2010, that was down to one in five. Today? It’s even lower. You see the Chinese characters on the Starbucks and Hooters signs, but the mom-and-pop grocery stores are largely gone, replaced by luxury condos and national chains.
Richard Wong from the 1882 Foundation has talked about this quite a bit. He points out that while the arena didn't physically tear down the neighborhood—it was built on a vacant parking lot—it accelerated the gentrification that was already simmering.
Massive Memories: 1997 to 2026
If these walls could talk, they’d probably lose their voice from all the screaming.
Think about the history. Michael Jordan made his second comeback here in 2001. Imagine being in the room when the greatest of all time suited up for the Wizards. Even if those years weren't "Championship MJ," the energy in the building was electric.
Then you have the 2018 Stanley Cup run.
The Capitals didn't win the Cup in the building—they clinched in Las Vegas—but the MCI Arena (by then the Verizon Center) was the epicenter of the celebration. The streets outside were so packed with fans that you couldn't move for blocks.
And it’s not just sports.
- U2 has played here multiple times.
- Lady Gaga is scheduled for her "MAYHEM Ball" in March 2026.
- Prince performed legendary sets here.
- The Harlem Globetrotters have been a staple since the building opened.
What’s Next for the Old MCI Site?
There was a huge scare recently when the current owner, Ted Leonsis, almost moved the teams to Alexandria, Virginia. For a few months, it looked like the arena was going to be abandoned, which would have been a disaster for downtown DC.
Fortunately, that deal fell through.
Instead, the city and Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) are pouring $850 million into a massive renovation. The District is chipping in about $515 million of that. The goal is to modernize the whole place so it can survive another 30 years.
Expect to see a completely different exterior and upgraded seating. They’re basically gutting the 1997 interior to make it feel like a "2026-and-beyond" venue.
Actionable Advice for Your Next Visit
If you’re heading to a game or a concert at the former MCI Arena Washington DC, don't just wing it.
- Skip the Car: Parking in Chinatown is a nightmare and will cost you $40 or more. The Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station is literally under the building. Use it.
- The "Abe Pollin Way" Entrance: Check out the street signs near 6th and F. They renamed the street after Abe Pollin in 2007. It's a nice nod to the guy who built the place.
- Security is Tight: They use "Evolv" scanners now, which are much faster than old-school metal detectors. You don't have to take everything out of your pockets, but check the bag policy (usually 14"x14"x6" or smaller) before you show up.
- Eat Early: If you want to eat at a place like Chinatown Garden or Daikaya, get there at least two hours before tip-off. These places get slammed.
The MCI Arena Washington DC might have a different name on the front, but the soul of DC sports still lives at 601 F Street NW. It’s the place where the city comes to yell, and despite all the name changes, that hasn't changed a bit.
To get the most out of your next trip, download the District E-sports app or the Monumental Sports Network app to track real-time gate openings and mobile ordering for concessions, which can save you 20 minutes of standing in line for a hot dog.